• Skip to main content

Nadine Feldman, Author

celebrating strong female characters and whatever else strikes my fancy

  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • Book Clubs
  • About Nadine
  • Sample Chapters
You are here: Home / Archives for strong female protagonist

strong female protagonist

Book Review: Bronte’s Mistress

July 21, 2021 by admin

In Bronte’s Mistress, author Finola Austin tells the story of Lydia Robinson, possible mistress to Branwell Bronte, the ne’er-do-well brother of the famous Bronte sisters. Lydia is lonely and frustrated, but also grieving the deaths of her young daughter and mother, leaving her vulnerable to the charms of the much-younger, roguish Branwell. As their attraction grows, others notice, causing all kinds of problems.

Robinson is portrayed as a spirited woman who was a victim of her time. She had few options as a woman to make her own choices, and thus depended on her beauty and appeal to men to get what she wanted…and who expected her three daughters to do the same.

It’s of note that even the book title reduces Lydia Robinson to her relationship to a man, even though the story is about her.

The affair may or may not have happened, and has been the source of conjecture. Clearly something was going on based on some writings that exist, but how far things went is unknown.

I found Robinson shallow and detestable at times, but still felt sympathetic toward her. She longed for the love and attention of her emotionally distant husband, and I came away believing that she would have given up her lover had her husband given her even a crumb of his attention.

Even in our modern times, if a woman is perceived as being “too much,” she is criticized for it. In Robinson’s day, women were punished. Kudos to the author for keeping a sometimes-unlikable character compelling.

Filed Under: books, fiction Tagged With: Bronte, good reads, historical fiction, novels, strong female protagonist

It’s Cover Reveal Day!

July 8, 2021 by admin

At long last! I’ve been dying to share this cover for quite a while, and today’s the day. Thanks to the incomparable Lynne Hansen for agreeing to do the cover when she focuses mainly on horror. Please visit her page to see all her stunning work!

What I love about this cover is how it captures the actual story of a woman torn between two worlds.

Thanks also to Amy Bruno at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for setting up the tour. And thanks to the bloggers who are hosting this special day! Please click on their links below.

Books, Cooks, Looks

Books, Ramblings, and Tea

CelticLady’s Reviews

Donna’s Book Blog

Gwendalyn’s Books

Historical Fiction with Spirit

Jessica Belmont

Michelle the PA Loves to Read

momma_doc_reads

Passages to the Past

Pursuing Stacie

Reader_ceygo

Reading is My Remedy

The Book Junkie Reads

The Cozy Book Blog

The Enchanted Shelf

Two Bookish Babes

What a Whimsical Life

Filed Under: books, Faeries, fiction Tagged With: 19th Century, historical fiction, historicalfantasy, Scotland, strong female protagonist, womensfiction

Copyright © 2023 · Author Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in