What I Read in November 2015 Part IV

What I Read in November 2015 Part IV ...

Green Money by D.E. Stevenson-- Historical Fiction

George Ferrier has had a grand time in London celebrating his 25th birthday with friends. As he is about to return to his country home and beloved parents, he's met by a Mr. Green who claims to be an old friend of Mr. Ferrier's from the war days (WWI). George politely agrees to have lunch and drinks with Mr. Green and listens to the older man's reminisces. After a few more drinks, George finds himself agreeing to be trustee to the estate and Green's daughter. Green will die easier knowing his little girl is well looked after and George will be 500 pounds richer. Green insists he's good for another 20 years but shortly after their meeting, Mr. Green passes away, leaving his daughter to the trustees, including George. George's friend Paul Seeley encourages George to visit his ward, Elma. Elma, carefully reared to be a "delicate flower" by a Victorian governess, appears meek and mild but she's a quick study when she discovers there's a "new-fashioned" way of doing things. She longs to be a "new-fashioned" woman and leads George on a merry chase across the country when George discovers a secret about her new-fashioned friends. Meanwhile, Paul's little sister "Dan" is having a tough time at school and George agrees to help. How can he help when he has girls hanging on his arm all the time? George's mother, Paul and his sister Cathy are all convinced George is going to marry that girl and none of them are happy about it. He isn't sure who he wants to marry but he begins to get a clearer picture the more time he spends with Elma.

This is one of D.E. Stevenson's own favorite novels. It reads a lot of like a Jane Austen novel in parts. (I think Miss Stevenson was a fan of Mansfield Park). It also features some intrigue and complications in imitation of Heyer but not quite as wild or well-written. The first part of the book is pretty dull until the last page of that section. Then the story picks up and I had a tough time putting it down. I felt the ending was very rushed and there are too many extraneous plot points happening here. The ending surprised me though. At first I thought something different was going to happen but then I realized what actually was going to happen. It took too long to get there though. A little trimming in the beginning and a lot more ending would have been better. I didn't find this story as humorous as the dust jacket implied. It's not laugh out loud funny but it is a comical social commentary something like Jane Austen.

I didn't like any of the characters in this book and found them all annoying. George is not very quick but he has a level head on his shoulders. At first I didn't like him at all because he seemed like a frivolous idiot. I was confused as to why he was window shopping for his mother, it made him seem younger than his 25 years. As the plot really started to kick into high gear, I grew to like George. Though Green didn't know it, he chose exactly the right man to be one of the trustees. He can rest easy knowing George is on the job. I liked the way George dealt with his problems and how kind he was to animals and children.

Elma annoyed the heck out of me. I didn't quite understand why she wanted to be "new-fashioned" and why she was so empty-headed as to go along with whatever any man proposed. She wasn't raised to think for herself but I would think some common sense and decorum would have been instinctual. She really really got on my nerves as the story went on and I understand George's reactions to her behavior. Her governess Miss Wilson is somewhat to blame but she can't help being Victorian and as stuffy as they come. She was hired for that very reason, presumably.

I disliked the other characters too. First, George's mother is tough and cold unless you're an animal. I didn't really see why George was so close to her. She didn't seem the motherly type. She seemed the battle ax take-charge type. Mr. Ferrier is so absent-minded and focused on his stars, he can't see what's happening in front of his face. He inconveniences everyone around him without a second thought.The Seeleys are even worse parents. They don't even appear on page but their neglect of their younger daughter is apparent. Cathy is too good and self-sacrificing. She is strong minded and firm in her opinions which I admired but mostly she's Fanny Price, taking care of the family. Paul is moody and irritable for no good reason at all except one he thinks is a reason. All he had to do was talk to his friend but instead he gets into a snit. Dan is the only Seeley I liked and could relate to.

This is a quiet, pleasant read. It's not wonderful but it's not terrible. This type of plot just isn't really my favorite.

A Six Cylinder Courtship by Edward Salisbury Field-- Edwardian Romance

William Snowden gives his friend Jimmie a joyride in his new car when Jimmie gets a speck of dust in his eye and stops at a druggist to get it out. William puts his driving goggles on, turns out and meets fate face to face. Fate in the form of true love. The woman of his dreams mistakes him for a taxi driver and he goes along with the ruse to get to know her. When fate steps in once again, William risks losing all he's worked towards.

This Edwardian romance is a quick, light little read. There are some cutesy car references in the beginning applied to human actions and emotions which I didn't much like. I don't care for cars much and don't know anything about them so that was kind of beyond me. The romance is intriguing and unique. I couldn't put it down until I found out how it would end. However, I didn't really care for William and his style of courtship. Relationships based on lies and deceit really bother me and I don't like creepy stalker romances either. William went to too great lengths to lie in order to meet his mystery woman. They don't really know each other at all so I didn't really buy into the romance. However, I did want William to succeed. I'm torn! He seems to be based on a Vanderbilt or other socialite of the period but he seems like a really decent guy from the reader's perspective. It's too bad his love interest doesn't get to know him the way the reader does.

Stylistically this book is beautiful. There's a colored frontispiece, illustrations and a decorative border featuring Cupid and some car motif designs.

What I Read in July 2015 Part II

What I Read in July 2015 Part II ...

The Firebird's Feather by Marjorie Eccles  --Historical Fiction/Edwardian Romance

Kitty Challoner has always been fascinated by her mother, Lydia, a beautiful but moody woman. Kitty especially loves Lydia's tales of her childhood escape from Tsarist Russia in the dead of winter with her beloved father. Kitty loves to look at the Russian Orthodox icon in her mother's room and the lovely firebird box. On the eve of Kitty's come out, Lydia is shot and killed while riding her horse in Hyde Park. In the chaos of a suffragette demonstration, the killer got away. The police immediately suspect Lydia was involved with the Bolshevik terrorists who have recently robbed a jewelry store and murdered policemen. The police also believe Lydia could have been involved in the women's suffrage movement. Kitty is perplexed and confused by the police questions and why would they take her father away? It seems like everyone in the house is hiding secrets and those secrets may or may not lead to the killer. Kitty turns to her mother's companion on that fateful day, Marcus Villiers, for help. He would do anything for Kitty but he too has secrets and he feels guilty that he may have inadvertently caused Lydia's death.

This story isn't much for a story. It's a great background on the social issues of the time, especially the events that led to the Russian Revolution in 1917. This is one of the few times I will say there's too much history and not enough plot. The little plot there is moves sooooo slooowwwwly. There are a large number of suspects and each has a complicated backstory and secrets that are all revealed at once. The point-of-view shifts too frequently between each of the characters which is confusing and complicates the plot with a lot of unnecessary subplots. There's really not much below the surface of the story. It's mostly a compilation of the research the author did with a mystery thrown in. I guessed some of Lydia's secrets so it didn't come as a huge surprise. The killer's motive however, was super lame and not what I expected. The romance plot comes out of thin air and then rushes to an unlikely conclusion. I was hoping for more plot. Everything is just told and not really shown. It reads more like an outline than a novel...mirroring a subplot in the novel!

Kitty Challoner is a pretty but empty headed young lady. She just goes with the flow until her world is rocked by her mother's murder. I can relate to Kitty's interest in her family's heritage and love for the family heirlooms but her major interest to begin with, is protecting her mother's reputation. The whole mystery could have been solved a lot faster if people just told what they knew.  Kitty's father Louis is not all that likable. He's a respectable British businessman and I don't see how the lively Lydia ended up with him. He is shaken by his wife's death which apparently gives him an excuse to become an alcoholic and be rude to his daughter. His business partner is creepy and there's a backstory there that isn't fully revealed. His business partner's wife Fanny's point-of-view makes her husband into a cold fish while everyone else sees him as a Latin lover and her as the cold fish. Which is it? Who do we believe? She's not a very nice person either but I did feel kind of bad for her.

The rest of Kitty's family are so flat. There's Aunt Ursula, who is very kind but not a deep person. Her children Jon and Bridget, on the other hand, reject all they've been brought up to believe. Why? I don't know. Jon prefers living in a hovel and editing a socialist radical newspaper to a life of privileged for no good reason at all except he was influenced by his Aunt Lydia's beliefs in justice. Bridget falls in with the suffragettes in an unrealistic way. There's a subplot about her infatuation with a suffragette leader that is dropped in like a lead balloon and never fully develops.

Marcus' plot comes out of nowhere and has potential to be an interesting story in and of itself. We get some of his emotions and feelings about what he has done and should do but they're still on the surface and told to us. There's no real passion or true romance in his plot though he claims he loves a certain character. The best characters are the servants. Emma has a backstory that is apparently hair raising but we never get the full of it or see much of her. We're just told about her. Hester Dax has the most interested and complicated story but again it never really gets fleshed out completely. She makes some strange decisions for no known reason. She was my favorite character and the only one I really felt sorry for. She alone was truly affected by Lydia's death - until the unrealistic ending.

Under A Painted Sky by Stacey Lee-- Young Adult Historical Fiction 

In St. Joe, Missouri in 1849 there's a Chinese-American population of 2: Samantha and her dad. Samantha earns money giving music lessons with her trusty violin Lady Tin-Yin and her father runs a dry good store. Samantha's dad has dreams of going to California and has given his last precious valuable to a friend from New York to help pay their way. Before they can leave, Samantha's dad perishes in a deadly fire, Samantha's virtue is put in danger and she makes an unexpected friend in Anna-Mae, an enslaved girl near her own age. Anna-Mae was planning to run when Samantha interrupted and now they both have to flee. Where to? California with everyone else, of course, to catch up to Samantha's family friend and Anna-Mae's brother. For safety's sake, they disguise themselves as boys and soon Sammy and Andy are on the western trail headed for California with a couple of cowboys (emphasis on the boys). There are many dangers on the trail - not the least of which is a feminine heart beating inside Sammy, but she's certain that if her love interest knew she was a girl he still wouldn't be interested because of her race. White people and Chinese just don't mix. Will she make it to California alive and with her heart in tact?

I was wary of reading a western since I took a seminar on History of the West, and I thought the author was being too politically correct in making her narrator a Chinese-American girl when there really weren't any in America at that time. However, I need not have worried. This book is well-researched and fun to read. I couldn't put it down at all. Though I didn't read until my usual late late hour for a good book, I still felt the need to wake up early and finish it before I could sleep. A good book haunts my dreams and this was no exception. The plot was faced paced, fun and sounded authentic to me. The story deals with tough topics like slavery, rape, prostitution, premarital sex, murder and racism. It sounds like a lot but issues are worked in seamlessly as part of the plot. The romance subplots were interesting but the book would be great even without it. I felt like I was there on the westward trail with Sammy, Andy, Cay, West, Petey and of course the animals.

Samantha and Anna-Mae/Sammy and Andy are the two main characters. Though Sammy narrates the story, Andy is a co-heroine. They have to put up with a lot of terrible things both as women/women of color and as boys on the trail. Through it all, Andy retains her dry sense of humor and no-nonsense personality. The one thing I didn't care for was her deep Christian Faith. I guess she was supposed to counterbalance Sammy's Chinese philosophy but her constant Christian commentary was too much and for me. Sammy's character growth is amazing. She narrates her journey and acknowledges her childish temper which was her downfall. She incorporates her father's Chinese philosophy into her life and fears her Year of the Snake birth date has made her unlucky. She grows up a lot, learning from her heritage, Andy's stories and the boys she rides with. Yes she falls in love but she matures and learns about love and relationships. I really enjoyed this story and recommend it to older teens and adults.

The boys or I should say young men: Cay, West and Petey are all very different but equally well-drawn as the girls. Cay is a little too open and disgusting for me, but I suppose all young men like to discuss their sexual prowess and their manhood parts. There was just a bit too much of it. He's also very reckless and gets the party in danger many times. West is the strong, silent type. He's quiet, observant and has a good head on his shoulders. His role is to keep his cousin Cay in line. He has inner demons to battle and I thought more of that would come out in the story, especially at the end. His reason for trying to deny his feelings was stupid. Petey is sort of the comic relief character yet he too has demons he's running from. I love his way with animals and how his horses are also central characters in the novel. The horses also add some comic relief and charm to the story.

Content warning: near rape, some violence, alcohol/drunkenness, lots of talk about sex, one character catches another having sex with a girl though it's just an impression more than a description. This would be a good PG-13 movie.

What I Read in July 2015 Part I

What I Read in July 2015 Part I ...

Patricia Brent, Spinster by Herbert Jenkins  --Historical Fiction/Edwardian Romance

This novel was originally published in 1918 when a woman in her 20s was considered a spinster. Fed up with the gossips at her boarding house, Patricia Brent makes up a fictional fiance to shut them all up. When the old catty gossips follow her to the location of her "date," Patricia is stuck. Seeing an available young soldier sitting alone, she seizes the opportunity to extend her lie a little longer. Peter Bowen is enchanted with Patricia and her tall tale. He would love to make it a reality but after their first meeting, she avoids him like the plague. Embarrassed by her lie and too proud to accept what she believes is Peter's pity, Patricia tries her hardest to keep away from Peter. Then Peter gets his sister involved and no one is a match for Tan's intelligence and enthusiasm. 

 This is a cute story in the vein of Jane Austen in terms of social satire. The writing style isn't as elegant or witty as Jane Austen but it is subtly funny in parts. The plot goes on a little too long and the courtship a little too one-sided. You really have to accept the idea of love at first sight for this to work. 

I felt sorry for Patricia because I understand how she feels. Not married? How come? Don't you want to get married? To hear this and bear with it day after day is more than any mortal can bear. I completely get Patricia's motive for lying to her housemates. She had my sympathy and understanding the entire book even though I was rooting for Peter to win her over.  Peter is the least developed of all the secondary characters. Some of the story is from his point-of-view but it doesn't really get inside his head and tell us what he's feeling. He's hurt by Patricia's rejection of him but it isn't completely clear why he's so in love with her when all she does is spurn him. The other characters say that the more he's thwarted, the more he wants something. That doesn't sound like a good basis for a relationship to me, but somehow it works and I wanted him to succeed. 

 The secondary characters are vastly appealing. The spiteful old gossips are typical of the Victorian period when women had nothing better to do than talk about past glories and long dead high-placed relatives. My personal favorite character is her boss' father-in-law. A former builder, this widowed gentleman has money and charm aplenty. He's so kind and very funny. He reminded me of a nicer version of Eliza Doolittle's father in My Fair Lady. Peter's sister Tan is also a favorite. She is intelligent, beautiful, witty and an all around good person. She and Peter are very close and she handles the slighting of her brother very well. Her friend Peggy is also delightful. She's very charming.

 Content: Kisses only, an air raid/bomb drops on a nearby street but the characters are isolated from the bloodhshed. There are some veiled mentions of PTSD and some wounded soldiers in a hospital setting. Until the last third, you barely know what year it is.


The Harlow Hoyden: A Regency Romance by Lynn Messina--Regency Romance

Miss Emma Harlow will do anything for her twin sister Lavinia, including stealing a priceless orchid from a Duke's conservatory- right under his very nose! Of course she had assumed he was the country cousin, but still, she stole a Duke's orchid and he wasn't at all upset about it. Emma decides that Alex Keswick, Seventh Duke of Trent is exactly the right person to help her with her PLAN. Emma has a plan to rid her sister Lavinia of her odious fiance, Sir Windbourne. Emma can't stand the old windbag and she hates the idea of losing her sister and having her sister lose her identity in marriage. Lavinia dreams of having children some day while Emma decries the married state. She plans to have Trent seduce her sister into breaking off her engagement to Sir "Windbag." Trent categorically refuses. He may be a rake but he doesn't trifle with innocents. If he won't agree to her plan, Emma will find another libertine - one who may have less of a conscience than Alex. Alex reluctantly agrees to court Vinnie but he can't keep his eyes or his hands off Emma. Emma has high hopes for a match between Vinnie and Trent, despite her own feelings on the matter. They are slow to come together so Emma decides to find something on Windbag that will cause Vinnie to break off her engagement once and for all. Little does she dream that her investigation will yield surprising results - in more ways than one.

The plot of this story is largely interesting - if not original. The addition of an added mystery plot saved the book from tedium. The faux romance between Vinnie and Trent went on way too long and was boring. The romance is very hot and steamy with lots of passionate kisses, touching and a love scene that comes at the right moment for those characters. I found the mystery plot really unbelievable. I would think that Mr. Harlow or at least Roger would investigate the man their daughter/sister is engaged to! I also really disliked the morning after misunderstanding. It's such a common trope but I liked the way it was resolved.

Normally I can't stand crazy heroines and Emma takes the cake in craziness but she was charming and I couldn't help but like her. I felt bad for her that she had such a terrible childhood that it ruined her views on marriage. I happen to agree with her beliefs that given the time period, marriage was a bad deal for many women, especially those like Lavinia who made marriages of convenience. Emma's schemes and scrapes never failed to astonish me. I kept wondering what she would do next. She's a very modern girl running around Regency England. She's not the kind of girl that every reader will like. Lavinia is a better period heroine. She's correct in her behavior but she's still lively and has horticultural interests that most women didn't think about. She is a devoted, caring sister for all the right reasons so I fail to see why she would attach herself to someone her twin sister felt so strongly was a bad match. A little communication between them would have been nice and communication with Roger would have been better but then the romance plot wouldn't have advanced.

The hero is kind of disgusting at first, he can't stick to one mistress at a time, or maybe he's lying. He is an honorable rake who cares deeply for the people he chooses to love and who would do anything to keep his beloved safe. He is considerate and caring towards Vinnie though he isn't attracted to her. He does some wonderful things for her and they could have a happy marriage if they wanted to, or at least if passion didn't get in the way. Alex is the one with a level head trying to keep Emma out of trouble for safety's sake and not because she isn't behaving as a young maiden should.

Sir Waldo "Windbag" is worse than Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins is an idiot and Sir Waldo isn't quite that silly. His motives are so transparent I guessed right away what he was up to. It's so obvious that I kept groaning in frustration as Emma took the difficult course with him instead of the logical one. The ending of his plot surprised me a lot and I don't really think I liked it. There are a couple of minor characters who add more comic relief to the story. There is also Sarah, Mrs. Roger Harlow, sister-in-law to the twins. She is kind and level-headed and very much in love with her husband. I would have liked her story a bit more than this one.

Content: Steamy make out scenes and one somewhat graphic love scene. 

What I Read in February 2015 Part VI

What I Read in February 2015 Part VI. . .

George Porter and Genevieve Masefield Mysteries 

Murder on the Marmora 

Dillman and Genevieve have left the luxurious Cunard Line and taken a job with the P&O Line on board the Marmora. The Marmora is a smaller ship than what they're used to, carrying vacationers to Egypt and Australia. The ship's purser, Brian Kilhendry, is openly antagonistic towards the detectives, particularly Dillman. Kilhendry claims he runs a clean ship and any petty crimes he can take care of right away with the help of his assistant, Martin Grandage. Kilhendry also hates Americans. Working separately as usual, the detectives acquire the usual sorts of quirky friends. Genevieve is befriended by mother and daughter duo Myra and Lillian Cathcart. Newly widowed, Myra is ready to do the things her cautious husband never wanted to do but her daughter is exactly like her father. Myra turns to Genevieve, the woman she wishes her daughter would be, for help bringing Lillian out of her shell. Dillman finds the company of Egyptologist Mr. Goss fascinating but the attentions of teenage Polly Goss, a young woman with her first crush, are a bit hindering. There's also a family of royals to keep an eye on; a testy German photographer and a vain French chef both determined to insinuate themselves with the royals. Genevieve's past threatens to catch up to her when she sees the last person she ever expected or wanted to see on this trip. When several female passengers are robbed, Dillman and Genevieve are puzzled. Then a much-liked passenger is found brutally murdered, Dillman is sure there is a connection. Can they figure it out before they reach Port Said and the villain gets away?

The plot of this book was so complicated that I never ever guessed at anything. I was very shocked at the reveal. I stayed up way way too late reading this book because I just couldn't put it down. The story sticks close to Dillman and Genevieve this time with a little point-of-view shifting. Occasionally the author takes the reader to the scene of the crime before Dillman and Genevieve find out about it. That was a bit jarring. It interrupted the flow of the narrative. The subplot about the royals was really not necessary. There are several red herrings before the conclusion. I wrongly suspected a character of nefarious motives because of their nationality and I apologize to them for that. The one big thing that disturbed me about this book is something that happened to Genevieve. It ruined the whole story for me, though it was accurate for the time. I was shocked at her decision and did not agree with it.

Dillman finally has a personality and allows his passions to shine through. He's intelligent and thoughtful as well as caring. I liked how he handled Polly's crush with a delicate touch, not wanting to hurt her. I also liked knowing about what interests him. The ending absolutely surprised and delighted me. Genevieve's backstory comes out in full, finally. We see another side of her - more vulnerable and softer. I especially liked how she was able to draw out Lillian and help the young woman though she had other things to worry about. I did not like how she handled her unexpected encounters and completely disagreed with her decision. It might be accurate but it's not right.

I'm dying to read the next volume now.

Murder on the Salsette 

George Dillman and Genevieve Maesfield are working on the P&O steamer from Bombay to Aden. George loved the vibrant city of Bombay but his first new friend, Mr. Dudley Nevin hates India. A Civil Servant, he's spent his career in the hot, steamy environment and would welcome a change. On board the ship he encounters a man from his past who gives him a black look. Dillman is certainly intrigued. Genevieve has her hands full with an invalid woman, Constance Simcoe, and her daughter Tabitha and a series of thefts the victims demand to be solved. Easier said than done when one of the victims won't share all the information with Genevieve. Dillman has attracted the notice of another young woman, this one on roller skates and he also befriends a Sikh mystic who predicts something terrible is going to happen. His prediction comes true when someone ends up dead. With only 4 days to solve all the crimes, the detectives have their hands full.

The plot was nicely paced and the action happens fairly quickly and doesn't let up. I liked the colorful characters in this novel, especially the journalist writing about women at sea. He actually reveals a big clue so I wasn't surprised at some of the revelations. I did guess about one thing though. I felt it was pretty obvious. I objected to the stereotype of the charming flirtatious Italian, Paulo Morelli but I grew to like him and was rooting for him to succeed. I just wish the author hadn't fallen back on the old stereotype. I also really liked the exuberant young Lois Greenwood. I had never heard of a women's roller derby football team in Edwardian England. That sounds so unusual and fascinating. Lois' father was my least favorite character. He and the Kinnerslys who epitomized the stereotype of British in India at the time. I wish their maid, Suki, had been fleshed out more. I'm still enjoying the series and plan to dig in to the next soon.


Murder on the Oceanic 

George Dillman and Genevieve Masefield are now working for the White Star Line, sailing for New York on the Oceanic. On board is the owner of the shipping line, noted financier J.P. Morgan, who is returning from Paris with a suite of art treasures. Urged by the purser and both detectives to lock up his valuables, he believes his bodyguard, Howard Reidel, will keep away any unwanted thieves. Dillman makes the acquaintance of an eccentric, bohemian artist, the artist's wife, Veronica, also an artist and his model, Dominique. Dillman finds them all charming. He also likes his steward, Manny Ellway, but suspects the man is hiding something. Genevieve is dealing with too much adoration again. A young woman, Blanche Charlbury, latches on to Genevieve and wants Genevieve to know her fiance, Mark. Mark disapproves of Genevieve and tries to curb Blanche's friendship,which angers Genevieve. Blance also introduces Genevieve to Johnny Killick, a rake with no scruples when it comes to the female sex. Not only does Genevieve have to worry about Johnny, she has an irate passenger who lost her diamond earrings and demands their return NOW; an absent-minded lady who lost her purse and a rash of other thefts. She's on her own because Dillman has a bigger crime to solve - the murder of J.P. Morgan's bodyguard and the theft of some valuable artwork. Dillman thinks the thefts are a ruse to distract him from his pursuit of the murderer. He needs Genevieve to solve the mystery quickly so he can catch the thief and murderer.

This story was less interesting than the previous mysteries. Now they're on the famed White Star Line but there's little description of the ship's interior. There's a lot of info dump about the history of the ship which does not bear any relevance to the story. There's a couple of red herrings and I couldn't figure out who committed the crimes. I suspected one person and was partly right. I wasn't sad or surprised that Reidel was murdered. He was too harsh and too stupid to stick around for long. This story lacks the charming characters of some of the previous books. I felt sympathy towards Blanche and hoped she would not work things out with Mark because he is not right for her. The victims of theft are not very sympathetic characters and one is horrid to Genevieve. The stewards and stewardess are the most sympathetic characters because they're just trying to earn a living but because of their social status, they're accused of crimes.

There were two major things I hated about this book: 1)Our detectives get arrogant again and make mistakes. By now they should be so experienced they would act cautiously. 2)Once again Genevieve puts herself in a dangerous situation and needs to be rescued. I absolutely think Dillman needs to teach her some self defense and that she should be smart enough NOT to put herself in that situation. It was horrible for her and horrible to read. At least this time she has a good reason not to press charges but even in 1910 I think she should have stood up for herself more. The minor thing I disliked about the story is that other than J.P. Morgan, the story could have taken place at any time during the steamship era.

Content warning: Dialogue about free love and what that means for the characters; near sexual assault

Murder on the Celtic 

George and Genevieve are still working for the White Star Line sailing on the Celtic. They're both in first class but separately. Genevieve's dream is to have a relaxing vacation with George by her side, but that is of course, not meant to be. She becomes the subject of a wager between two rakish businessmen, Mr. Spurrier and Mr. Cleves, to see who can seduce her first. Genevieve knows what they're up to and tries to keep her distance for personal and professional reasons. George is being hunted by a widow and her mother and makes the acquaintance of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The famous author hopes to travel in relative anonymity because he dislikes being crowded and fussed over, but he can barely escape from the overzealous barber who seems to be his #1 fan. Then, while Sir Arthur and Lady Doyle are at a seance, his most prized possession is stolen. George is on the case while Genevieve handles the usual petty thefts and explores the world of spiritualism. When a newly married man goes missing, George is baffled. How could a man disappear on a ship? Meanwhile, in steerage, the huddled masses turned away from Ellis Island are returning to Europe. Returning to what? wonders Miriam Pinnick. Her husband is a glass half full person and is thankful they're alive and can go back to London to their friends. Len Rush isn't so lucky. A maimed former miner, he has nothing left to live for now his beloved wife is dead and buried at sea. He rebuffs Saul's friendship and just wants to be left alone. Could his loner status help provide a clue as to what happened to the missing man?

The mystery in this story really baffled me. I hoped it wasn't murder but then it seemed like it was and I was so sad. The big reveal came as a huge shock. I knew exactly who stole the book and why but the murder plot really surprised me. This last book has the most complicated mystery! The rest of the plot is entirely unnecessary. There are lengthy passages of pointless dialogue especially among the steerage passengers. There's a brief foray into spiritualism and then that's dropped when there's a murder to solve! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle appears too frequently and isn't of any added value to the story except that his stolen book is the key to the mystery. There's too much time spent on the two men who want to seduce Genevieve, two long quotes from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's verse and a lot of background information about the author. This is apparently the last book in the series but there's no closure for the detectives. The book also lacks a p.s. about the ship's history for those who care.

The story lacks the colorful characters because too much attention is paid to Len Rush, Saul Pinnick and the two men who want to seduce Genevieve. I hated both businessmen and hoped at least one would be murdered. I wasn't crazy about Mrs. Trouncer, mainly because she was after George. He always handles his admirers with grace and charm. Noddy Ruggles is the most quirky character and mostly I wished he would shut up. He was certainly colorful but most of his dialogue wasn't necessary. Besides George and Genevieve the characters I liked were the newlywed Lowburys and the medium, Mrs. Burbridge. She was an interesting and complicated character. I wanted more of her and less of everything else.

What I've Read This Week Part II

What I've Read This Week Part II . . .

Blandings Castle by P.G. Wodehouse -- Historical Fiction short stories


The first half of this book tells of the further adventures of the Threepwood family and friends. The second half are tall tales from Hollywood featuring a new character, Mr. Mulliner.

I quite enjoyed the Blandings Castle stories. Freddie Threepwood is growing up and growing a brain! I liked him much more now that he's more steady. Lord Emsworth remains a dear most of the time, but he can be just as snobby as his sisters when he wants to be. Pig Hoo-o-o-o-ey! made me laugh so hard. I just love stories involving The Empress of Blandings. Who ever though a story about a pig could be so funny?
I really didn't like any of the Mulliner stories. The plots were bland and seemed too over the top. I don't know Mr. Mulliner or care why he's telling these stories or whether they're supposed to be true or tall tales. They don't have as well-drawn characters as the Blandings Castle stories. The characters are all the same and basically boring. Some of the plots are typical Wodehouse formula plots. I really don't like how the heroines love the heroes only when the heroes become alpha males. The point was for them to stand up for themselves but the heroines who like take charge heroes come across as weak and unlikeable. I also don't like brooding heroines.

I'm obsessed with Blandings Castle and I want to read more. I think the stories work better in the shorter format because the plots of the novels are basically the same and tend to drag on too long. The shorter format allowed Wodehouse to exercise his comic genius without getting hung up on plot. 


A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller -- Young Adult Historical Fiction

Victoria Darling longs to be a true artist, like her favorite Pre-Raphaelite painter William Waterhouse, but in 1909 women, especially upper class women, do not paint anything except watercolors. They exist merely to be ornaments to their husbands, run a household, bear children and be social. There's no time for art in Vicky's world. She sneaks away from her fancy finishing school in Paris to study art at a salon. She is the only female, yet she knows she can hold her own if only she has a chance to learn. She feels this is the beginning of a long career. However, when she chooses to pose nude for her art class, she is discovered and expelled from school. Back in London, Vicky's parents are humiliated and angry. They're determined to keep their social position and obtain royal patronage for the family business. Vicky's... indiscretion didn't help. Fortunately, Edmund Carrick-Humphreys, the younger son of another nouveau riche family is willing to marry Vicky. Vicky agrees only because she knows it's the only way to get money to attend the prestige Royal College of Art. First she needs a portfolio of recent work so she sneaks out with her sketchbook to draw the suffragettes protesting at Parliament. The police behave badly towards anyone suspected of being a suffragette. Only one, Police Constable William Fletcher has any sympathy for the suffragettes. When Vicky meets Will, they form a deep connection due to their artistic natures and appreciation for art in all forms. Lucy also meets a young American woman named Lucy who gave up her family and life in America to fight for women's suffrage. She challenges Vicky to take a deep look at her feelings about women's rights and encourages Vicky to stand up for what she believes in.

The plot of this book slowly moves towards the inevitable conclusion. Not much happens in the middle and what does happen is a bit repetitive. Still, I liked the story and couldn't put it down until I found out how Vicky was going to find happiness. I would have tightened the angst filled middle and added more of the exciting last chapter. The ending is a total cliche and I was disappointed in that. I was hoping for a realistic ending for Vicky. I was torn because I really wanted her to be happy, yet I felt like she was constantly pushing too many boundaries and she had to accept who she was and find a way to compromise. The period details, especially about fashion, are amazing. The author took a lot of time to do research and really learn the background for her novel. I learned a bit more than I wanted to about painting techniques. Like Vicky, I love Waterhouse and the Pre-Raphaelites. Somehow I missed seeing The Mermaid before. This book is a cut above the usual Downton Abbey/Upstairs, Downstairs knock-off novels that are sprouting up everywhere these days. Vicky's passion for art gives her some meaning and direction in her life. It makes her a better heroine than the usual poor, little rich girl.

I sympathized with Vicky a lot. I feel her passion for art and her desire to achieve happiness. I felt and acted a lot like her when I was a teen. However, I felt she went about trying to achieve her goals in all the wrong ways. I hated that she lied and sneaked out of the house. That doesn't send a good message to teens. Her relationship with the men in her life isn't very good. She's cold and distant to one and never even tries to get to know him. She's a bit snobbish and cool towards the other at times and yet opens up to him more than anyone else. I just didn't really feel that relationship was really all that deep though. She's manipulative with her brother and rude to her father at times. She doesn't behave much better with any of the women in her life. She's single-mindedly focused on art and doesn't have good decision making skills or people skills.

The major male characters, with the exception of one, are all two-dimensional stereotypes of period men. The other man is also fairly two-dimensional in the opposite way. He's a bit too kind and good. He bored me.

The female characters are a little better. I especially liked the character development of Mrs. Darling. She surprised me. I felt sorry for her. I didn't like Lucy too much though I really admire Alice Paul, on whom she is based. I felt she was a bit single-minded and lacking in understanding. She couldn't understand what it was like to be Vicky and she was too focused on militant suffrage techniques. I don't care for that brand of women's suffrage and I think it did more harm than good. The Pankhurst women have cameos in this story, especially Sylvia. I liked getting to know the family.

Read this if you loved Lady Sybil on Downton Abbey.

What I Read This Week

What I Read This Week . . .

Piccadilly Jim by P.G. Wodehouse -- Historical Fiction/Romantic Comedy

In New York, Mr. Peter Pett, a millionaire, has a nagging wife, a house full of upstart young wannabe intellectuals and a horrid, fat stepson in need of discipline. The only person in his family he likes and trusts is his niece Ann. Mr. Pett and Ann concoct a plan with the aid of his physical instructor Jerry to kidnap Ogden and send him to a dog hospital for good food and exercise. It's Mr. Pett's only hope of peace in his household. Before they can act on their plan, Mrs. Pett discovers the tabloid journalists have learned she is the aunt to the one they call "Piccadilly Jim" and she's outraged that her name is associated with this young man's terrible behavior and is determined to go to England to stop him and force him back to New York.  James Crocker is a young man about town in London. He's lazy and enjoys living off his stepmother's millions. His poor hen-pecked father is beside himself with homesickness for good old American baseball but his wife won't allow him to return home until he's made a peer. Jimmy's behavior is not helping especially as he's made an enemy of the one person who can aid Mrs. Crocker's ambitions. Jimmy would do anything for his dear old dad including going on the straight and narrow, but what can he do? Then he rescues a beautiful young American woman from being run over by a taxi and it's love at first sight. He decides to follow her back to America. The only problem is - Ann hates Jimmy Crocker for something he once did to her. Jimmy must pretend to be Mr. Bayliss, the son of a butler. Then, when he's in need of help, he has to pretend to be himself. How can he convince Ann that he's worthy of her hand in marriage if he can't even be himself? When Aunt Nesta Pett discovers strangers in her midst she fears for her precious Ogden and sets in motion a series of events that will lead to the hilarious conclusion of the novel. 

Piccadilly Jim is a screwball comedy of errors type story that can be enjoyed by teens and adults. The story starts off a little slow with lots of exposition, but once we meet Jimmy, the story takes off. It captured my attention enough to know how Jimmy got out of his predicament and hopefully won the hand of the woman he loves. Jimmy's scrapes are comical but not really laugh out loud funny but they did make me giggle towards the end. The romance develops nicely into a true meeting of minds. She is cynical which I didn't like too much but I can understand her feelings. There's a mystery plot woven into the story too. It doesn't make a lot of sense realistically but it works OK. It's funny anyway and again serves to further the romance.

I really liked Jimmy and found him vastly amusing. Do I think he's good husband material? Not really but he'll try and maybe he will grow up. His moment of awareness comes a little too suddenly to be truly believable but it works in terms of forwarding the plot and to kick off the romance plot. I love the dialogue between the h/h. It's witty and amusing. All of Jimmy's dialogue is witty. I especially love his exchanges with Osgood. I also liked the heroine (I'm trying not to spoil it but it is predictable). She's intelligent and forthright and knows how to roll with the punches when faced with insanity. The only other character who is likeable is Mr. Crocker, Jimmy's father, who steals every scene he's in, especially the later ones.

I really disliked the two domineering wives in this story. When it's an alpha male and a meek girl it's considered abusive and not funny and I didn't find it very funny the other way around either. The two husbands annoyed me for being so passive. I kept willing them to stand up to their wives. However, when I got to the end and the moral of the story, I understood that Wodehouse was making a commentary on marriage and the reasons why people should and shouldn't marry. I liked the message and maybe it can be understood throughout the novel if the reader is paying attention.

This is my first Wodehouse novel but it won't be my last. I recommend this to anyone who likes screwball comedies and subtle romances with witty dialogue.

What I've Read This Week Part I

What I've Read This Week Part I . . .

The Wooing of Miss Masters by Susan Carroll -- Regency Romance

Simon, the Duke of Raeburn has decided at 37 to take a wife. He has asked his sister to assemble the finest young ladies in the area at a ball where he will choose a wife from among them. Augusta deplores her brother's manner of finding a wife. She wants him to marry for love the way she did. Miss Audra Leigh Masters wants nothing to do with any eligible gentlemen, Dukes or otherwise. She wants to be left alone to read. With her mother currently living in Italy with husband #5, Audra has charge of her younger half sister Cecily. Cecily, just done with finishing school, longs for parties and beaux and a London Season. She's bored to death in the country so when the ball is announced, she dreams of attending, but not being invited, she can only dream. When Audra chases Cecily's spoiled dog into Raeburn's woods, he thinks she's just another unmarried miss setting out to catch a Duke. Audra, not cowed by the Duke's ferocious scowl and gruff demeanor quickly sets him straight and runs off. Simon has finally found the one woman who doesn't bore him and she wants nothing do with him. Simon, however, is a man who will not be deterred, especially once his sister learns of the encounter. This is a typical sweet Regency romance. It's cute but not great. The hero and heroine are difficult to like. Simon is a good hero once you get to know him but he is a bully with people he doesn't know. He's a true alpha hero and I am not sure I really love him. I'm not certain that he and Audra are well matched either. I adored Audra. She's SO me! Bluestocking, animal-loving spinster who would rather be left alone to read than go to balls - check, check, check. I think she's a bit prickly though given her family situation and has closed herself off to the idea of love. She expresses some very valid concerns. Her personality and feelings about marriage make her a rather unconventional heroine. She's anti-social so she isn't exactly someone you want to root for but I loved her. I found Cecily annoying until the end. Who names their dog Frou-Frou? That is not someone I want to be friends with. The plot has some amusing moments that made me chuckle but nothing laugh out loud funny. The ending is rather unconventional for a period romance novel. I kind of like it because it's more realistic and makes sense for the story, yet they fell in love so fast it kind of doesn't make sense. This book is not one for the keeper shelf but worth a read

Summerset Abbey: A Bloom in Winter by T.J. Brown -- Historical Fiction/romance

January 1914 -Prudence tries to make the best of her situation and forget Sebastian while Victoria and Rowena find their true passions, friendship, romance, excitement and adventure. At first this novel is typical pre-WWI fiction with the same old poor little rich girl story. A far more interesting story would be the maid turned secretary. The second half of this novel is better than the first. I couldn't put it down. I finally began to like Rowena though she still lets others dictate her life for her. She made a decision I didn't approve of for the time period and I think Lady Mary Crawley would be quite jealous of Rowena. Prudence still doesn't appeal to me. She's trying hard to accept life as it is but she isn't doing much to change her situation. Victoria is the best of the three women. Her character is the most fleshed out and her situation interesting and exciting. She is the only one who experiences any growth. Even though I suspected something was going to happen when she met Martha and Mary, it didn't quite happen the way I expected. It's quite interesting and different from other novels. I love learning the history of the period.  Of the gentlemen, only Kit is given any real personality. He's charming and amusing but not given much depth. The author tells the story in a very detached manner. She tells instead of shows. The descriptions of the clothes are fabulous and the descriptions of the estate are very nice, but everything else is told to us: "Prudence felt..." Victoria did this, etc. I would have liked a bit more emotional involvement. For those who love Downton Abbey and loved the first pre-war season, this book will help fill the longing for more. There is a love scene but nothing is described at all. The content is clean enough for young adult and adults who prefer their romances clean.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Bluestocking on His Knee by Regina Scott -- Regency Romance

Kevin Whattling is close to being thrown in the poor house. The once wealthy handsome Corinthian has paid most of his late younger brother's debts but the bills keep coming. He has only one way to stay out of debtor's prison - marry an heiress. He decides on Miss Eugennia Welch, a wealthy bluestocking. Eugennia likes nothing better than to be studying something but she can't help wishing for a handsome prince to come and marry her. When Kevin announces his intentions, Eugennia is surprised but interested. She agrees to begin a friendship to see whether they would suit and discovers that her heart is telling her something different from her head. Kevin's enemy tries to come between them and it's up to Eugennia to figure out how to stop the villain. She also must decide whether she wants to follow her head or her heart while Kevin hopes desperately that the woman he has come to love will be the bluestocking on his knee. This novel is one of Regina Scott's best. I really liked and identified with Eugennia. Kevin is a little two-dimensional and a bit unlikable for his mercenary ways but as the story progresses, I came to like him better. There is great chemistry between Kevin and Eugennia without their feelings overpowering the story. (There's nothing more than kisses). The plot progresses quickly but is not rushed. My only quibble is that I wish Kevin had talked to Eugennia about Robbie but other than that, I really enjoyed the story. 

Ginny by Jennie Tremaine (Marion Chesney) -- Edwardian romance

Ginny Boggs, a coal merchant's daughter inherits a fortune and an estate from someone she's never met. The relatives of her benefactor Mr. Giles Frayne are angry at being snubbed in favor of someone from the middle-class. His will stipulates that they must stay on at Courtney and help Ginny go on in Society until her marriage. The four relatives are convinced Ginny will be nothing but a uncouth person and are determined to make her life miserable. Ginny arrives in full splendor turning malicious words and intentions on their head. Watching on the sidelines is Ginny's neighbor, Lord Gerald de Fremney. Gerald thinks Ginny is not his type - he prefers modern women like the cool, confident Alicia, but he is extremely physically attracted to Ginny. The more he meets of Ginny, the more he finds himself wondering what is going on in her head and finds it difficult to maintain a physical distance from the young woman who has turned the Kentish countryside upside down. When Ginny fears her life is in danger, why does Gerald feel the need to protect her? This is a screwball comedy similar to Georgette Heyer's The Unknown Ajax. It's typical Marion Chesney style: lighthearted and fun, for the most part. The Edwardians are a bit more racy than their Regency counterparts. There is a love scene but nothing is shown. Roles for women had drastically changed by the time this story is set. This novel presents both modern and old-fashioned women and favors the old-fashioned type. I enjoyed the novel but found it bothersome not to know what was going on in Ginny's head. If you like light novels without much substance and Marion Chesney's Regencies, you'll love this one too.

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.