What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unlikely Chaperone
The Blinding Beauty
When Alexandra Farrish had to shepherd her younger sister Didi through a London season, there was one worry she did not have. There was no problem finding suitors for her charge. Every man who met Didi became a slave to her sensationally stunning beauty
Didi's list of instantly captivated conquests included even the magnificent Marquess of Malvern, the most irresistible lord in London. Alexandra should have been dutifully delighted for her sister. But the call of duty was no match for the siren song of love, urging Alexandra to open the eyes of a man who had to learn that the most bewitching beauty was more than skin deep....
When Alexandra Farrish had to shepherd her younger sister Didi through a London season, there was one worry she did not have. There was no problem finding suitors for her charge. Every man who met Didi became a slave to her sensationally stunning beauty
Didi's list of instantly captivated conquests included even the magnificent Marquess of Malvern, the most irresistible lord in London. Alexandra should have been dutifully delighted for her sister. But the call of duty was no match for the siren song of love, urging Alexandra to open the eyes of a man who had to learn that the most bewitching beauty was more than skin deep....
Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1991
249 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 13, 2020
Diverting but lacking
The positive:
- A fun and light read that didn't bore me at all.
- It actually managed to surprised me with the way the plot went. Reading the synopsis gave me the wrong idea of how this book was going to unfold.
The negative:
- The romance. This book struggles with the telling rather than showing. We are told that the characters spend time together, but little is shown to us in form of dialogue or the inner mental state of the characters. To support fully and actually buy the story you're trying to sell to me I need to "see" for myself. How am I to believe otherwise that these people belong to each other? It some cases I was rather confused as the moment the male character changed his regard towards the girl, that's how far it went.
- The characters: At some points this characters became like caricatures instead of feeling like real people. For once, the male is completely discomfited about the dead of a familiar and makes a literal cake of himself without any regard for decorum. One of the females was plain dumb and entitled, that was it. The female protagonist was forever the one doing all things perfect and forgave her sister or toned down the scowling, even when she deserved to be slap really hard.
- The plot: What is it with romance authors that believe they can make multiple plot point and resolved them in two hundred pages? Honey you ain't no Heyer. She wrote simplistic but efficient plot lines. Most of these books write more complicated plots either because of the people involved or the setting, you can't expect to give me 3 freaking love lines and various other emotional ties and just resolve them this fast. Things were for the most part poorly resolved. Remember the death of this one person I mentioned before? Well after moping the male decided he decided he needed a wife. Yeah like that, and not only that he just completely forgot about this relative of his. It's never addressed again.
- The writing: The author seemed to try and talk about certain things but she didn't know how to subtly introduce them. The pacing of the romance it's bad and stepping out of cordiality as a way to ask personal questions that were completely out of place. I mean, the way the male inquires about the romantic interest's family background, at them, would have regarded him a feral set down.
The positive:
- A fun and light read that didn't bore me at all.
- It actually managed to surprised me with the way the plot went. Reading the synopsis gave me the wrong idea of how this book was going to unfold.
The negative:
- The romance. This book struggles with the telling rather than showing. We are told that the characters spend time together, but little is shown to us in form of dialogue or the inner mental state of the characters. To support fully and actually buy the story you're trying to sell to me I need to "see" for myself. How am I to believe otherwise that these people belong to each other? It some cases I was rather confused as the moment the male character changed his regard towards the girl, that's how far it went.
- The characters: At some points this characters became like caricatures instead of feeling like real people. For once, the male is completely discomfited about the dead of a familiar and makes a literal cake of himself without any regard for decorum. One of the females was plain dumb and entitled, that was it. The female protagonist was forever the one doing all things perfect and forgave her sister or toned down the scowling, even when she deserved to be slap really hard.
- The plot: What is it with romance authors that believe they can make multiple plot point and resolved them in two hundred pages? Honey you ain't no Heyer. She wrote simplistic but efficient plot lines. Most of these books write more complicated plots either because of the people involved or the setting, you can't expect to give me 3 freaking love lines and various other emotional ties and just resolve them this fast. Things were for the most part poorly resolved. Remember the death of this one person I mentioned before? Well after moping the male decided he decided he needed a wife. Yeah like that, and not only that he just completely forgot about this relative of his. It's never addressed again.
- The writing: The author seemed to try and talk about certain things but she didn't know how to subtly introduce them. The pacing of the romance it's bad and stepping out of cordiality as a way to ask personal questions that were completely out of place. I mean, the way the male inquires about the romantic interest's family background, at them, would have regarded him a feral set down.
May 18, 2020
Personally didn't like the love interest getting drunk and sleeping with a random married woman pretty early on in the book. Not my kind of man, sorry.
March 12, 2020
3.5* rounded up for not insulting my intelligence
This book has two listings on Goodreads. one is the paperback from 1991 and then this recent one being the Kindle edition. I am not sure why there are two listings but there it is. It is a very clean (two kisses only), and gentle romance. Most of the characters are reasonably nice and intelligent though of course it can take them some time to come to terms with their own feelings.
Alexandra (Sandy to her family) is 28 years old and has been in charge of her younger half-siblings (4 sisters and a brother) for nearly 10 years. Her father is alive but absent from the family most of the year. Finances are tight but not entirely dire. In an effort to economize she has brought all her siblings to London at the same time with the goal of launching 3 of her exceptionally beautiful sisters into society. The eldest of these is Didi and she is the season's beauty and quickly gains all sorts of beaux. She is willful and sneaky, thus causing Sandy rather a lot of trouble. Slightly younger are the twins Arie and Cassie who who were the opposite of Didi in almost every way. Penny is the youngest and not old enough to be out. She was the one I liked the most.
The Marquess of Malvern is the highest titled gentleman to court Did, and consequently is her favourite. He is enraptured by her beauty but fights with Sandy at every turn. Once he realises he is not in love with Didi he has to figure out how to let her save face so that he can turn his attentions onto her elder sister. Not an easy task given how utterly selfish Didi is.
The whole thing was quite gentle and low angst. I enjoyed the conversations all the characters had. I could only have wished for more. Well that and more Penny and their brother tellijng Didi home truths.
This book has two listings on Goodreads. one is the paperback from 1991 and then this recent one being the Kindle edition. I am not sure why there are two listings but there it is. It is a very clean (two kisses only), and gentle romance. Most of the characters are reasonably nice and intelligent though of course it can take them some time to come to terms with their own feelings.
Alexandra (Sandy to her family) is 28 years old and has been in charge of her younger half-siblings (4 sisters and a brother) for nearly 10 years. Her father is alive but absent from the family most of the year. Finances are tight but not entirely dire. In an effort to economize she has brought all her siblings to London at the same time with the goal of launching 3 of her exceptionally beautiful sisters into society. The eldest of these is Didi and she is the season's beauty and quickly gains all sorts of beaux. She is willful and sneaky, thus causing Sandy rather a lot of trouble. Slightly younger are the twins Arie and Cassie who who were the opposite of Didi in almost every way. Penny is the youngest and not old enough to be out. She was the one I liked the most.
The Marquess of Malvern is the highest titled gentleman to court Did, and consequently is her favourite. He is enraptured by her beauty but fights with Sandy at every turn. Once he realises he is not in love with Didi he has to figure out how to let her save face so that he can turn his attentions onto her elder sister. Not an easy task given how utterly selfish Didi is.
The whole thing was quite gentle and low angst. I enjoyed the conversations all the characters had. I could only have wished for more. Well that and more Penny and their brother tellijng Didi home truths.
June 11, 2020
This book was first published in 1991, according to Goodreads, one of a whole swathe of the author’s books now being re-released in Kindle versions. Not surprisingly, it’s a very traditional style of story, focusing on the London season, Almack’s, drives through Hyde Park, morning calls and so forth. For anyone looking longingly for a Georgette Heyer substitute, this is a very good alternative, featuring many of the same types of characters, setpiece scenes and witty dialogue. In fact, there are echoes of Frederica, Black Sheep, Venetia and Arabella along the way.
Here’s the premise: Alexandra Farrish has been forced to take on the responsibility of raising her young siblings after the death of their mother. Now they’ve all come to London for the season to find husbands for three of the girls, incomparable beauty Didi, and identical twins Cassie and Arie. And amongst the hordes of admirers drawn to Didi, comes one of London’s most eligible bachelors, the Marquess of Malvern. Can Didi bring him to a proposal, or will he decide he’s looking for more than mere beauty?
The story has a somewhat rocky start for an otherwise frivolous Regency, for the opening is Lord Malvern rushing to the bedside of his dying sister, who tells him just who has brought her to this pass — unrequited love for one Lee Farrish. Malvern then spends some time tracking down Farrish, and storming into his first encounter with the Farrish family, and Alexandra’s robust style of dialogue. He comes to realise that it’s not Lee’s fault, and is then drawn into Didi’s orbit.
Now, at first sight this is a peculiar response to the death of his sister, but the author makes a good case for a man who is emotionally unbalanced and makes an irrational decision on the spot to marry and settle down to home and family. I won’t spoil the surprise by spelling out how this odd courtship progresses, but suffice it to say that there is an ample sufficiency of marriages and betrothals by the end of the book, and each one of them very appropriate for the couple concerned.
There are some plot oddities, like the girl rescued from likely prostitution by the heroine and never mentioned again, and the brother, Lee, whose only purpose seemed to be to draw Lord Malvern into the Farrish’s circle, since he was largely forgotten thereafter. This won’t suit anyone looking for a modern style of story, with an independent heroine and a respectful-of-women hero. This is the old-fashioned kind, where the women are all aiming to make good marriages and the men are strong and borderline domineering, while remaining terribly gentlemanlike, but it’s an excellent example of the type, very Heyer-esque, and well written with only a light sprinkle of Americanisms. Five stars.
Here’s the premise: Alexandra Farrish has been forced to take on the responsibility of raising her young siblings after the death of their mother. Now they’ve all come to London for the season to find husbands for three of the girls, incomparable beauty Didi, and identical twins Cassie and Arie. And amongst the hordes of admirers drawn to Didi, comes one of London’s most eligible bachelors, the Marquess of Malvern. Can Didi bring him to a proposal, or will he decide he’s looking for more than mere beauty?
The story has a somewhat rocky start for an otherwise frivolous Regency, for the opening is Lord Malvern rushing to the bedside of his dying sister, who tells him just who has brought her to this pass — unrequited love for one Lee Farrish. Malvern then spends some time tracking down Farrish, and storming into his first encounter with the Farrish family, and Alexandra’s robust style of dialogue. He comes to realise that it’s not Lee’s fault, and is then drawn into Didi’s orbit.
Now, at first sight this is a peculiar response to the death of his sister, but the author makes a good case for a man who is emotionally unbalanced and makes an irrational decision on the spot to marry and settle down to home and family. I won’t spoil the surprise by spelling out how this odd courtship progresses, but suffice it to say that there is an ample sufficiency of marriages and betrothals by the end of the book, and each one of them very appropriate for the couple concerned.
There are some plot oddities, like the girl rescued from likely prostitution by the heroine and never mentioned again, and the brother, Lee, whose only purpose seemed to be to draw Lord Malvern into the Farrish’s circle, since he was largely forgotten thereafter. This won’t suit anyone looking for a modern style of story, with an independent heroine and a respectful-of-women hero. This is the old-fashioned kind, where the women are all aiming to make good marriages and the men are strong and borderline domineering, while remaining terribly gentlemanlike, but it’s an excellent example of the type, very Heyer-esque, and well written with only a light sprinkle of Americanisms. Five stars.
November 19, 2023
I haven't finished reading the book but I'm seriously doubting whether I should. I went into this with high expectations because I LOVED this author's other book 'The Awakening Heart' (it was soooo good omg, I loved all the characters especially Dinah!) but this one...since it was the same author I figured it would have that same vibe, but boy, was I wrong.
Alexandra was an okay FL but it was like she suddenly lost all her intelligence when it came to Lord Malvern. Even though he was leading Didi on, girl really said 'he was a man of honour'. Yeaaaah. And Lord Malvern HOLY COW don't even get me started on him. He was the most infuriating and annoying pest of an ML I've ever read. I've never hated an ML so much, he's probably the worst ML in the history of ML's, I'm not even joking. He's in his early or mid 30s but dude acts like he's sixteen majority of the time. He literally kisses Didi because he doesn't know how he feels (and she's young and being given the wrong impression throughout even if she's a narcissist, he's incredibly selfish to string her along), and then he kisses Alexandra LITERALLY a few seconds afterwards. What a piece of shit. I don't know if the author was trying to make it romantic but I wanted to punch him out of existence. He's just gross.
Also he kept comparing his dead sister to Didi, wishing that she wasn't so shy and was more flirtatious and confident, as if somehow her being timid was the cause of her death. Like, he was an actual idiot every time he spoke (and just existed really). It pissed me off that he was thinking about his sister in that way like so what if she was shy? That didn't mean she was any less worthy of living. Since he's the ML and can't be avoided, it affected the way I read/saw the rest of the book.
And the author dumped in this random ass character mid-way (Lord Callum) who spoke the first time he was introduced and then NEVER spoke again lmao. I found that so strange. Dude was apparently always around but never said a word almost as if he was just there for the sake of being there to make the ML jealous (which, atp, who cares? Alexandra deserved Lord Callum who, despite only saying a sentence or two, was way better than a shrivelled up perv who never knew when to shut up).
The plot of the book, as well as her other books, have sooo much potential but if this is what it's going to be like then I'm unsure whether I should read them at all.
Alexandra was an okay FL but it was like she suddenly lost all her intelligence when it came to Lord Malvern. Even though he was leading Didi on, girl really said 'he was a man of honour'. Yeaaaah. And Lord Malvern HOLY COW don't even get me started on him. He was the most infuriating and annoying pest of an ML I've ever read. I've never hated an ML so much, he's probably the worst ML in the history of ML's, I'm not even joking. He's in his early or mid 30s but dude acts like he's sixteen majority of the time. He literally kisses Didi because he doesn't know how he feels (and she's young and being given the wrong impression throughout even if she's a narcissist, he's incredibly selfish to string her along), and then he kisses Alexandra LITERALLY a few seconds afterwards. What a piece of shit. I don't know if the author was trying to make it romantic but I wanted to punch him out of existence. He's just gross.
Also he kept comparing his dead sister to Didi, wishing that she wasn't so shy and was more flirtatious and confident, as if somehow her being timid was the cause of her death. Like, he was an actual idiot every time he spoke (and just existed really). It pissed me off that he was thinking about his sister in that way like so what if she was shy? That didn't mean she was any less worthy of living. Since he's the ML and can't be avoided, it affected the way I read/saw the rest of the book.
And the author dumped in this random ass character mid-way (Lord Callum) who spoke the first time he was introduced and then NEVER spoke again lmao. I found that so strange. Dude was apparently always around but never said a word almost as if he was just there for the sake of being there to make the ML jealous (which, atp, who cares? Alexandra deserved Lord Callum who, despite only saying a sentence or two, was way better than a shrivelled up perv who never knew when to shut up).
The plot of the book, as well as her other books, have sooo much potential but if this is what it's going to be like then I'm unsure whether I should read them at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2023
4.5 stars. There's just a reason why you return, as a reader, to certain authors. You know they can take you for a ride you won't soon forget with characters that will linger in your mind.
Enter the memorable Ms. Mack. I got to the half-way point in this book and pulled an all-dayer to get the rest of it read.
Which is impressive for me because I read slow.
Anyway, I pounded through this book. The lead male character, Mr. Broody Hot Malvern, made me wish he'd shove the main female character up against the wall and...you know, express his feelings without rationale. He didn't, of course. But the pulse of his affection for her was palpable. Also, the way Mack displayed his tenderness for the youngest sister in the story was painfully endearing. Mack's Malvern is going to go down, in my mind, as one of those characters I hope to recreate in my own writing. Dang, was he smokin'!
The only thing keeping this book from being a full five stars is I wish there had been more fingertip touching, caught in the garden walk, saved from an out of control hackney coach moments between Malvern and Alexandra. What was there was absolute gold but I felt like the story could have focused on them a little more. Much of the book centers around Alexandra trying to wrangle her sisters in the whirl of London society. And, don't get me wrong, that was super well done. Mack had just worked me up into such a lather about Malvern and his smoldering affections that I could not turn the pages fast enough.
Ms. Mack, as always, I'll be back.
Enter the memorable Ms. Mack. I got to the half-way point in this book and pulled an all-dayer to get the rest of it read.
Which is impressive for me because I read slow.
Anyway, I pounded through this book. The lead male character, Mr. Broody Hot Malvern, made me wish he'd shove the main female character up against the wall and...you know, express his feelings without rationale. He didn't, of course. But the pulse of his affection for her was palpable. Also, the way Mack displayed his tenderness for the youngest sister in the story was painfully endearing. Mack's Malvern is going to go down, in my mind, as one of those characters I hope to recreate in my own writing. Dang, was he smokin'!
The only thing keeping this book from being a full five stars is I wish there had been more fingertip touching, caught in the garden walk, saved from an out of control hackney coach moments between Malvern and Alexandra. What was there was absolute gold but I felt like the story could have focused on them a little more. Much of the book centers around Alexandra trying to wrangle her sisters in the whirl of London society. And, don't get me wrong, that was super well done. Mack had just worked me up into such a lather about Malvern and his smoldering affections that I could not turn the pages fast enough.
Ms. Mack, as always, I'll be back.
March 19, 2022
Finally, a Dorothy Mack book I actually want to review. I couldn’t put it down. I think I just fell in love with Lord Malvern and Penny. They are the best couple in the book. I discovered DM and have been binging her books because they are free on Kindle Unlimited. How could I resist? For the most part they are enjoyable 3 star stories. If I had never read Georgette Heyer, Stella Riley, or Lisa Kleypas I would think more of them, but I have so I can’t. But this one is better than the rest. This trope has certainly been done better, especially in Stella Riley’s The Mesalliance and Heyer’s Frederica. It’s still worth reading because of the growth in the characters of Lord Malvern and Alexandra, and the really enjoyable cast of supporting characters. It’s well written, contains great characters in great places with a lot of historical references thrown in. The amoral Most Beautiful Girl in London doesn’t become truly obnoxious and overpower the rest of the story, and she gets her just desserts in a fairly satisfactory way. I’m about 1/3 through DM’s oeuvre and I do recommend her for RR. She’s not genius but she’s consistently readable and I value that. Nothing turns me off an author faster than reading a couple of good stories and then finding a stinker. No stinkers from DM, so far. Onward!
July 31, 2020
Overall I liked this book. It was Mack's great style and the characters were well-developed. Penny was my favourite. Those who deserved it got their HEA, which was great. I can't help wishing Didi got less than she ended up with.
The storyline relied on the social rule that once a man decided that he really want to get to know a young woman, he was pretty much committed to proposing to her. While I know that it is the way of society, I couldn't help get frustrated by it.
What was even more frustrating was Alexandra's reaction to Malvern deciding not to offer for Didi. I get that it threw her plans for the family's future, but I thought she should have felt some measure of relief. She knows that Didi is an awful person (we had that internal dialogue) and if she really cared about Malvern (even if she didn't realise it), she should have been a little happy that he was escaping a life with her sister, but all her reactions were negative. It almost made their final get together a shock (yes, we all knew it was coming because it's a romance book but the "wow, I love him" moment was too abrupt).
The storyline relied on the social rule that once a man decided that he really want to get to know a young woman, he was pretty much committed to proposing to her. While I know that it is the way of society, I couldn't help get frustrated by it.
What was even more frustrating was Alexandra's reaction to Malvern deciding not to offer for Didi. I get that it threw her plans for the family's future, but I thought she should have felt some measure of relief. She knows that Didi is an awful person (we had that internal dialogue) and if she really cared about Malvern (even if she didn't realise it), she should have been a little happy that he was escaping a life with her sister, but all her reactions were negative. It almost made their final get together a shock (yes, we all knew it was coming because it's a romance book but the "wow, I love him" moment was too abrupt).
October 17, 2020
This was fun! I've been trying a few different authors in this genre, having read almost all of Georgette Heyer.
I liked all the main characters here and enjoyed being immersed in the world of the story. The characters were smart and relatable. The plot sometimes surprised me with where it went. I haven't read a heroine quite like Sandy before. I totally sympathized with how everyone thinks she is way younger and treats her like a kid, because that exact same thing happens to me! I have not encountered that so specifically in a story before!
The author I read before this was Clare Darcy, and Mack's characters were more complex and specific than Darcy's, which I really appreciated. Darcy's prose are more Heyeresque, but Mack's writing style was good too.
My main criticism is that some things just wrapped up too fast for my taste.
If you haven't read much of this genre, start with Austen and Heyer! But if you've read those and are looking for more, Mack stands out from the pack of authors, at least with this book. (Oh man, there are so many authors in this genre that I can't stand.) I will try some more of Mack's books.
I liked all the main characters here and enjoyed being immersed in the world of the story. The characters were smart and relatable. The plot sometimes surprised me with where it went. I haven't read a heroine quite like Sandy before. I totally sympathized with how everyone thinks she is way younger and treats her like a kid, because that exact same thing happens to me! I have not encountered that so specifically in a story before!
The author I read before this was Clare Darcy, and Mack's characters were more complex and specific than Darcy's, which I really appreciated. Darcy's prose are more Heyeresque, but Mack's writing style was good too.
My main criticism is that some things just wrapped up too fast for my taste.
If you haven't read much of this genre, start with Austen and Heyer! But if you've read those and are looking for more, Mack stands out from the pack of authors, at least with this book. (Oh man, there are so many authors in this genre that I can't stand.) I will try some more of Mack's books.
March 6, 2021
Another Enjoyable Read
Another enjoyable Regency Romance by Dorothy Mack. The story is well written, although the plot is tried and tested, it doesn't detract from the entertaining read. Again there is an impoverished family with three daughters of age and in need of husbands, the twins in this story are Cassie and Arie, are endearing but the fly in the ointment and the beauty is Didi, next to the oldest female, a more spiteful and vain person would be hard to find. The family, Didfinances and organisation are held together by Alexandra the eldest daughter. Every one expects Didi to win the prize, but things go awry and the central male character changes his mind, and the twins become noticed by wealthy gentlemen. Didi gets her comeuppance to a certain degree.
I would thoroughly recommend this book.
Another enjoyable Regency Romance by Dorothy Mack. The story is well written, although the plot is tried and tested, it doesn't detract from the entertaining read. Again there is an impoverished family with three daughters of age and in need of husbands, the twins in this story are Cassie and Arie, are endearing but the fly in the ointment and the beauty is Didi, next to the oldest female, a more spiteful and vain person would be hard to find. The family, Didfinances and organisation are held together by Alexandra the eldest daughter. Every one expects Didi to win the prize, but things go awry and the central male character changes his mind, and the twins become noticed by wealthy gentlemen. Didi gets her comeuppance to a certain degree.
I would thoroughly recommend this book.
December 17, 2024
Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars
I went into this book with some pretty high expectations as I have read many reviewers talk about Dorothy Mack books. The book started off with a lot of promise. I liked the leading character who was selfless, but had backbone and I liked the general premise.
However, it went downhill about a quarter of the way in and I was just bored. It felt really dragged out and while I have to remind myself that this was written over 30 years ago it just felt dated in terms of the love interest (a big NO from me) and in the caricature of the sister Didi. Alpha males sure have changed over the decades and this one didn't work for me at all.
Reading Challenge
Aussie Readers 2024 Annual Vowel Book Titles: September/October (Vowel U) - Read books where the first letter of the title appears in UNTIL YOU (U = Unlikely)
I went into this book with some pretty high expectations as I have read many reviewers talk about Dorothy Mack books. The book started off with a lot of promise. I liked the leading character who was selfless, but had backbone and I liked the general premise.
However, it went downhill about a quarter of the way in and I was just bored. It felt really dragged out and while I have to remind myself that this was written over 30 years ago it just felt dated in terms of the love interest (a big NO from me) and in the caricature of the sister Didi. Alpha males sure have changed over the decades and this one didn't work for me at all.
Reading Challenge
Aussie Readers 2024 Annual Vowel Book Titles: September/October (Vowel U) - Read books where the first letter of the title appears in UNTIL YOU (U = Unlikely)
July 4, 2024
Overall it was a good book. Despite the fact that most of the book was a summarization of events, it was still a good story that was told well. I liked the ending as well, how the realization of her love dawns on her so unexpectedly. I like that Didi eloped because I don’t think she deserved a proper engagement with how selfish she was. I do say that I would’ve wanted to see some form of redemption with her character though. I did like the fact that Cassie was engaged before Didi, though. I really liked the gumption that Lee shows towards the end of the book. It shows that he’s starting to mature and grow into the kind of person who could care for somebody.
March 7, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this Regency romance with a full cast of wonderfully drawn characters. The Farrish family were so entertaining, from the determined Alexandra, absent-minded Leander, dreadful Didi, the sweet twins and feisty Penny. I was absolutely routing for the hero and heroine to find a way of being together. A lovely escapist read.
August 5, 2022
If you read "An Unconventional Courtship" by this same author then you can skip this book. Same plot, almost very similar characters (a cousin in that book and an elder sister in this book as the heroine). The antagonist is another cousin in "An Unconventional Courtship" and a younger sister in this book. Really the same medicine sold in different packages.
June 21, 2020
Regency froth- but I liked it!
A tale tale of moderately impoverished family who take the ton by storm. Great back story to set the scene, and, eventually, happy ever afters. A cut above the usual regency novel. Recommended
A tale tale of moderately impoverished family who take the ton by storm. Great back story to set the scene, and, eventually, happy ever afters. A cut above the usual regency novel. Recommended
June 23, 2020
My favorite Dorothy Mack regency
A huge cast, an adorable younger sister, and a Shakespearean like plot which manages to pair off all four older sisters by the final paragraph. You will adore it.
A huge cast, an adorable younger sister, and a Shakespearean like plot which manages to pair off all four older sisters by the final paragraph. You will adore it.
June 27, 2021
An engrossing tour of the aristocratic courtship rites of Regency England
Like other novels by Dorothy Mack, this one focuses on the drawing room and the ballroom. And, as always she manages to make the complex characters and the intricate plot compelling. A very enjoyable read.
Like other novels by Dorothy Mack, this one focuses on the drawing room and the ballroom. And, as always she manages to make the complex characters and the intricate plot compelling. A very enjoyable read.
October 26, 2021
Unlikely Chaperone
I throughly enjoyed this book an unusual story i loved Alexandra and Robert
Didi I did not like so very selfish, but I do think an epilogue would have been great about all four girls getting married and stealing Didi’s thunder.
,
I throughly enjoyed this book an unusual story i loved Alexandra and Robert
Didi I did not like so very selfish, but I do think an epilogue would have been great about all four girls getting married and stealing Didi’s thunder.
,
January 1, 2022
Delightful
Light-hearted Regency romance with people you love and people who are so obnoxious you want to slap them! But it all works, as it does in every family and families stick together regardless. Wonderful characters, good story and well written.
Light-hearted Regency romance with people you love and people who are so obnoxious you want to slap them! But it all works, as it does in every family and families stick together regardless. Wonderful characters, good story and well written.
September 3, 2023
so little dialogue
Actually almost none. Page after page of telling the story with inner dialogue or narrative about the story. I want to get into the characters, you can’t do that without letting the story talk to you. The plot wasn’t great either.
Actually almost none. Page after page of telling the story with inner dialogue or narrative about the story. I want to get into the characters, you can’t do that without letting the story talk to you. The plot wasn’t great either.
June 30, 2025
Si tratta di una rilettura: che mi ha consentito di apprezzare questo libro molto più di quanto non avessi fatto la prima volta.
Sì, dato il livello degli attuali sedicenti regency, questo divertente e accurato romanzo, scritto con grazia e spirito, merita ampiamente tutte le quattro stelle!
Sì, dato il livello degli attuali sedicenti regency, questo divertente e accurato romanzo, scritto con grazia e spirito, merita ampiamente tutte le quattro stelle!
February 13, 2020
deliciously enjoyable
loved this book so much.
Enjoyed the warm family feeling and realistic characters, with believable motivations and flaws.
happily recommend.
loved this book so much.
Enjoyed the warm family feeling and realistic characters, with believable motivations and flaws.
happily recommend.
March 21, 2020
More like three and a half stars
Enjoyable read about the eldest sister taking her younger three half sisters to London to find husbands,good story and characters.
Enjoyable read about the eldest sister taking her younger three half sisters to London to find husbands,good story and characters.
April 21, 2020
The whole family was a delight to read about. Even the sister you can't root for made the story more interesting. I particularly liked the growth arc for most of the characters.
June 28, 2020
An Entertaining Read
I thoroughly enjoyed this clean wholesome read. I look forward to more by this author. A free book with kindle unlimited.
I thoroughly enjoyed this clean wholesome read. I look forward to more by this author. A free book with kindle unlimited.
July 15, 2020
I disliked the little sister so much I couldn’t read this one.
July 18, 2020
#5 was delightful
I think this one was my favorite by far, Although I love them all...Thank You Ms Mack for another great read
I think this one was my favorite by far, Although I love them all...Thank You Ms Mack for another great read
October 31, 2020
The first book I’ve read by the author, and I really like it! Mack is clearly a Heyer fan, and this story bears some similarities to Heyer’s book “Frederica.” I’ve read quite a few Heyer wannabes, but so far Dorothy Mack is the best. I appreciated that the book was clean, in true Heyer style. I hope a lot of her other books are like this! I’ll be reading more of her books to try to limit my Heyer withdrawal symptoms now that I’ve finished those books.
March 14, 2021
3.5 stars. I may upgrade the rating but right now I’m outraged that Didi didn’t get her comeuppance. And the ending for this one ended even more abruptly than the other Ms. Mack books.
June 3, 2021
Pretty slow. Didn't hold me captivated, just wanted to finish. Ending is pretty abrupt.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews