Shadow of a Lady

Helen Telfair has an inheritance coming to her, though none of her family or friends knows of it, and for this and other reasons she has determined not to marry. Travelling into the Mediterranean on her naval father's ship for the sake of her mother's health, though, a brutal attack forces her to change her mind and accept a rich and important, though not very bright, man who has been wanting to marry her for most of the voyage. But marriage seems to change him, and not for the better. Taken by him to Naples, Helen unwillingly becomes embroiled in the events surrounding the rise of both Napoleon and Nelson...

Well written and intricate, this book both interested and entertained me. I learnt quite a bit about the happenings of the time period, and was also drawn into the life and trials of Helen Telfair. It's not a quick or light read, but was good for those looking for something a bit more historical and less romantic, though there is definitely still some romance. My biggest problems were the abrupt finish (is there a sequel? it felt almost cliffhangerish) and her attitude towards her son - sometimes they seemed very close, but then she would apparently ignore him for ages. All in all, though, a good read.

Characters: Some I liked, some I hated, some I despised. They were all well drawn, though some were highly unpleasant people - but Helen and a few others made up for it.
Storyline: I'm not sure how to express this, but it felt a bit more like a personalised and expanded history book than a typical novel - a far less straightforward 'story arc' or anything. That being said, I'm not generally a fan of history books and prefer novels, but I found that this had enough personal interest and story that I found it both educational and enjoyable.
Content and language: I would class this book as clean, but readers should be aware that there is a rape scene. However, it is sufficiently vague and non-explicit that I did not find it a problem. As far as I recall, the language was also okay.
Rating: 4.5 stars

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Excellent book with a great storyline.  Characters that are so well written. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!