My first worry upon starting this book was that the Duchess of Tamworth might no longer be with us......she is! Alive and kicking and more astute and ornery than ever.In this book, new characters are introduced and old characters take on more dominant roles. We start out with Barbara's New World adventures, which could be subtitled 'Lady Devane Grows Up'. Barbara is at last pitched forcefully from the cocoon of her sheltering life and her focus on her own needs and desires. She becomes a socially conscious young woman and begins to take an active role. She learns much about life and love, as well as land and tobacco crops and slave labor. She experiences a tragic loss. She returns to England.We also have the treat of a fascinating historical backdrop for the action. Back home the throne of George I is being threatened by rumors of invasion; the Stewart claimant to the throne is said to be putting together an army to come to England. The situation is tense, as no one truly knows which side anyone else might be aligned with. Barbara soon finds herself in a precarious situation; she has to balance her position at court with her love for a Jacobite spy; meanwhile her mother, Diana, is sharing her bed with Robert Walpole, a man who poses great danger to Barbara.Barbara's childhood friend, Jane Ashford Cromwell, along with Jane's husband, Augustus Cromwell, and her father, Sir John Ashford come to the forefront of the action in this book. Their story is action packed and very good; although not tragedy free.For me the true stars of this novel were Alexander "Lumpy" Pendarves and Louisa, Lady Shrewsbury. Their December romance is funny and sweet. And how about that reveal.....I wanted to high-five Aunt Shrew at the end of the book; what an awesome crazy old broad she was!From here we have a prequel of sorts in "Dark Angel", which tells the tale of Lady Alice Varney as a young lady at the court of Charles II. Good, because I'm not sure I would want to read any books in this series without her......she should always be a character.
Now Face to Face is the first novel I've finished in which I was/am truly saddened to have to say goodbye to the characters and story.That being said I did enjoy reading it, despite the fact that it almost felt like two entirely separate novels crammed into one.Through A Glass Darkly ends with Barbara on a boat headed to Virginia. That is right where Now Face to Face picks up. Koen tried, rather unsuccessfully, to juggle the story of Barbara's time in Virginia along with a subplot in London for the Jacobite's to restore King James II to the throne. Barbara's entire section in Virginia (something I would have easily read another 200 pages about) seemed rushed because of this whereas parts of the Jacobite storyline dragged on for longer than I would have liked.What's more, the Virginia sections missed the rich detail from Through A Glass Darkly that I came to love so much. I found that I had to create the landscapes and other such things in my own mind due to lack of detail.However the book went back up to 4 stars because of the last few hundred pages or so. I literally could NOT put this book down at that point because things were getting so intense. Sadly, after the intense sections things take a bit of a nosedive again.It was almost as if Koen had run out of words when it came to the very end and just decided to sum what could have been beautiful, elaborate chapters in a few paragraphs. This rather upset me, since I wanted to hear more about each of the characters I had fallen in love with throughout this long series.I do not regret reading this book though. Not at all. The ending, while a bit disappointing, was at least more satisfying than the ending of it's predecessor and I am able to walk away contented.
Do You like book Now Face To Face (1997)?
3.5-4 starsTough for me to rate this book... As much as I loved and hated the 1st book, I didn't love and hate this book. It's a satisfying story in many ways, but upon reflection, it seems a bit disjointed. I agree with some other reviewers listed here who feel as if the author attempted too much in one book -- especially trying to tie up loose ends from the 1st book.But because the 1st book left me shattered, I was very glad that this book filled that emptiness and replaced the hope and light
—Lori McD
“Nothing changes, everything changes” – several characters repeat this mantra throughout the story, and it certainly sums up the plot as the wheels of change grind along slowly. Nothing appears to change on the surface, but meanwhile, huge upheaval is on its way as the 18th century gets going.Lady Barbara spends some time in the Virginia colony, and quickly becomes the only person to realize slavery is bad because she is just. that. special. However, Barbara’s Mary-Sue like tendencies are watered down by the rest of the cast, who are a lot more flawed, and thereof, a lot more interesting to follow.There are tantalizing details here and there about a boy who escapes slavery and could have had his own book, there are high ranking politicians twists laws to stab rivals in the back, spies send coded messages all over Europe, Moll Flanders and Robinson Crusoe get shout outs, and the beta couple from the last book, Jane and Gussy, go from acting as a stand in for “typical” life in the time period (a whole lot of cooking and a whole lack of birth control), to taking center stage as they get involved in a plot to put a Catholic on the English throne.It’s a stupid plan, doomed to failure, but as the whole thing falls apart, I was on the edge of my seat to see how badly it would go, and if Gussy would live. (view spoiler)[ Janes saves him in the most bold prison escape I’ve ever seen. Go Jane! (hide spoiler)]
—Kara
I enjoyed this book, but not nearly as much as the first book by Karleen Koen. I felt the whole story was kind of disjointed and the emphasis on certain characters changed throughout the book which made the flow of the book kind of odd. Jane's family and her thread of story is tied up, but the main character Barbara is not really finished or potentially could have been wrapped up 50 pages earlier. And with her servant, that was really an odd wrap up - is that to show us the impossible is possible. I had trouble believing that part of the story. But I enjoyed Koen's writing and her extensive research on the historical period. Her writings seemed very true to the time period.
—Dani
