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The Lady Next Door
The Unblushing Beauty
Miss Marianne Findlay's hair was red, but this spirited young lady refused to let her cheeks flush pink with shame when scandal painted her reputation scarlet. Instead she would make her own way in the wicked world, rather than humble herself in a marriage mart that marked her down as damaged goods. Therefore when the magnificent Earl of Latteridge took up residence in the mansion next to her modest dwelling, Marianne did her best to turn her back on this lord who easily turned so man woman's heads. But when the high and mighty Latteridge seemed eager to conquer her attention, Marianne showed perilous signs of succumbing to love...
Miss Marianne Findlay's hair was red, but this spirited young lady refused to let her cheeks flush pink with shame when scandal painted her reputation scarlet. Instead she would make her own way in the wicked world, rather than humble herself in a marriage mart that marked her down as damaged goods. Therefore when the magnificent Earl of Latteridge took up residence in the mansion next to her modest dwelling, Marianne did her best to turn her back on this lord who easily turned so man woman's heads. But when the high and mighty Latteridge seemed eager to conquer her attention, Marianne showed perilous signs of succumbing to love...
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1981
About the author
Elizabeth Neff Walker
47 books3 followersA pseudonym for Elizabeth Rotter.
AKA Laura Matthews, Elizabeth Walker
AKA Laura Matthews, Elizabeth Walker
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 12, 2021
Well done but very dry Regency. Very dry. Reminiscent of Barbara Metzger, but without the humor. Definitely need to try another book of Laura Mathews.
Pity the heroine to get stuck with her new MIL who has to be threatened twice by the H to straighten up.
Pity the heroine to get stuck with her new MIL who has to be threatened twice by the H to straighten up.
November 14, 2018
3.75/5. Traditional Georgian romance (read 'clean'). Quite well written with dialogue and behaviour very true to the era to my untrained eyes. It raises the issues as to how inventions and technology impacted on workers as well as tackles sensitively inter-social class romance between secondary characters. There are some amusing observations and dialogue that made the reading quite enjoyable. The heroine is admirable,strong and independent, pragmatically refusing to succumb to bitterness and self-pity following her social ostracism years earlier as orchestrated by the hero's mother and her wealthy father, whom she had been estranged from since. Marianne picked herself up following her public scandalous fall from grace and with her aunt's support, she survived without his money and away from the polite society she was used to. Fortunately, she had inherited an old house in York from a maternal relative and makes do from the income generated by letting out rooms to tenants. The hero, the Earl of Latteridge, and his family moves into the house next door for the season and suddenly, Marianne's peaceful existence is being threatened and her past comes knocking on her door.
The hero is quite wonderful - openly affectionate with his siblings, thoughtful of his servants and sensitive to the effects that changes to his household can impact on them, firm with his overbearing sourpuss mother and respectful and attentive to Marianne from the start. He is unfailingly proper and polite, but is his own man, principled, and I love how he quite cleverly extricates himself from any attempts by others to manipulate him including marriage-minded misses aiming to be his countess. His siblings are sweet and good-natured, and in fact, all the secondary characters were very well-portrayed. However, this unfortunately detracts from the main romance because so much time is devoted to the going-ons of these other characters. There are 3 other simultaneous romances competing for the reader's attention, which resulted in less romance and detailed interactions between the main characters. It was also a bit slow-moving in places, but still overall a very entertaining read in the style of Heyer. I did find the resolution way too abrupt and convenient for all involved.
The hero is quite wonderful - openly affectionate with his siblings, thoughtful of his servants and sensitive to the effects that changes to his household can impact on them, firm with his overbearing sourpuss mother and respectful and attentive to Marianne from the start. He is unfailingly proper and polite, but is his own man, principled, and I love how he quite cleverly extricates himself from any attempts by others to manipulate him including marriage-minded misses aiming to be his countess. His siblings are sweet and good-natured, and in fact, all the secondary characters were very well-portrayed. However, this unfortunately detracts from the main romance because so much time is devoted to the going-ons of these other characters. There are 3 other simultaneous romances competing for the reader's attention, which resulted in less romance and detailed interactions between the main characters. It was also a bit slow-moving in places, but still overall a very entertaining read in the style of Heyer. I did find the resolution way too abrupt and convenient for all involved.
November 15, 2023
A glorious read, and the first book in a while that I couldn’t bear to put down. Sensible characters who know their own mind from the start, not one but three (and a bit) romances to enjoy, and a hero who (praise be!) isn’t browbeaten by his harridan of a mother, but deals with her absolutely firmly and immovably. I get so tired of noblemen who crumble at the first sign of disapproval from Mama, so bonus points for that. And not a misunderstanding or an elopement or a kidnapping in sight. Wonderful.
Here’s the premise: Marianne Findlay comes from a good family, but eight years ago her reputation was destroyed by the actions of the Countess of Latteridge. Now she’s struggling to make ends meet by taking in lodgers in the dilapidated York house she’s fortuitously inherited, with her grumpy spinster aunt for company. One of the lodgers has decided that he would like to marry her, owing to the rather fine house she now owns, and the other is busy trying not to blow up said house with his experiments, but Marianne can deal with them. Slowly, she’s finding her feet in society again, albeit at a much lower level than before, and Aunt Effie has hopes that a match can be made with nice Dr Thorne, who seems to enjoy Marianne’s company. But now there’s trouble brewing, for their York refuge happens to be next door to the Earl of Latteridge’s house, and the whole family, including his mother, is about to take up residence for the autumn and winter season.
Marianne can’t avoid the family entirely, and she soon finds that the earl’s younger brother, Harry, is an enthusiastic charming young man, enthralled by the creations of her inventor lodger. Even the earl, when he arrives, is a pleasant and sensible man, not at all the disapproving and haughty peer she’d expected. His sister, too, is lovely and quite unbothered by Marianne’s supposedly disreputable past. So things are humming along nicely, until the Countess of Latteridge discovers Marianne’s presence next door and sets about making her displeasure widely known.
There’s nothing terribly surprising about how the plot unravels, but the Earl of Latteridge is very much the perfect hero, who sees Marianne as his future wife almost from the start and sets about making it happen with single-minded determination, and won’t allow anything or anyone to get in his way, least of all his mother. The two have a couple of glorious scenes where he simply exerts his authority firmly and she has no choice but to surrender. Highly enjoyable! I love me a hero who does the right thing at once with no dithering. The rest of the assemblage of characters are perhaps a little too good-natured to be realistic, but it makes a change from the usual black-hearted villainy that seems to be a staple of Regencies. Marianne was perhaps a little bland for my taste, but it’s a small quibble. The romance is entertaining, especially as the earl finally wins his lady by overcoming her objections one by one - very cleverly done.
An unusual premise but a highly entertaining read, set in York for a change and actually set at some unspecified Georgian period, so not a Regency at all, but apart from a few details of dress and the lodger’s inventions, there’s not a great deal of difference. I’ve only read one other book by this author, The Nomad Harp, and I enjoyed that, too. I’ll have to look for more of the author’s books. Five stars.
Here’s the premise: Marianne Findlay comes from a good family, but eight years ago her reputation was destroyed by the actions of the Countess of Latteridge. Now she’s struggling to make ends meet by taking in lodgers in the dilapidated York house she’s fortuitously inherited, with her grumpy spinster aunt for company. One of the lodgers has decided that he would like to marry her, owing to the rather fine house she now owns, and the other is busy trying not to blow up said house with his experiments, but Marianne can deal with them. Slowly, she’s finding her feet in society again, albeit at a much lower level than before, and Aunt Effie has hopes that a match can be made with nice Dr Thorne, who seems to enjoy Marianne’s company. But now there’s trouble brewing, for their York refuge happens to be next door to the Earl of Latteridge’s house, and the whole family, including his mother, is about to take up residence for the autumn and winter season.
Marianne can’t avoid the family entirely, and she soon finds that the earl’s younger brother, Harry, is an enthusiastic charming young man, enthralled by the creations of her inventor lodger. Even the earl, when he arrives, is a pleasant and sensible man, not at all the disapproving and haughty peer she’d expected. His sister, too, is lovely and quite unbothered by Marianne’s supposedly disreputable past. So things are humming along nicely, until the Countess of Latteridge discovers Marianne’s presence next door and sets about making her displeasure widely known.
There’s nothing terribly surprising about how the plot unravels, but the Earl of Latteridge is very much the perfect hero, who sees Marianne as his future wife almost from the start and sets about making it happen with single-minded determination, and won’t allow anything or anyone to get in his way, least of all his mother. The two have a couple of glorious scenes where he simply exerts his authority firmly and she has no choice but to surrender. Highly enjoyable! I love me a hero who does the right thing at once with no dithering. The rest of the assemblage of characters are perhaps a little too good-natured to be realistic, but it makes a change from the usual black-hearted villainy that seems to be a staple of Regencies. Marianne was perhaps a little bland for my taste, but it’s a small quibble. The romance is entertaining, especially as the earl finally wins his lady by overcoming her objections one by one - very cleverly done.
An unusual premise but a highly entertaining read, set in York for a change and actually set at some unspecified Georgian period, so not a Regency at all, but apart from a few details of dress and the lodger’s inventions, there’s not a great deal of difference. I’ve only read one other book by this author, The Nomad Harp, and I enjoyed that, too. I’ll have to look for more of the author’s books. Five stars.
June 18, 2021
This is my first Laura Matthew book and I enjoyed her writing style. It was a quick and nice read but there was definitely something lacking in the story that I couldn't quite put my finger on. The main conflict happened several years before and the story is basically how those people involved are living now. Marianne lives a tough life but it's not bitter about it and has forgiven the people involved in her fall from grace. The Earl and his siblings, once they make her acquaintance and learn of what happened, are very supportive of her (they know their mother has issues). As much as I appreciate that the characters are level-headed and supportive, there was not much of a conflict. The main romance is a bit tepid and the secondary romance between the sister and the doctor was the more interesting one. As much as I thought Marianne and the Earl were fine, upstanding people, I thought the other characters, such as the brother, young sister, and the inventor more entertaining. So not bad by any means just not very memorable.
February 1, 2025
This is an old-fashioned, no-spice Georgian romance. I enjoyed it, but it should be noted that compared to a modern romance, this book doesn't allow the leads a lot of on-page time together. It takes several chapters before they even meet each other. A fair amount of the book is taken up by the leads' relationship with family members.
On the plus side, the lead characters are both sweet, intelligent characters who get along well with each other. There aren't a lot of big misunderstandings or miscommunications between the leads. Instead, the conflict mostly comes from their complicated family relationships. The two beta couples are also adorable; I particularly liked the doctor's story arc.
My main regret is that I would have liked to see the leads have more cute together time after the proposal. I'm starting to see the advantage of modern romances that include an epilogue!
On the plus side, the lead characters are both sweet, intelligent characters who get along well with each other. There aren't a lot of big misunderstandings or miscommunications between the leads. Instead, the conflict mostly comes from their complicated family relationships. The two beta couples are also adorable; I particularly liked the doctor's story arc.
My main regret is that I would have liked to see the leads have more cute together time after the proposal. I'm starting to see the advantage of modern romances that include an epilogue!
October 29, 2013
Loved this story about an Earl who doesn't like society dictate his decisions on matters of the heart. A book of 4 love stories from ones in different stations in life but come to realize that love is more important than position, title or any material possessions such as dowries. Our heroine is a lady whose reputation was ruined in London from no fault of her own and now resides with her elderly aunt and has tenants to afford the expenses of having a home (surely not what you'd expect from someone in her position) and resigns herself to a life of spinsterhood though her aunt would like her to marry someone who doesn't know about her part. However, our hero, the Earl next door doesn't judge others based on what the ton would hold for scrutiny and along with his sister befriend her. However, his mother played a large part in her ruined reputation and we can only imagine the trouble his mother will pose. But the Earl is not one to play to the tune of his mother. Loved his character the best! Fun read especially with the other characters and their love stories.
August 27, 2013
Yes, everything was neatly wrapped up by the story's end but it was still a satisfying read. It's a nice change to encounter those of the aristocracy who know their place but still show humanity in a realistic manner. I think that's why I enjoyed this read so much. All the characters are painfully aware of the different stations in life but they deal with it in a dignified manner and do not allow themselves to be cowed by the narrow-mindedness of the snobs amongst them. I look forward to exploring other works by this author.
August 3, 2024
4.5 stars—an almost perfect book (in my estimation). I loved the dialog, the well-developed characters, the attention to period details, the complications of the plot. The romance(s) were lovely and fulfilling, and of course there is an HEA. But that HEA wasn’t as satisfying as it could have been because the major wall was rather too easily fixed for such an insurmountable problem and the ending wrapped up in a bit of a rush. There were also a few details that were never resolved, but those were minor. Altogether, this was a lovely read.
June 24, 2025
This is a delightful traditional (in the good sense) historical romance. We know that the story takes place in Georgian England (probably, late 1756 and, most
likely, during the Seven-Year War) not only by the descriptions of clothes and hairdos, but also by some references to historical events.
An original aspect of the story is that it takes place in York (I can only recall another instance of a modern regency also set in York).
There is not one but four romances going on, each sweet in their own way, with the love story between Miss Findlay and the Earl of Lateridge on the forefront. I really liked that there were no tricks to thicken the plot: nothing exotic or outlandish happens (no abduction or the like), there are no big misunderstandings and all characters are quite sensible. There's just a slow romance (or should I say, one supported by the other three) going on, with interesting and well-defined characters. The result is almost perfect; if I don't rate it with five stars it is because the final scene, although great in many ways, seemed a bit rushed and, to me, it felt a bit flat.
likely, during the Seven-Year War) not only by the descriptions of clothes and hairdos, but also by some references to historical events.
An original aspect of the story is that it takes place in York (I can only recall another instance of a modern regency also set in York).
There is not one but four romances going on, each sweet in their own way, with the love story between Miss Findlay and the Earl of Lateridge on the forefront. I really liked that there were no tricks to thicken the plot: nothing exotic or outlandish happens (no abduction or the like), there are no big misunderstandings and all characters are quite sensible. There's just a slow romance (or should I say, one supported by the other three) going on, with interesting and well-defined characters. The result is almost perfect; if I don't rate it with five stars it is because the final scene, although great in many ways, seemed a bit rushed and, to me, it felt a bit flat.
January 10, 2019
Lovely multifaceted love stories.
The story started off kind of oddly and there were a variety of characters introduced sort of haphazardly. It took a bit for me to sort everyone out and become interested and engaged in the intertwined plot lines. Once it got going, the characters were entertaining, the dialogue was good, and the pace picked up. By the last page, happy endings were unfolding right and left.
Some violence, no sex, mild language.
The story started off kind of oddly and there were a variety of characters introduced sort of haphazardly. It took a bit for me to sort everyone out and become interested and engaged in the intertwined plot lines. Once it got going, the characters were entertaining, the dialogue was good, and the pace picked up. By the last page, happy endings were unfolding right and left.
Some violence, no sex, mild language.
October 22, 2022
3.5
-
Out of five
🍆: 0 (not explicit)
🔥: 0
❤️: 2 (but mostly because of the romance between secondary characters and not the main couple)
🧪: 4 (chemistry between all the couples is pretty good but doesn’t really get to shine with the main couple imho)
👥: 3.5 (definitely some interesting secondary characters)
-
Out of five
🍆: 0 (not explicit)
🔥: 0
❤️: 2 (but mostly because of the romance between secondary characters and not the main couple)
🧪: 4 (chemistry between all the couples is pretty good but doesn’t really get to shine with the main couple imho)
👥: 3.5 (definitely some interesting secondary characters)
October 1, 2017
Apart from the writing, which was excellent, I liked that the hero and heroine were both sensible, capable people and did NOT make their relationship unnecessarily complicated. Which probably sounds awful for a regency romance but was such a nice difference!
January 21, 2020
Such a cute story. A young woman's friend's mother ruins her reputation and some years late she becomes the neighbor to that woman's son. Of course they become attracted to one another and have to deal with his mother.
July 8, 2021
Quit a charming book.
Its a very clean romance, very understated and no kisses. I would say totally appropriate for a young girl, but the writing is lovely so it appeals to older readers as well.
Its a very clean romance, very understated and no kisses. I would say totally appropriate for a young girl, but the writing is lovely so it appeals to older readers as well.
March 14, 2022
One of my favorites
A very HEA regency novel where the hero is actually always nice and loving rather than acerbic until the very end. Just sweet. Maybe too saccharine for some but there are a few minor twists and some interesting characters.
A very HEA regency novel where the hero is actually always nice and loving rather than acerbic until the very end. Just sweet. Maybe too saccharine for some but there are a few minor twists and some interesting characters.
June 18, 2024
Delightful
A story chock full of interesting characters - charming, annoying, eccentric, boring, and a couple who are downright nasty.
The romance is not one but three. and the author weaves them together so well that I had to read the book in one sitting.
The writing might not be the best, but the characters and their lives draw the reader in & keeps them glued to the end.
One question remains: what happened to Miss Horton?
Highly recommended
A story chock full of interesting characters - charming, annoying, eccentric, boring, and a couple who are downright nasty.
The romance is not one but three. and the author weaves them together so well that I had to read the book in one sitting.
The writing might not be the best, but the characters and their lives draw the reader in & keeps them glued to the end.
One question remains: what happened to Miss Horton?
Highly recommended
May 17, 2020
One of Laura Matthews a.k.a Elizabeth Neff Walker's best work and a favourite reread of mine when I'm in the mood for a gentle story with a sensible, good hearted, no-nonsense couple.
June 29, 2020
A soft 3. Slow and plodding with an abundance of happy endings.
June 2, 2022
Mary Ann
I loved every word! I must say it was very satisfying read. I sat up late at night to read it. You will enjoy this read for sure.
I loved every word! I must say it was very satisfying read. I sat up late at night to read it. You will enjoy this read for sure.
June 19, 2022
A very well developed story with several subplots which had an amazing amount of depth.
July 23, 2022
An entertaining story performed by a talented audiobook narrator. The characters are amusing and the various romances are sweet. A satisfying happily-ever-after.
September 25, 2022
Audiobook
November 16, 2023
This was mainly cute and I enjoyed the back dialog between the main characters.
December 20, 2023
This was like a whole series all in one book. At least there were enough romances for a whole series. I don't know that I've ever read a book by Laura Matthews before. It was pretty good.
February 29, 2024
This is clever and I much enjoyed. Fun side characters, it only needed a little more spice and little more epilogue to reach a high level enjoyment.
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March 30, 2024Mature and reasonable characters. Light on actual romance.
January 28, 2013
Not sure how to describe this book. This regency is a little more serious in its dealings with all the characters relationships, and though every match made was from love at first sight, the author backs each of them with reasons beyond beauty, titles and money, an interesting and different regency.
****Spoiler Summary****
Marianne's father wanted her to marry her cousin, helped him kidnap her, she escaped, attended a ball the next night with her kidnapper's mother in hopes of rescuing her reputation. Unfortunately, Marianne's friend susan was in love with Marianne's childhood friend Lord Shelby. The Dowager Latteridge, in an attempt to rid her daughter of competition, gave Marianne the cut direct and ruined her social standing. Marianne withdrew from society and eight years later rents her house to lodgers. Unfortunately Lord Latteridge is her next door neighbour. They had never met and he didn't know of his mother's betrayal. Due to a series of events, Latteridge's secretary, William, falls for Janet, the cousin of Clare, a woman Latteridge was considering marrying until he actually met her. Janet comes from the same town as Marianne's spinster aunt Effington's ex-beau who is now widowed and finding Effington's direction, comes to woo her. Latteridge's younger sister, Louisa, falls for Effington's doctor, and despite everyone's warnings, is determined to marry him. Lastly Latteridge falls for Marianne, disposes all her reasons of not marrying him, by forcing his mother to write a note of apology and repairing the relationship between Marianne and her father.
****Spoiler Summary****
Marianne's father wanted her to marry her cousin, helped him kidnap her, she escaped, attended a ball the next night with her kidnapper's mother in hopes of rescuing her reputation. Unfortunately, Marianne's friend susan was in love with Marianne's childhood friend Lord Shelby. The Dowager Latteridge, in an attempt to rid her daughter of competition, gave Marianne the cut direct and ruined her social standing. Marianne withdrew from society and eight years later rents her house to lodgers. Unfortunately Lord Latteridge is her next door neighbour. They had never met and he didn't know of his mother's betrayal. Due to a series of events, Latteridge's secretary, William, falls for Janet, the cousin of Clare, a woman Latteridge was considering marrying until he actually met her. Janet comes from the same town as Marianne's spinster aunt Effington's ex-beau who is now widowed and finding Effington's direction, comes to woo her. Latteridge's younger sister, Louisa, falls for Effington's doctor, and despite everyone's warnings, is determined to marry him. Lastly Latteridge falls for Marianne, disposes all her reasons of not marrying him, by forcing his mother to write a note of apology and repairing the relationship between Marianne and her father.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 9, 2010Fictionwise multiformat ebook
April 20, 2014
3 1/2 stars. A delightful Georgian romance, set in York, with intriguing characters.
January 5, 2014
A little gem of a book;loved how the author developed more than just the H/H story line,involved the family of both as well as friends and secondary characters,will definitely keep.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews