Penny Plain

by Sara Seale

Emma Penelope Clay was only twenty, and inexperienced in most things except the care of the pedigree Alsatians in whose world she had been brought up - and it might have seemed like leading a lamb to the slaughter when she went to work at the Kennels of the rich, spoilt Marian Mills. But there was an unexpected streak of firmness in Emma's character, which at least helped her to hold her own with her imperious employer. But the vet, Max Grainger, was a different kettle of fish indeed. Nothing in Emma's limited experience had taught her how to regard his enigmatical attentions - and when Miss Mills sharply ordered her not to get ideas about 'her' property, Emma had not enough self-confidence to disobey. But Max Grainger had not yet had the last word....

Genres: Harlequin, Harlequin Romance

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Sara Seale was the pseudonym used by Mary Jane MacPherson (d. 11 March 1974) and/or A.D.L. MacPherson (d. 30 October 1978), a British writing team who published over 45 romance novels from 1932 to 1971. Seale was one of the first Mills & Boon's authors published in Germany and the Netherlands, and reached the pinnacle of her career in the 1940s and 1950s, when they earning over £3,000/year. Many of Seale's novels revisited a theme of an orphaned heroine who finds happiness, and also employed blind or disfigured (but still handsome) heroes as standard characters.

Mary Jane MacPherson began writing at an early age while still in her convent school. Besides being a writer, MacPherson was also a leading authority on Alsatian dogs, and was a judge at Crufts.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ~ Emma Penelope Clay is a 20 year old girl who has been out on her own since she was 17. Having grown up under the influence of her famous dog breeder father, she is a skilled dog handler in her own right. Discovering a job in the town where she had been born, Emma travels there and with the aid of a helping stranger she gets a different job but a better one. The only hiccup in her new job is the rather spoiled rich young woman who owns the kennel. Marion is very demanding and determined that her dogs be the best in show. Emma meets her helping stranger again, as he's the local vet. Max likes Emma even though she tends to be rather prickly, he decides to court her. Of course, any attention given to Emma doesn't please her employer, Marion.

This is one of those charming 60's romances that gently unfolds and keeps you reading to find out what will happen next. Emma Penelope is a young woman determined to make a life for herself. Her heart is too tender and she falls easily in love with the dogs in her care only to be heartbroken when she has to part with them. But she also has a stubborn streak and she's quick to speak up when she thinks she's right. Max keeps teasing her that one day he's going to pull her down off her high horse, and he does quite delightfully. I enjoyed Max. It was quite obvious he was enchanted with Emma right from the start.

In this romance, I found Ms. Seale's writing style rather similar to Betty Neels. It's a gentle read with vivid characters but very little in the way of high drama. I enjoyed very much watching Emma realize that her future was with Max.

[Anuradha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma , a 20 year old dog minder, with no other binding in the world other than her love for dogs.

Max, a seasoned vet, bumps into her quite accidentally and on first acquaintance arranges to get her a job. As what ?? A dog minder of course !

Emma gets to work with a snooty , not-so-dog-loving rich spoilt girl, who is obviously vying for our dear vet's attentions. But here is an other woman who the hero does not even spare a glance.

But our dumb girl heroine is rather thick headed. Even when the hero is constantly throwing hints the size of a foot ball about his interest in her, she just doesn't get it ! She actually construes a non-existent relationship between Max and her snooty employer. Which is really hare-brained of her, I must say.

But nothing serious or drastic happens in this book where the girl is more passionate about her love for dogs than the poor, hapless vet. She does enjoy a kiss or 2, but I guess that's only because she cant get that kind of love from her dogs !! So she settles for her second best love, the poor hero.

And for his part, the hero manages to induce her with all kinds of bribes. Restoring her childhood home, rescuing her favorite dog, poor fellow. The trouble he has to go through to get the girl ! Worth while though, since he does get the girl, and the dog, of course.

And what I get out of it ?? A good tutor lesson on dog minding ;)

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, not terribly complicated story of a young woman still unawakened at 19. She meets an older man who is intrigued by her. Max is a vet and is instrumental in getting her a job with a rather selfish rich girl who runs a breeding kennel for show alsatian dogs.

The story meanders gently to it's conclusion with no real drama apart from those caused by Emma Penelope's youth and naivety.

[Ellyn (Mrs. Darcy in my Dreams) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The h was too annoying in this for me to give anymore stars. I did like the H, but all the misunderstandings and misconceptions got to be confusing!

[Rongbu]

Plain

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma Penelope Clay was only twenty, and inexperienced in most things except the care of the pedigree Alsatians in whose world she had been brought up - and it might have seemed like leading a lamb to the slaughter when she went to work at the Kennels of the rich, spoilt Marian Mills. But there was an unexpected streak of firmness in Emma's character, which at least helped her to hold her own with her imperious employer. But the vet, Max Grainger, was a different kettle of fish indeed. Nothing in Emma's limited experience had taught her how to regard his enigmatical attentions - and when Miss Mills sharply ordered her not to get ideas about 'her' property, Emma had not enough self-confidence to disobey. But Max Grainger had not yet had the last word......