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The Second Lady Emily
On a visit to Broadbanks Hall, a young woman is knocked unconscious and awakens in 1812 in the person of Lady Emily Fairchild, appointed by destiny to thwart the Sixth Marquess of Broadbanks's ruinous marriage and claim him for her own.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1998
About the author
Allison Lane
40 books36 followersAllison Lane is the author of 20 Regency novels and 6 novellas. She is a Holt Medallion Winner and the 2005 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award Winner, as well as National Readers' Choice Awards Finalist for three books.
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 28, 2025
An entertaining time travel tale. I imagine it would take a bit of getting used to, being thrown back to a time of no mod-cons. The whole curse thing is a bit ridiculous; of course, it had to be a gypsy, didn't it? The first Lady Emily gave up a bit easily, but there you go. A bit of fun.
June 4, 2011
Don't get me wrong. I love a good time-travel romance and I also like to read Regencies with thoughtful characters and a story that is well-written. This book was neither.
THE SECOND LADY EMILY is Cherlynn Cardington, once of 1998, now living in 1812. Apparently not much to look at and just over a divorce she arrives in time to meet her 'love', Drew Villiers, current Earl of Thurston. At 26, Drew's feelings towards Emily are love yet he is to marry another. No longer in her own body, Cherlynn is younger and prettier than before, but her mannerisms haven't changed. She is aware that if Drew marries Fay he will only live another three years and that time will be hell. Suspicions abound yet everyone appears to be naive. I knew what would happen by the third chapter.
I think it would take a much longer time to adjust to chamber pots, no hot and cold running water, showers, etc. Also, how does one talk during that era, not having acquired the accent or familiar with the colloquialisms used during that time? Somehow Cherlynn makes do. I felt the chemistry between Cherlynn/Emily and Drew was lacking. Add to that the quick-fix unbelievable ending and you have a mish-mash of a storyline and a hard book to complete.
THE SECOND LADY EMILY is Cherlynn Cardington, once of 1998, now living in 1812. Apparently not much to look at and just over a divorce she arrives in time to meet her 'love', Drew Villiers, current Earl of Thurston. At 26, Drew's feelings towards Emily are love yet he is to marry another. No longer in her own body, Cherlynn is younger and prettier than before, but her mannerisms haven't changed. She is aware that if Drew marries Fay he will only live another three years and that time will be hell. Suspicions abound yet everyone appears to be naive. I knew what would happen by the third chapter.
I think it would take a much longer time to adjust to chamber pots, no hot and cold running water, showers, etc. Also, how does one talk during that era, not having acquired the accent or familiar with the colloquialisms used during that time? Somehow Cherlynn makes do. I felt the chemistry between Cherlynn/Emily and Drew was lacking. Add to that the quick-fix unbelievable ending and you have a mish-mash of a storyline and a hard book to complete.
July 3, 2017
"The Second Lady Emily" by Allison Lane
I thought I'd read something a little different so I opened this time travel novel ...
This is Drew, Sixth Marquess of Broadbanks and Cherlynn Cardington's story (and of course Lady Emily Fairchild).
Cherlynn Cardington had just gone through a divorce. She had put her hand to writing Regency novels with little success and she decided it would improve her books if she would go to England to research the era. While there she put in a $10 bid at Christie's for a title but didn't find out later that the reason she won the bid was because the title was cursed. Her Majesty the queen was quite pleased not to have gotten the title returned to the crown because the curse was one of death.
Cherlynn decided to go to Broadbanks Hall to see if she could hear more about the curse. While touring the house she .found herself pushed and hitting the floor. She woke up in 1812 as Lady Emily Fairchild.
Drew was betrothed to Fay Raeburn, who was a very mean and dangerous woman to cross. But Drew was in love with Emily but couldn't marry her for reasons he couldn't tell anyone.
How was Cherlynn going to stop Drew & Fay's wedding, break the curse, and get Drew and Emily back together again. First she had to survive the fall. Cherylynn had read that Emily had died four days after her fall. The next thing she had to do is to figure out how to survive the intricate steps of social manners in the Regency Period.
There are many things that lead up to the curse. The story kept me turning the pages until I discovered all.
Happy Reading!
I thought I'd read something a little different so I opened this time travel novel ...
This is Drew, Sixth Marquess of Broadbanks and Cherlynn Cardington's story (and of course Lady Emily Fairchild).
Cherlynn Cardington had just gone through a divorce. She had put her hand to writing Regency novels with little success and she decided it would improve her books if she would go to England to research the era. While there she put in a $10 bid at Christie's for a title but didn't find out later that the reason she won the bid was because the title was cursed. Her Majesty the queen was quite pleased not to have gotten the title returned to the crown because the curse was one of death.
Cherlynn decided to go to Broadbanks Hall to see if she could hear more about the curse. While touring the house she .found herself pushed and hitting the floor. She woke up in 1812 as Lady Emily Fairchild.
Drew was betrothed to Fay Raeburn, who was a very mean and dangerous woman to cross. But Drew was in love with Emily but couldn't marry her for reasons he couldn't tell anyone.
How was Cherlynn going to stop Drew & Fay's wedding, break the curse, and get Drew and Emily back together again. First she had to survive the fall. Cherylynn had read that Emily had died four days after her fall. The next thing she had to do is to figure out how to survive the intricate steps of social manners in the Regency Period.
There are many things that lead up to the curse. The story kept me turning the pages until I discovered all.
Happy Reading!
August 8, 2019
This book was really great. A time traveling story in the regency era, we have a heroine that is trying to stop a curse and reunite two lovers. The attention to the everyday detail of the epoch is exquisite and it made the story so much real. I have read many regency romance novels and I never got so much detail about clothes and eating habits. It was really a treat. I will surely read more books by this author.
June 8, 2018
It is one of the best time travel regency books I ever read. In fact, it was the first of this genre that I read and ever since looking for others to read. My favorite scene of the book is when the heroine confesses to the hero. It is a suspense thriller in a way, and so don't want to give away anything. Only want to say read this book.
January 20, 2025
2.5* not a re-read
March 27, 2015
This is both a time travel tale and a Regency romance. American Cherlynn Cardington, aspiring Regency romance novelist and recent divorcee, is doing research to improve her background in English history, when she bids on a title for sale through Christie's. When she wins one for $10 she goes to the estate to research the family. While there she is pushed by an unseen force into a stone fireplace and wakes in the body of a young woman also unconscious from being pushed into a fireplace. She is there to prevent the marriage of the Andrew Broadbanks to Fay Raeburn which led to a generations long curse, the demise of the family and the suicide of Andrew. She has taken over Emily Fairchild's body, a young woman who loves Andrew and was expecting to wed him before Fay blackmailed him. The reason this got a 5 star is because of the believability of Cherlynn's character. This woman was interested in solving this puzzle and worked to stay in period character and assist without tampering with history. The hero eventually figures out that Emily has changed and works with her to correct events. The ending which is often awkward in time-travel stories, fits the plot. Very good.
February 27, 2011
A few plot holes, but overall, an entertaining time travel romance. I didn't quite understand the bad girl's motivations, and I also felt that Emily gave into Cherlynn too easily in the end. These problems weren't enough to ruin my enjoyment of the book, however.
August 8, 2008
Ghosts, murder, intrigue, madness, history, and Regency Romance! What more could you ask for?
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews