Fun to read book about a young woman who was raised not knowing who her parents are. On her birthday, she receives a letter written by her mother when Gemma was only one. It tells her who her brother is so Gemma sets out to meet him. This book had tow story lines mixed together. On the way to meet her brother, Gemma meets Louisa Crookshank. This book is a tale of love for both Gemma and Louisa and well as Gemma's discovering of her family. I had a few problems with this book. One - I think it's a little bit far fetched. Most of the book talks about how prejudiced everyone is so it's hard to believe Gemma is so easily accepted into her newfound family. Two - some of the scenes between Gemma and Matthew are too similar to some of the scenes between Louisa and Colin. But overall, it was a good book. Not sure if I'll read it again, but I'm not sorry I read it. ( )

Vision in Blue connects to several previous Nicole Byrd stories, in that interwoven way I've noticed in previous books. It always makes me feel as if it's a real world I've stepped back into, where I might run into any of the characters from previous books. Connected books are not at all unusual, but the natural way these are connected are. There's no self-conscious list of characters making it predictable which one will have a story next, and no gratuitous listing of characters from previous stories delineating the number and gender of offspring each pair has produced.

You can tell I've made quite a study of connected stories, can't you? I connected stories, and Nicole Byrd does it better than most, so I just had to gush a little. On to the story.

Everything changed for orphan Gemma Smith when she received a letter at the school where she lived.... from her mother. The letter was written years ago, and tells Gemma that her brother is Lord Gabriel Sinclair (from Dear Impostor). Having wished all her life for a family, Gemma wastes no time in setting off for London to find her brother.

On the way there, she meets Louisa Crookshanks (from Beauty in Black), who, saddled with a dull companion, takes Gemma under her wing, seeing the opportunity for a little excitement.

When she's investigating the truth of her background, Gemma encounters former naval Captain Matthew Fallon searching for news of his sister at the same foundling home where she'd spent a miserable year before being sent to her school. They agree to join forces, to search for his sister and Gemma's history.

Meanwhile, Louisa, who's trying to repair her reputation so she can snare a high-ranking husband, encounters the handsome and charming, and unforutnately penniless Lt. Colin McGregor squiring the venerable Lady Jersey on her shopping.

The two budding relationships provide complementary and contrasting rhythms to the story--the intensity of Matthew and Gemma's investigation countered by the generally lighter mood of Louisa and Colin's courtship, though as Louisa and Colin become closer, their problems become more serious as well.

If I understand correctly, this is the first Nicole Byrd book written solely by Cheryl, while Michelle is working on a new project. I paid close attention, but it's still full of the trademark wit, passion, and suspense. ( )

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