What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Back in Society: Poor Relation #6 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance

The Poor Relation has finally achieved success and the hoteliers notoriety, however all might be undone if Lady Jane Fremny has her way. Lady Jane has run away from home to escape a brutal father, a nasty governess/companion and an arranged marriage. Jane has plans to take her own life in the hotel. Fortunately for everyone, the poor relations thwart Jane's plans and offer to help her by introducing her to their former partner, Harriet, the Duchess of Rowcester who will give Jane a Season under an alias. Jane befriends Frances Haggard, a determined young lady and they become entangled in romantic adventures with an exiled French Comte and his charming friend, James Ferguson. Soon the entanglement involves danger and adventure as well. After they settle Jane's affairs, the poor relations must decide their futures, either together or apart. All ends happily and predictably, just as it should. I felt the affair of the necklace was way too easily resolved and I hated all the secrecy and dishonesty involving it. I wasn't crazy about Jane, who was rather a wet blanket, but I enjoyed her friend and wish Frances were the heroine instead. I liked the choices the poor relations made and was happy that my favorite, Miss Tonks, got what she always wanted. This was a good end to the series. Overall, though, I did not find this series as amusing or charming as School for Manners.

Belinda Goes to Bath: The Traveling Matchmaker #2 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance 

Miss Hannah Pym so enjoyed her adventure on the stage coach, she decides she's not done traveling and wishes to have another voyage. On this trip she meets the Judds, a married couple who are always bickering, Miss Belinda Earle, whose family sent her away for running off with a footman and Belinda's self-righteous moralizing companion Miss Whipple. A terrible accident leaves the coach passengers injured and stranded at Baddell Castle, the home of the Marquess of Frenton. Hannah decides to play matchmaker and determines that Belinda and the Marquess would suit, however, the Marquess is entertaining Penelope Jordan and her parents, who hope to match her with the Marquess. The Marquess has a reputation for being cool and disliking visitors and Belinda takes him into dislike until her chaperone's loose tongue sends the Marquess chasing after her. Meanwhile, Hannah also seeks to repair the relationship of the Judds and help them on the path to a better life. Hannah also has her own romantic subplot involving her former employer's brother, Sir George Clarence. I didn't care for this story. I liked Belinda, who was a very modern heroine, but the Marquess was snobby, cold and driven by lust. He was one of Chesney's most unappealing heroes.

Beatrice Goes to Brighton: The Traveling Matchmaker #4 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance
In this fourth volume, Miss Pym is on her way to Brighton to see the sea again and becomes involved in another wild adventure. Traveling on the coach is one Lady Beatrice Marsham, who at first seems very cold and distant. When Lady Beatrice is taken away by a rough gentleman, Hannah becomes convinced that Lady Beatrice was taken by force and not of her own free will as Lady Beatrice insisted. With the help of Lord Alistair Munro, a guest at the coaching inn, and her clever, sneaky footman, Hannah sets off for Brighton and becomes involved in her wildest adventure yet as she tries to help Lady Beatrice and match the lady with Lord Alistair despite numerous obstacles, including the fact that the lady and the gentleman hate each other. All the while Hannah struggles with her feelings for Sir George Clarence, trying to convince herself that what she feels is friendship. Upon returning home, Sir George has an unhappy surprise for Hannah and it's up to Benjamin to rescue his employer from a broken heart. This novel has some lighthearted funny moments mixed with dangerous adventure. The romance plot is as usual unrealistic as the lady and the gentleman barely know each other, though it's better than most of Chesney's unrealistic romantic plots. I liked this novel better than the previous one I read and look forward to reading more about Hannah Pym.

Deborah Goes to Dover: The Traveling Matchmaker #5 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance
Miss Hannah Pym is off on another adventure, lovesick herself and not noticing the other passengers, she is soon involved in an adventure when her footman enters a prize fight in order to pay his gambling debts. Hannah makes the acquaintance of Lord Ashton and his nineteen year old twin neighbors, mischievous William and Deborah, a tomboy who prefers dressing in men's clothes. Hannah's matchmaking instincts flare again with hopes of influencing Lady Deborah to act more ladylike and find her a suitable husband. Lord Ashton challenges Lady Deborah to a horse race in order to teach her a lesson. The wager, 10 guineas if she wins, a kiss if she loses, changes Deborah's feelings about her sex and her neighbor! Hannah and Benjamin's old enemy Lady Carsey seeks revenge, Lord Ashton tries to protect them and Hannah plays matchmaker once again for two fellow coach passengers. William takes notice of his sister's changes and jealously tries to prevent his sister from leaving him by embroiling her adventures that will hopefully save Hannah and Benjamin and keep Lady Deborah a tomboy and Hannah must undo the mischief. Hannah returns home with a broken heart, thinking Sir George will never see her as anything other than a friend because of their differences in class. Reckless Benjamin, hating to see his employer so down, takes matters into his own hands! This story didn't follow the usual model: the romance was believable and there were a lot of really funny moments. This was by far the best of the series, so far.

Yvonne Goes to York: The Traveling Matchmaker #6 by Marion Chesney -- Regency Romance
Hannah Pym decides to go on one last adventure on the stage to York, where her former employer Mrs. Clarence may be residing. Also traveling on the coach and beautiful French emigre Yvonne Grenier, searching for her father, the friendly Mr. Giles, and the sinister looking Mr. Smith. Not everyone is who they seem and soon Hannah is smack in the middle of another adventure involving French spies and a budding romance between her traveling companions, as well as her very own romantic adventure. The story comes to a satisfying conclusion tying up loose ends and romantic entanglements. The plot was a little slow to get going and not as interesting as previous plots. The ending felt rushed and I wished it was a little longer. Still, if you've read the whole series, you must read this one to find out how it all ends!