What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

Managing Female by Beth Bryan -- Traditional Regency
On their way to France to join their aunt, Miss Deborah Stormont and her brother Perry encounter Lord Auberon Crichton whose horse has thrown a shoe miles from anywhere. Deb decides they should take the man in their carriage as far as Dover. The siblings are running late and Deb worries about missing the boat. Beron decides to help the pair find their boat in thanks for assisting him. An accident befalls him and Deborah feels that it is in the man's best interest to bring him aboard the ship where she can take care of him. Once he awakes, Lord Crichton is angry at being shanghaied and fretful because he was on his way to propose marriage to a worthy young lady! On board the ship, the Stormonts are befriended by Freddie Wimpole, an old friend of Lord Crichton's. Freddie is also on the way to visit an aunt and happily accompanies the Stormonts to their aunt's estate. Beron meets with another accident and is laid up at the Stormonts' aunt's home until he heals. To make matters worse, his intended bride is also visiting the neighborhood and staying with close friends and doesn't seem at all interested in him! He also becomes friendly with Deborah and begins to understand her. Add to the guests an Oxford botanist who admires Deborah's skilled drawings of plant life and woos Deborah with a professional opportunity she can't pass up. The characters become involved in a mystery surrounding buried treasure and standing stones nearby. The story comes to a conclusion in the typical Georgette Heyer style, that is, with little emphasis on feelings and a quick romance wrap up. The plot was a little slow in the beginning but the mystery kept me turning the pages through to the conclusion. If you like traditional Regencies, then this one is for you.


An Evening At Almack's: Four Captivating Stories of Love Among the Ton by Alice Holden , Donna Davidson, Teresa DesJardien Isobel Linton -- Regency Romance short stories
Four short stories about the Ton with crucial scenes taking place at Almack's. In "Katie and the Sea Captain," Katie has long loved Ryan and celebrates his return by riding her stallion out chasing a storm and painting it in oils. Upon her return home, she discovers Ryan disapproves of her behavior and encourages Katie's grandmother, a dowager Duchess to turn Katie into a lady and threatens to ruin Katie's brothers' ship building business if Katie doesn't cooperate. Alone and miserable in London, Katie waits four years for Ryan's returning, struggling with her feelings and torn between two worlds. Her only outlet is her painting. When Ryan finally returns, he seems different and distant and both Ryan and Katie must determine what their futures hold. "Scandalous" is a story of misunderstandings and desperation. After being in love and engaged for many years, it seems that Clara Northdon and Lord Travers have grown apart. When he cries off during an evening at Almacks, another lady steps in to try to catch him and resorts to desperate, scandalous behavior to trap Travers into marriage lest she and her family be turned out of Almacks. Only the friends of Lord Travers understand the true situation and come up with a scheme to make things right. My favorite story is "Lady of Intrigue" in which a young widow helps a former Bow Street Runner investigate a series of jewel disappearances involving a society lady. "A Last Waltz" stars a young country girl who is the subject of unwanted attentions from another lady's fiance. Sir Guy Trent, a Regency Buck, comes to Phillipa's rescue and is charmed by her innocent prattle. The jealous intended fiance of the unwanted suitor nearly ruins Phillipa's Season. Each of these stories about 1/4 the length of a novel which makes the plots resolved too quickly and little space for subtle character and plot development. None of the stories really impressed me as anything special. "Lady of Intrigue" was different and featured interesting characters. The other stories really show how difficult it was to be a woman at that time and have more serious undertones. If you're looking for something worthy of Georgette Heyer then skip this book but if you like the Regencies published by Zebra or Signet, then you might like this collection.

The Wicked Marquis by Marnie Ellingson -- Regency Romance
Miss Esme Leonardo, daughter of an Englishwoman and Italian opera singer, returns to England to live with her relatives after the death of her father. She quickly becomes close with her cousins Drusilla, Hope and Constance and their brother Kit. Kit is in love with a kind young lady whom he is not allowed to marry because his uncle wishes him to marry the most proper daughter of their neighbor in order to obtain a piece of land. Kit's cousin, the wicked Marquis of Locklynde has also forbidden Kit from marrying without permission. Local gossip has it that the Marquis has been living a dissipated life all over Europe and probably won't live very long, therefore Kit will soon become the next Marquis of Locklynde. The seemingly proper young lady, Lydia Milliman, is determined to marry Kit solely for the expectation of his title! Esme decides to find a better husband for Lydia Milliman but Lydia still holds out hope of a title. In order to push Lydia into the arms of Sir John Wittimore, Esme tells Lydia the first thing that pops into her head, the wicked Marquis is engaged to be married - to Esme! When the Marquis returns to England and discovers Esme's lie, he is naturally angry but curiously, he chooses to go along with the scheme and behaves like a proper gentleman. Esme is so busy arranging the lives of everyone around her, she fails to notice that she has tumbled into romance! Esme is a charming and delightful character whose adventures in matchmaking are quite funny. The Marquis is not a well-developed character but he is a good foil for Esme. This book is a must for fans of Georgette Heyer's The Grand Sophy! It's one of the most Heyeresque Regencies I've read and one of the best I've ever read.

The Earl and the Heriess by Barbara Metzger -- Regency Romance 
Miss Noelle Armstrong, her brother Winston, Viscount Stirling and beautiful younger sister Ferne were left with very little after the death of their ambassador father. Since their mother's death they have had to retrench even more. It comes as a great surprise when Noelle is left a legacy by the crotchety great-aunt who raised her mother. Nellie decides to take her siblings off to London for a Season. The Armstrongs head off to London with their father's redoubtable valet, a spinster aunt and their beloved Maltese puppies. Nellie hits on a scheme to sell the puppies as companions to the ton in hopes of receiving introductions into Society. Nellie clashes with the Justin, the Earl of Wrenthe when he wishes to buy a puppy for his mistress. The Armstrong girls are soon inadvertently involved in scandals and schemes and the Earl happens to be right in the middle of things. He dislikes the interruption to his business but can't get a certain pair of green eyes and a little white puppy out of his head! This is another great novel worthy of Georgette Heyer! The characters are well-developed, likable and their adventures are quite funny. I recommend this book for fans of Georgette Heyer's Frederica.

Tilly by Marion Chesney -- Edwardian Romance
Frumpy tomboy The Honorable Matilda has been treated as a son for her whole life. She enjoys the hunt and does not dream of romance. She does entertain thoughts of becoming friends with the handsome Phillip, Marquess of Heppleford, a most eligible bachelor. When Tilly's father dies leaving her penniless, she becomes the hired companion of Lady Aileen who treats Tilly cruelly, referring to Tilly as "the Beast." Phillip learns that his eccentric late father left a will stipulating that Phillip will only inherit if he marries within two months of his father's death. Time is running out and Phillip feels sorry for Tilly and charms her into agreeing to marry him as a purely business relationship. Tilly readily agrees, being in love with the handsome Marquess, but without really understanding the arrangement. Phillip rushes off to his French courtesan leaving Tilly alone in England to weather the gossip. With help from her French maid, Tilly transforms into a fashionable lady. When Phillip returns to England after learning about a later will, he discovers his wife is the toast of the countryside and even his own best friend is in love with her. Tilly only has eyes for Phillip and she wants to win his heart. His sneaky cousin and snobby aunts try to interfere and nearly ruin the fledgling relationship. The plot moves slowly towards the usual end. I felt very sorry for Tilly and found her annoying for much of the book. None of the other characters are likable and the story just isn't as funny as Chesney's Regencies.