Review – The Scarlet Kimono by Christina Courtenay

This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.

REVIEW BY DEBS CARR

This is Christina Courtenay’s second book with Choc Lit Publishers, her first, Trade Winds was short listed for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Pure Passion Historical Novel Award 2011.

Taro Kumashiro is a Japanese warrior lord. He is powerful, wealthy and used to getting what he wants, but he is also brave, decent and incredibly attractive. When Taro’s sensei warns him about a red-haired, pale-eyed woman, Taro isn’t too concerned and believes his loyal retainer is simply being over protective and worrying too much.

Hannah Marston lives in Plymouth with her parents and brother. Her father has ambitions for her marriage and when she's told who he intends as her future husband, she runs away and hides on what she hopes is her brother’s merchant ship. She soon discovers that she was mistaken, but is looked after by Hoji-san, a kindly man who helps to keep Hannah (in disguise as a boy) away from the rest of the crew.

Arriving in Japan, Hannah soon realizes that this new country and the culture she now inhabits is completely different to anything she has ever known and also that her troubles are only just beginning. She has escaped from a prospective husband, only for another man to assume he is going to dictate her future. Hannah is kidnapped by Taro’s warriors and taken far away to his home. She is instantly attracted to him and the feeling is mutual, even though they're unaware of it, but he is married and has responsibilities to his people. Hannah also learns that Taro’s wife isn’t the only danger lurking nearby for her. There are things that go on in Taro's world that Hannah could never have imagined and she has to be careful and remember all that Hoji-san has taught her. Can Hannah and Taro ever realistically be together, or are their lives and responsibilities far too different for that to ever be possible?

Christina Courtenay writes so beautifully that even though I’d never visited Japan, I felt like I knew it well. The chemistry between Taro and Hannah is powerful, but despite being such an impressive character, Taro still comes across as gentle, kind and, well, pretty damn great actually.

9/10

This is a fantastic book, and to be in with a chance of winning a copy for yourself, please leave a comment below before Wednesday 26 May. Good luck.

You can find out more about Christina Courtenay here

And follow her on Twitter @PiaCCourtenay or on Facebook (Christina Courtenay).