What I've Read This Week . . .
The Merry Chase by Judith Nelson -- Regency Romance
Miss Drucilla Wrothton is 25 and unmarried but NOT on the shelf, thank you very much! If you ask her Aunt Hester, Dru is on her last prayers and in need of a good husband. Until now, Dru's mother has been content to allow Dru to follow her heart, however, the estate is entailed to any Wrothton heir and since Dru's brother died a year ago, Drucilla is the only one keeping her despicable cousins from inheriting. The Hovington cousins descend upon the Wrothtons to inspect "their" property with little notice bringing their dim-witted dandy son Percival, who is convinced Dru has a tendre for him. Dru manages to get rid of her cousins but her aunt won't give up the subject of marriage and insists on holding a ball to reintroduce Dru into Society after their period of mourning. Dru is determined to be miserable at the ball and enlists the support of her eccentric 30 year-old cousin Matty. Before Matty can arrive to save her, Dru manages to run afoul of their new neighbor, Mr. Crandon Pettigrew, the most hateful, odious man alive who not only insulted her and her horse, but had the audacity to laugh at her! Pettigrew's friend, Sebastian, Duke of Ratchford, is a true gentlemen with much more pleasing manners and manages to rescue awkward situations with finesse and humor. When Matty arrives, she unexpectedly makes the acquaintance of the gentlemen and quite understands her cousin's feelings. Meanwhile, the odious Percy thinks he's in love with Matte and won't leave her alone! And so begins a merry chase to true love. This is a true comedy of manners with a giggle on almost every page. Dru and Matte are unconventional and fun heroines. I rather liked Pettigrew better than Sebastian because Sebastian was just too kind and calm for me. The characters are all pretty much stock characters but the quick-witted dialogue and amusing plot more than make up for it. I loved this book and it's not to be missed for Jane Austen fans.
The Viscount's Vixen by Joan Overfield -- Regency Romance
Phillipa Lambert's motto is "better the shroud than the veil" and despises the "fashionable fribbles" of Society who never think of anything more than their waistcoats or drinking, gambling and wenching. Phillipa's lofty intellectual pursuits include studying politics and writing incendiary political tracts. The last thing she wants is a husband telling her what to do! Her best friend, the beautiful heiress Arabelle Portham shares Pip's interest in politics and has also seen fit to avoid being shackled with a husband, which is why Pip is shocked when Belle coolly announces her intention of finding a husband. Belle figures that she will choose a husband who is not very interested in politics so she can influence his opinion and become a great political hostess. She has set her sights on Alexander St. Ives, the new Viscount St. Ives, a handsome, charming rake. Pip is outraged even further when the Viscount begins to pay attention to her instead of Belle! Alex doesn't approve of Pip's hoydenish ways and sees fit to tell her so, frequently, which angers Pip. She can't understand why the Viscount is paying her so much attention until she learns that he has made a bet that he can charm her into attending the Prince Regent's Ball. Pip is determined that Alex will lose the bet but she doesn't count on him to be so honorable or so charming and her stubborn pride nearly costs her the one thing she never thought she wanted. I identified strongly with Pip and her feelings about the gentlemen of the ton and longing for something more than her existence on the fringes of society. I would have liked to have known more about Pip and her political interests and activities. Alex is an appealing hero most of the time but there isn't much back story so I felt like I didn't really know him very well. Some of the writing is cliched and repetitive (i.e "wolfish smile") and isn't very remarkable. This is a slightly above average Regency romance that I would recommend to those who like romances about strong, independent women.
A Lady of Letters by Andrea Pickens -- Regency Romance
Lady Augusta Hadley is too tall, too bony and too awkward to be of interest to the gentlemen of the ton. That's fine by her because she's not interested in marrying a mindless young dandy, she has more important things on her mind, like the issue of child labor. She writes radical inflammatory pamphlets under the name "Firebrand" as a way of airing her views since she is denied the opportunity to speak publicly because of her sex. She literally bumps into Alexander, the Earl of Sheffield, spilling lemonade all over his waistcoat, which causes him to violently swear at her. Though she is normally tongue tied in person, Gus responds with a sally of her own and walks away hoping to never see or hear from Sheffield again. Unfortunately, she keeps bumping into him and running afoul of his quick temper and hasty words, responding in turn with biting remarks of her own. When Alex discovers Gus is the sister of his late friend Edwin Hadley, he feels the need to apologize and tries to befriend Gus who wants nothing to do with the rakish Earl. The Earl feels wounded that Gus chooses to listen to gossip about him instead of talking to him, for he has cast of his wicked ways and decided to take up his seat in Parliament, speaking on the issue of child labor, influenced by the writings of his new hero, Firebrand! In order to learn more, Alex enters into a private correspondence with the unknown writer, signing his name "Tinder." Gus and Alex, as Firebrand and Tinder, develop a close friendship on paper, with Gus developing feelings for her kind gentlemen correspondent. When Gus decides to investigate the disappearance of some of the tenant children from her family's country home, she enlists Tinder's help, but trying to spare him from danger. Gus throws herself into a dangerous investigation, again running into the Earl of Sheffield, who wants to help her, unaware that she is his unknown literary friend. The two must overcome their differences in order to achieve their goal and find future happiness. The plot is similar to Crossed Quills by Carola Dunn, but not as excellent as that novel. Alex and Gus both have nasty tempers and are continually swearing at each other, which grows tiresome after awhile. I also find it hard to believe that the two took so long to figure out that they were pen-pals and the scene in which they do so is poorly contrived. There is also very little backstory for the characters and I'm left wondering how Gus's brother died. I would have preferred more character development than descriptions of what happens to Alex's anatomy when he clashes with Gus! The book is not a bad read, I really liked and admired Gus for having the guts to stand up for what she believed in, but the story was so improbable that I couldn't like it as much as I would have liked.
Miss Drucilla Wrothton is 25 and unmarried but NOT on the shelf, thank you very much! If you ask her Aunt Hester, Dru is on her last prayers and in need of a good husband. Until now, Dru's mother has been content to allow Dru to follow her heart, however, the estate is entailed to any Wrothton heir and since Dru's brother died a year ago, Drucilla is the only one keeping her despicable cousins from inheriting. The Hovington cousins descend upon the Wrothtons to inspect "their" property with little notice bringing their dim-witted dandy son Percival, who is convinced Dru has a tendre for him. Dru manages to get rid of her cousins but her aunt won't give up the subject of marriage and insists on holding a ball to reintroduce Dru into Society after their period of mourning. Dru is determined to be miserable at the ball and enlists the support of her eccentric 30 year-old cousin Matty. Before Matty can arrive to save her, Dru manages to run afoul of their new neighbor, Mr. Crandon Pettigrew, the most hateful, odious man alive who not only insulted her and her horse, but had the audacity to laugh at her! Pettigrew's friend, Sebastian, Duke of Ratchford, is a true gentlemen with much more pleasing manners and manages to rescue awkward situations with finesse and humor. When Matty arrives, she unexpectedly makes the acquaintance of the gentlemen and quite understands her cousin's feelings. Meanwhile, the odious Percy thinks he's in love with Matte and won't leave her alone! And so begins a merry chase to true love. This is a true comedy of manners with a giggle on almost every page. Dru and Matte are unconventional and fun heroines. I rather liked Pettigrew better than Sebastian because Sebastian was just too kind and calm for me. The characters are all pretty much stock characters but the quick-witted dialogue and amusing plot more than make up for it. I loved this book and it's not to be missed for Jane Austen fans.
Phillipa Lambert's motto is "better the shroud than the veil" and despises the "fashionable fribbles" of Society who never think of anything more than their waistcoats or drinking, gambling and wenching. Phillipa's lofty intellectual pursuits include studying politics and writing incendiary political tracts. The last thing she wants is a husband telling her what to do! Her best friend, the beautiful heiress Arabelle Portham shares Pip's interest in politics and has also seen fit to avoid being shackled with a husband, which is why Pip is shocked when Belle coolly announces her intention of finding a husband. Belle figures that she will choose a husband who is not very interested in politics so she can influence his opinion and become a great political hostess. She has set her sights on Alexander St. Ives, the new Viscount St. Ives, a handsome, charming rake. Pip is outraged even further when the Viscount begins to pay attention to her instead of Belle! Alex doesn't approve of Pip's hoydenish ways and sees fit to tell her so, frequently, which angers Pip. She can't understand why the Viscount is paying her so much attention until she learns that he has made a bet that he can charm her into attending the Prince Regent's Ball. Pip is determined that Alex will lose the bet but she doesn't count on him to be so honorable or so charming and her stubborn pride nearly costs her the one thing she never thought she wanted. I identified strongly with Pip and her feelings about the gentlemen of the ton and longing for something more than her existence on the fringes of society. I would have liked to have known more about Pip and her political interests and activities. Alex is an appealing hero most of the time but there isn't much back story so I felt like I didn't really know him very well. Some of the writing is cliched and repetitive (i.e "wolfish smile") and isn't very remarkable. This is a slightly above average Regency romance that I would recommend to those who like romances about strong, independent women.
A Lady of Letters by Andrea Pickens -- Regency RomanceLady Augusta Hadley is too tall, too bony and too awkward to be of interest to the gentlemen of the ton. That's fine by her because she's not interested in marrying a mindless young dandy, she has more important things on her mind, like the issue of child labor. She writes radical inflammatory pamphlets under the name "Firebrand" as a way of airing her views since she is denied the opportunity to speak publicly because of her sex. She literally bumps into Alexander, the Earl of Sheffield, spilling lemonade all over his waistcoat, which causes him to violently swear at her. Though she is normally tongue tied in person, Gus responds with a sally of her own and walks away hoping to never see or hear from Sheffield again. Unfortunately, she keeps bumping into him and running afoul of his quick temper and hasty words, responding in turn with biting remarks of her own. When Alex discovers Gus is the sister of his late friend Edwin Hadley, he feels the need to apologize and tries to befriend Gus who wants nothing to do with the rakish Earl. The Earl feels wounded that Gus chooses to listen to gossip about him instead of talking to him, for he has cast of his wicked ways and decided to take up his seat in Parliament, speaking on the issue of child labor, influenced by the writings of his new hero, Firebrand! In order to learn more, Alex enters into a private correspondence with the unknown writer, signing his name "Tinder." Gus and Alex, as Firebrand and Tinder, develop a close friendship on paper, with Gus developing feelings for her kind gentlemen correspondent. When Gus decides to investigate the disappearance of some of the tenant children from her family's country home, she enlists Tinder's help, but trying to spare him from danger. Gus throws herself into a dangerous investigation, again running into the Earl of Sheffield, who wants to help her, unaware that she is his unknown literary friend. The two must overcome their differences in order to achieve their goal and find future happiness. The plot is similar to Crossed Quills by Carola Dunn, but not as excellent as that novel. Alex and Gus both have nasty tempers and are continually swearing at each other, which grows tiresome after awhile. I also find it hard to believe that the two took so long to figure out that they were pen-pals and the scene in which they do so is poorly contrived. There is also very little backstory for the characters and I'm left wondering how Gus's brother died. I would have preferred more character development than descriptions of what happens to Alex's anatomy when he clashes with Gus! The book is not a bad read, I really liked and admired Gus for having the guts to stand up for what she believed in, but the story was so improbable that I couldn't like it as much as I would have liked.
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