Watch the Wall, My Darling

I enjoyed this book so much. It had a similar feel to several Georgette Heyer's books which are fabulous! Loved seeing the change of heart within the characters and learning more about that historical period!

"I really enjoyed this book and it grabbed me right from the beginning. There were parts of the book that I could completely relate to which is part of the reason I loved it so much yet I know for some people they will not feel the same

A very nice regency romance with adventure thrown in, also not as light reading as for example Georgette Heyer. I was a little disappointed as I'd hoped for something gothic, but all in all a very enjoyable read.

The strong writing sucked me right in, opening with a carriage rushing up the dark coastal road in the driving rain, toward the house where Christina is not sure of a welcome. It’s been a very long time since I picked up either a vintage or contemporary Gothic Romance, and even if the genre isn’t my first choice for random reading, I was happy this came my way.

Our heroine, Christina, is an American come back to England, after her father’s violent death, to the family pile. Her father had left the stifling life under his father’s brutal thumb, with his French wife before the war with Napoleon, and she in turn left him with their eldest daughter, Christina. She has no one else to turn to, no other family, and so she sends a letter to her grandfather telling them that she is on her way back to them, her only flesh and blood.

The locals in Rye, of course, warn her about the “Dark House” and traveling there by night because “they” don’t like it (see the poem below). They could be anyone, as far as she knows, from bandits, smugglers, or the soldiers guarding the coast.
The story plays out beautifully against an interesting period in history when invasion of England by Napoleon appeared imminent. Hodge reverses some of the die-hard Gothic Romance tropes—the old butler is nothing but kind to Christina and the domineering-type mother is pretty ineffectual, though even that appears to leave a mark on her son, Ross. There’s an inheritance involved, and a competition for it, while meanwhile a French privateer hovers just off the coast, upsetting everyone. There’s a very harrowing and haunting scene towards the end when Christina finds out what happens if one doesn’t watch the wall as advised, and sees more than they should.

I loved Christina, again not a usual heroine one expects from the genre that typically had women in negligees running from dark houses in bad weather on their covers. She’s an American, tall, speaks her mind, and spends much of her time mediating. When a wounded man needs her help, she doesn’t hesitate to help out, though this puts her in danger. She gets afraid, angry, but keeps it contained. Plus, she’s got a secret, too.

Ross, the broody hero/antihero, is a typical, on the outside, Regency rake. He’s keeping a lot of secrets bottled up, and the family doesn’t want to trust him, so every time he disappears they backstab him and make plans around him. No wonder his uncle left for the states, it was saner!

Overall, I really enjoyed this story— the writing, the setting and characters, the twists in the plot.

A clean Historical, action packed, suspenseful, until the last page! Must Read! I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!
carolintallahassee 👒

What a delight. I understand this is a reissue - I can't wait to track down more of Hodge's work. Impeccably written, with great nuance of emotion and perfect scene setting. The Sussex smugglers and French spies - the marshes and unseen forces. This is a keeper for years to come. Plus, the love story keeps you waiting, in honest terms.

This was a splendid copy that swept me away! I loved the drama, romance, and intrigue throughout. The only complaint that I had was the odd English phrases here and there, but aside from that, this book easily cracked my top ten favorites of this year!

If you want some reasons to read it: spies, French smugglers, strong female characters, old mansions, ghost stories, heroic characters...

There are so many reasons to love this book, and I am a fast fan of the author.

Thank you NetGalley for finding this book for me!

Christina Tretton goes to her family's estate, Tretteign Grange. Her grandfather tries to arrange a marriage between Christina and one of two male cousins, as a stipulation to inherit when he dies. She becomes housekeeper and manages the estate, but which cousin should she chose to spend her life with when there are smugglers surrounding the estate, and France is threatening to invade?

I love a good gothic romance. Rebecca, Jane Eyre...things of that ilk. Watch the Wall, My Darling was a book that I read in my teens, and reading this reissues reminded me how delightful these types of books are to me.

Our heroine, Christina Tretton, is from the backwoods of America, but now currently lives at Dark House in Cornwall. She's wonderful. Independent, capable, and handy with a pistol (a Napoleonic Annie Oakley, if you will. The hero/leading man is Ross Tretteign. He's exactly what you expect, born on the right side of the blanket, but everyone knows that he's the 'black sheep" aka - the crazy one.

This is more a story of a woman rescuing herself. Like Jane Eyre. Like Rebecca. It was a nice revisit with Christina.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.