Creeping Fate

By: Michael B. Chikondi

Narrated by: Rhonda Pownall

Cecilia Everett, still grieving the loss of her family, and struggling under the weight of societal obligations, knows she must start to build a life for herself.

Under the guidance of her indomitable Aunt Euphemia, she turns her attention towards the prospect of marriage.

Its London, 1859, and even an heiress like Cecilia cant escape the pressure to find a husband.

Two candidates soon capture her attention: the respectable, but difficult, Spencer Black, and the notorious playboy, John Oliver.

As she begins to fear her mind is unraveling, might it be, her financial situation is more alluring than she is?

©2023 Michael B. Chikondi (P)2023 Michael B. Chikondi

Cecelia

I admit, I was hesitant on selecting this book. The cover put me off. I am glad I selected it. I enjoyed the story, and appreciate it was different with unexpected twists! It is refreshing to find new material. Cecilia must marry. I love she does not bow to all the rigid rules of the time. So scandalous to be out alone after dark with a gentleman. So many men are watching her home at night. Why is she suddenly sleep walking? Will she fall for Spencer or John, and which is a good guy and which is evil? I am looking forward to more stories by the author Michael Chikandi. I reviewed the audiobook. The narration was well done. I received a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving my review.

New Hist. Romance Author...Fun Plot Twists

New to me historical romance author, Michael Chikondi, pens an intriguing historic romance set in 1851 London, following a young woman(Cecilia Everett) as she slowly builds relationships with Spencer Black and notorious playboy, John Oliver. Whom will she choose? And what is the big plot twist?

Kept me guessing

This isn't my go to genre. However, I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for this. This well written story had me invested in the characters. I was pleasantly surprised that I had picked the wrong one to win in the end.

Ummm, Say What?

This is just an odd story. It's hard to say what the author is trying to go for, but whatever it is, he is missing the mark. Is this a Gothic romance? Does it have to do with some degree of insanity? Vampirism? The plot, so much as there is one, doesn't follow traditional structures. Authors should definitely consider that before they stray too far from writing tradition. It's the story of a young orphaned heiress who's decided it's time to wed but is very choosy and certainly doesn't want a man more interested in her money than her. We are more told than shown that she typically sends her potential suitors packing with some sort of stinging rebuke that sets tongues wagging in society. The man she focuses on for much of the book seems very unlikely from what we've heard she's already cast aside. He's also decidedly cruel and cold—a word the author uses far too often … word choice!—at times, especially after she accepts his suit. I could see no reason why she would do so; the author in no way made it clear what the attraction was. Various colorful peripheral characters populate the story, including a flamboyant, silver-tongued rake she gets engaged to briefly—while still betrothed to the other guy (even though she is now beginning to doubt)—before he dies right in front of her. Oddness. The story also includes elements of frequent sleepwalking and of her getting cuts and bleeding though she doesn’t know why. But nothing was tied together or ultimately explained. The story and characters made little sense. I think the author is trying to go for an unreliable narrator but never quite pulls it off. It just came across as poor writing. The book has two different covers that I've seen, and neither goes with the book. One is of a painting of what looks like a fairly young girl, given her proportions, not the tall young woman as the heroine is described. The other one reminds me more of 1940s pulp fiction, except for the hat on the gentleman on the right, which is decidedly more Victorian. In that one, the heroine's outfit and hairstyle is so unbelievable for the Victorian era. This author should study more about writing—and his stories’ era—before subjecting his audience to more like this.