What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Miss Tonks Turns to Crime: The Poor Relation #2 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance
The Poor Relation hotel is in need of money again and poor spinster Miss Tonks is chosen to steal something from her cruel sister's home. Miss Tonks is treated little better than a servant by her sister but is befriended by her sister's outspoken 18 year old daughter, Cassandra. Cassandra's mother tries to push Cassandra of the wealthy Lord Eston, but Cassandra is determined to be a spinster like her aunt and snubs Lord Eston. Miss Tonks, assisted by Lord Eston, accomplishes her task and sets off back to London with Cassandra, who has run away from home. Back in London, they learn a rival hotel has stolen their servants and is determined to put The Poor Realtion out of business. Cassandra comes up with the idea to spy on their rival by masquerading as guests. There, they become reaquainted with Lord Eston, his beautiful airhead of a fiance and her scheming family. Cassandra has all the adventures and romance she dreamed of as the novel comes to the predictable conclusion. I liked this book a little better than the first volume, though I still don't think stealing is the answer. Cassandra is a great heroine and I could really identify with her. I also really liked How Miss Tonks grew as a person and became more confident as a result of her adventures. As usual in Chesney's novels, the romance plot is rather unrealistic at times but not as improbable as most of the School for Manners romances.

Mrs. Budley Falls From Grace: The Poor Relation #3 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance
The Poor Relation is in need of money again. The sweet widow Mrs. Budley draws the shortest straw and is chosen to visit the old, senile Marquess of Petersburg and rob him of some trifle that will pay the bills. Mrs. Budley is horrified to learn that the Marquess is neither old, nor senile, but young and handsome! The Marquess has been lonley and bored since he came into the title several months ago. When he learns Mrs. Budley's story, he agrees to give her something in exchange for her company for a week. Over the course of the visit, Mrs. Budley and the Marquess become friends and then fall in love. However, the Marquess has a duty to his name and title and Mrs. Budley has fallen from grace by being in trade and is too proud to allow herself to believe anyone would want to marry her. She returns to London and to work where the Poor Relation is more busy than ever. The Marquess also returns to London to choose a bride. An old enemy is thrown into the mix, determined for revenge. Sir Philip is determined to play matchmaker so he can get rid of the other partners and have Lady Fortescue for himself. The Colonel is set on thawarting Sir Philip, a plot device which sets up the next novel in the series. All ends happily and predictably. I didn't like this one as much as #2, but it wasn't bad. Like Miss Tonks, Mrs. Budley learns to take care of herself and stand up for herself, which I really liked. The Marquess was kind of proud and cold for my tastes. I look forward to the next in the series and hope it's better than this one.
   

Sir Philip's Folly: The Poor Relation #4 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance

In this fourth volume of the series, Sir Philip has installed his lazy paramour in the hotel. Mrs. Budge is unhelpful, expensive and unwanted, so the other three partners, with the help of new friends, come up with a plan to rid the hotel of Mrs. Budge. They also conspire to help bring out Arabella Carruthers, a19 year old hotel guest whose mother is on the hunt for husband #2. Lady Carruthers thinks that by leaving her daughter in the schoolroom, she, Lady Carruthers, will appear younger. However, Arabella has other ideas and the other Poor Relations sympathize with Arabella and together, with the Earl of Denby, another guest, they help make all of Arabella's dreams come true. This was the best book of the series so far. I liked the characters I was supposed to like and even Sir Philip redeemed himself by the end. The romance was kind of improbable but sweet and chaste. My biggest complaint is that the author stopped the narrative to explain the history of hair powder tax which jarred me and took away from the story. Otherwise, I liked the book a lot.

Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue: The Poor Relation #5 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance
Business is brisk at the Poor Relation Hotel, however, it is fashionable for members of the ton not to pay their bills on time... or at all, so Col. Sandhurst is chosen to bully the money out of Sir Randolph but is scared off by Sir Randolph's daughter who warns him about her father's dogs and her father's desire to sell her to the highest bidder. Frederica is running away from home and her arranged marriage and Col. Sandhurst takes the opportunity to bring Frederica back to the hotel and hold her for ransom. When the Poor Relations try to enact their scheme, they are met by Frederica's intended groom, Lord Bewley, and in exchange for his paying off Sir Randolph's debts and not calling the Runners, the Poor Relations allow Lord Bewley to stay at the hotel and strive to keep the beautiful Frederica out of his sight. Meanwhile, Frederica has fallen in love with the handsome Captain Manners and Miss Tonks has a romantic dilema of her own! This is the very best in the entire series. It plays out like a Shakespearean comedy with mistaken identities, cross-dressing and romance. This is a great read!

Penelope Goes to Portsmouth: The Traveling Matchmaker #3 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance
Miss Hannah Pym is off on another adventure on a "flying machine," this time to Portsmouth, where her traveling companions include a prim spinster, an American, a beautiful young merchant's daughter named Penelope and Lord Augustus, a dissipated young rake. Hannah dreams of making a match between Penelope and Lord Augustus as well as rescuing a footman in trouble. She embroils herself and her companions in a series of adventures that none of them will ever forget - especially Hannah's enemy. I did not like this book as much as the first volume. The adventures were too risky and Hannah made a deadly enemy who will undoubtedly return in later books. Penelope was too young and innocent for me to like and Lord Augustus was a ne'er do well and not appealing. I hope the next volume is better!