In July of 2020, with us in full pandemic protocols, and
having figured out Zoom, we chose “Seeking Persephone” by Sarah M. Eden. This
sweet romance was a delight to read and enjoyed by most everyone in our group.
The story is a “Beauty and the Beast” type romance, set in
regency England, with the heroine, Persephone, being recruited to marry a Duke,
sight unseen. This was because he had some significant scars from botched
surgeries during childhood and didn’t like being around others much. He was
crusty and grumpy, and she was kind and gentle, and willing to marry him to
save her family. Their relationship developed and brought them both to realize
their growing love was real.
The story had a nice balance of love, conflict, background motivation, and adventure to make this story a really nice choice. Our group found the book to be very engaging, full of both mystery and wit. It was a much needed selection for a very challenging and uncertain time.
While we didn’t have
to dive deep into any huge discussion on serious themes for this romance, it
was wonderful to enjoy and appreciate the sweet tale for what it is.
― Sarah M. Eden, Seeking Persephone
