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Poor Relation #4
Sir Philip's Folly
The fourth book in 'The Poor Relation' collection by M.C. Beaton.
186 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1993
122 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Marion Chesney
139 books745 followersMarion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 166 reviews
June 19, 2018
This 4th installment in The Poor Relation Collection is my favourite ! By the time we get to this novel, 2 of the poor relations have left: Harriet James married the Duke of Rowcester and Mrs. Eliza Budley married a marquess. The remaining poor relations are plodding along as best they can and enjoying the prosperity of their hotel, until old Sir Philip's lustful habits threaten to ruin everybody's peace of mind. Sir P has grown tired of competing with Colonel Sandhurst for Lady Fortescue's attention and has now got a girlfriend of his own ! Ordinarily, that might be a good thing because he's in his 70's so one might think it cute and sweet that he's found true love. Alas ! It's not true love for randy old Sir P, but true lust ! Sir P gets himself tangled with an awful, gross, lazy, greedy, obese, manipulative shrew of a woman called Mrs. Budge. To make life worse for everybody, Sir P has brought Mrs. Budge to live with him at the "Poor Relations Hotel".Nobody likes Mrs. Budge:
Even the servants found Mrs. Budge gross and vulgar. She was fat, not cosy armfuls of fat, but solid, rather threatening fat, with two huge bosoms like stuffed cushions pushed up under her many chins.
M. C. Beaton. Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) (Kindle Locations 23-24). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
This is Mrs. Budge, who is often found lazing around eating or sleeping or waiting to have sex with Sir P:
That photo coupled with images of her and Sir Philip engaging in sweaty sex is enough to make a person puke:
Sir P is also causing a lot of heartache for Miss Tonks ( the 40 something yr old spinster in the group ) because this dear lady had hoped that he would develop romantic feelings for her. Miss Tonks is depressed because Harriet and Eliza are now a duchess and a marchioness, respectively, and she feels left behind and alone. The wily Sir P doesn't even know that Miss Tonks has romantic feelings for him, because he is obsessed with all the nasty sex he's getting from sweaty, lazy Mrs. Budge. The poor relations all decide that something must be done to get rid of Mrs. Budge, because the lady's tacky and common behaviour is turning off hotel guests:
“I am sure it is Mrs. Budge who is beginning to turn away customers,” said Lady Fortescue. “The Rochesters and Bensonhursts have cancelled."
M. C. Beaton. Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) (Kindle Locations 44-45). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
Mrs. Budge is also not helping with any chores, not paying for her accommodation or food and Sir P is using all his money ( and dipping into the general income pot as well ) to buy expensive gifts for her. The poor relations get an idea for a scheme from a young 19 yr old guest, Arabella Carruthers. Arabella is the romantic heroine in this installment of the series. She's got problems of her own because her mother Lady Carruthers is forcing her to dress as an adolescent and to wear her hear loose or in pigtails. Lady Carruthers is a 40 something yr old widow who is husband hunting and she thinks that if people believe that her daughter is still an adolescent then they'll think she herself is younger than her numerical age. This woman needed some therapy ! She's obsessed with staying young and even wears dresses that are suitable for debutantes. She's also sternly opposed to allowing her daughter to have a debut season until she herself has found a husband. This is Arabella:
This is her neurotic and jealous mother, Lady Carruthers:
The big problem between mother and daughter is the fact that they're both crazy about the same man ! He's the 32 yr old romantic hero of this installment - The Earl of Denby:
The Earl of D is not attracted to Lady Carruthers and he thinks that Arabella is about 14 yrs old so he treats her like a kid. That's where the poor relations come in with a plan of their own. Miss Tonks and the other poor relations feel sorry for Arabella and devise a plan to help her get the Earl and thwart her mother's evil ploys. In return for their help, Arabella tells them about her plan to help them get rid of the parasitic Mrs. Budge. They decide to hire an actor called Mr. Davy to play the part of a wealthy merchant who is going to court Mrs. Budge and sway her fickle affections away from Sir P. This is Mr. Davy:
The mercenary Mrs. Budge soon swoons for the "rich" and charming Mr. Davy and poor Sir P is as mad as hell when he sees that his lady love is losing interest in him. This is Sir Philip:
Miss Tonks also decides to get herself a new, short hairstyle and she succeeds in garnering attention from not only Sir P but from Mr. Davy as well. This is Miss Tonks:
There was so much fun and fabulous drama as these storylines developed. The Earl of D grows to develop strong feelings for Arabella and decides to help the poor relations to plan a fancy debut ball in the young heroine's honour. Of course, there is still the evil Lady Carruthers who keeps chasing after the Earl. That woman was beyond delusional in her efforts to become the Countess of Denby. First of all, she actually believed that he was interested in her and whenever he tried to question her about Arabella, the self centered lady assumed that he was thinking in terms of being her daughter's new stepfather. I kept laughing at, and cussing, Lady Carruthers because nothing seemed to give this woman the right message. It took a rather radical plan of Sir Philip's to make her finally allow Arabella to appear in public dressed as a 19 yr old debutante. That's why I enjoyed this novel the most; Sir Philip's keen con artist plans and his cunning schemes provide great comic relief while simultaneously solving major problems. His plan involved the public humiliation of Lady Carruthers, by bringing Arabella's plight to the attention of the Ton. Lady C was forced to stop locking the girl in her room and the heroine was finally able to spend a lot of time with the Earl.
At the grand ball, things work out beautifully for the Earl and Arabella when he proposes to her in public. Lady Carruthers has a huge public meltdown when she realizes finally that it's her daughter who's going to be the new Countess of Denby:
Holding Arabella’s hand, the earl said in a loud voice, “I am the happiest of men. Miss Arabella Carruthers has agreed to become my wife.” There was laughing and cheering and then a terrible scream rent the air. Feathered head-dress askew, Lady Carruthers thrust her way forward to the front.
“You’re marrying me!” she shouted. “Me, me, ME!”
The earl put his arm about Arabella’s shoulders and shook his head. Lady Carruthers fell to the floor and began to scream and drum her feet in a paroxysm of rage.
M. C. Beaton. Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) (Kindle Locations 1926-1931). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
Sir Philip also comes to senses and dumps the frightful Mrs. Budge after she insults Miss Tonks:
And then the office door opened and Mrs. Budge came in. “What’s going on here?” she demanded. “And where have you been, Philip?”
“Mind your own business,” snapped Miss Tonks, colouring up.
“Don’t get cheeky with me, you old fright,” sneered Mrs. Budge.
“That’s it,” said Sir Philip. “Don’t you dare insult my Miss Tonks, not now, not ever. Go and pack your bags, woman, and get out of my sight.”
“But sweetheart, light of my life—”
“Get out,” screamed Sir Philip, waving his little arms. “Never let me see you again!”
And that, as Lady Fortescue was to say afterwards, was when Sir Philip began to redeem himself.
M. C. Beaton. Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) (Kindle Locations 2060-2067). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
Arabella and the Earl of D get married, Lady Carruthers is still single and bitter, Mrs. Budge is back to living in her old damp flat and the poor relations can breathe a sigh of relief. However, old Sir Philip creates a big new problem when he gambles their money on a horse race and loses it all. That financial difficulty, and the way the poor relations deal with it, is the basis for the the next installment Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue. The novel ends on a bittersweet note for poor Sir P who has only come to realize how much he likes Miss Tonks when it's a bit too late; that's because the more assertive and confident Miss Tonks is now enamoured with the actor, Mr. Davy.
Even the servants found Mrs. Budge gross and vulgar. She was fat, not cosy armfuls of fat, but solid, rather threatening fat, with two huge bosoms like stuffed cushions pushed up under her many chins.
M. C. Beaton. Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) (Kindle Locations 23-24). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
This is Mrs. Budge, who is often found lazing around eating or sleeping or waiting to have sex with Sir P:
That photo coupled with images of her and Sir Philip engaging in sweaty sex is enough to make a person puke:
Sir P is also causing a lot of heartache for Miss Tonks ( the 40 something yr old spinster in the group ) because this dear lady had hoped that he would develop romantic feelings for her. Miss Tonks is depressed because Harriet and Eliza are now a duchess and a marchioness, respectively, and she feels left behind and alone. The wily Sir P doesn't even know that Miss Tonks has romantic feelings for him, because he is obsessed with all the nasty sex he's getting from sweaty, lazy Mrs. Budge. The poor relations all decide that something must be done to get rid of Mrs. Budge, because the lady's tacky and common behaviour is turning off hotel guests:
“I am sure it is Mrs. Budge who is beginning to turn away customers,” said Lady Fortescue. “The Rochesters and Bensonhursts have cancelled."
M. C. Beaton. Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) (Kindle Locations 44-45). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
Mrs. Budge is also not helping with any chores, not paying for her accommodation or food and Sir P is using all his money ( and dipping into the general income pot as well ) to buy expensive gifts for her. The poor relations get an idea for a scheme from a young 19 yr old guest, Arabella Carruthers. Arabella is the romantic heroine in this installment of the series. She's got problems of her own because her mother Lady Carruthers is forcing her to dress as an adolescent and to wear her hear loose or in pigtails. Lady Carruthers is a 40 something yr old widow who is husband hunting and she thinks that if people believe that her daughter is still an adolescent then they'll think she herself is younger than her numerical age. This woman needed some therapy ! She's obsessed with staying young and even wears dresses that are suitable for debutantes. She's also sternly opposed to allowing her daughter to have a debut season until she herself has found a husband. This is Arabella:
This is her neurotic and jealous mother, Lady Carruthers:
The big problem between mother and daughter is the fact that they're both crazy about the same man ! He's the 32 yr old romantic hero of this installment - The Earl of Denby:
The Earl of D is not attracted to Lady Carruthers and he thinks that Arabella is about 14 yrs old so he treats her like a kid. That's where the poor relations come in with a plan of their own. Miss Tonks and the other poor relations feel sorry for Arabella and devise a plan to help her get the Earl and thwart her mother's evil ploys. In return for their help, Arabella tells them about her plan to help them get rid of the parasitic Mrs. Budge. They decide to hire an actor called Mr. Davy to play the part of a wealthy merchant who is going to court Mrs. Budge and sway her fickle affections away from Sir P. This is Mr. Davy:
The mercenary Mrs. Budge soon swoons for the "rich" and charming Mr. Davy and poor Sir P is as mad as hell when he sees that his lady love is losing interest in him. This is Sir Philip:
Miss Tonks also decides to get herself a new, short hairstyle and she succeeds in garnering attention from not only Sir P but from Mr. Davy as well. This is Miss Tonks:
There was so much fun and fabulous drama as these storylines developed. The Earl of D grows to develop strong feelings for Arabella and decides to help the poor relations to plan a fancy debut ball in the young heroine's honour. Of course, there is still the evil Lady Carruthers who keeps chasing after the Earl. That woman was beyond delusional in her efforts to become the Countess of Denby. First of all, she actually believed that he was interested in her and whenever he tried to question her about Arabella, the self centered lady assumed that he was thinking in terms of being her daughter's new stepfather. I kept laughing at, and cussing, Lady Carruthers because nothing seemed to give this woman the right message. It took a rather radical plan of Sir Philip's to make her finally allow Arabella to appear in public dressed as a 19 yr old debutante. That's why I enjoyed this novel the most; Sir Philip's keen con artist plans and his cunning schemes provide great comic relief while simultaneously solving major problems. His plan involved the public humiliation of Lady Carruthers, by bringing Arabella's plight to the attention of the Ton. Lady C was forced to stop locking the girl in her room and the heroine was finally able to spend a lot of time with the Earl.
At the grand ball, things work out beautifully for the Earl and Arabella when he proposes to her in public. Lady Carruthers has a huge public meltdown when she realizes finally that it's her daughter who's going to be the new Countess of Denby:
Holding Arabella’s hand, the earl said in a loud voice, “I am the happiest of men. Miss Arabella Carruthers has agreed to become my wife.” There was laughing and cheering and then a terrible scream rent the air. Feathered head-dress askew, Lady Carruthers thrust her way forward to the front.
“You’re marrying me!” she shouted. “Me, me, ME!”
The earl put his arm about Arabella’s shoulders and shook his head. Lady Carruthers fell to the floor and began to scream and drum her feet in a paroxysm of rage.
M. C. Beaton. Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) (Kindle Locations 1926-1931). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
Sir Philip also comes to senses and dumps the frightful Mrs. Budge after she insults Miss Tonks:
And then the office door opened and Mrs. Budge came in. “What’s going on here?” she demanded. “And where have you been, Philip?”
“Mind your own business,” snapped Miss Tonks, colouring up.
“Don’t get cheeky with me, you old fright,” sneered Mrs. Budge.
“That’s it,” said Sir Philip. “Don’t you dare insult my Miss Tonks, not now, not ever. Go and pack your bags, woman, and get out of my sight.”
“But sweetheart, light of my life—”
“Get out,” screamed Sir Philip, waving his little arms. “Never let me see you again!”
And that, as Lady Fortescue was to say afterwards, was when Sir Philip began to redeem himself.
M. C. Beaton. Sir Philip's Folly (The Poor Relation Series Book 4) (Kindle Locations 2060-2067). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
Arabella and the Earl of D get married, Lady Carruthers is still single and bitter, Mrs. Budge is back to living in her old damp flat and the poor relations can breathe a sigh of relief. However, old Sir Philip creates a big new problem when he gambles their money on a horse race and loses it all. That financial difficulty, and the way the poor relations deal with it, is the basis for the the next installment Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue. The novel ends on a bittersweet note for poor Sir P who has only come to realize how much he likes Miss Tonks when it's a bit too late; that's because the more assertive and confident Miss Tonks is now enamoured with the actor, Mr. Davy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2019
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Another fun, invigorating romp full of witty dialogue, madcap scenarios, historical accuracy and original characters.
Another fun, invigorating romp full of witty dialogue, madcap scenarios, historical accuracy and original characters.
July 1, 2015
I just love this series! Every book has been so much fun to read, and this installment was no different.
The fun of this series is the "fish-out-of-water" aspect of all the characters. The fact that all the poor relations ought to be gentrified "quality" members of society, and would probably have been quietly moldering away in some country pile, but because they have all ended up penniless in a society that believes becoming poor is a sin you are to be punished for, they have been freed - or rather freed themselves - from the ridiculously unreasonable strictures and rules the society of the time dictated. The dichotomy of their knowing what "proper" is and should be, but completely thumbing their noses at it now that they are all - gasp! - "in trade" just makes for some of the most gleefully fun shenanigans ever!
I love all the characters, each with their own back-story and quirks, and each of them contributes something unique and clever to the running of The Poor Relation Hotel which they jointly own. As we've progressed through the series, we have - sort-of spoiler alert, but not really - lost some of the members as they have created new lives for themselves through the people who have visited the hotel.
So in this installment, we find the Relations deciding to help out a young lady whose mother is determined to keep her nearly grown daughter looking and dressing like a young girl so the mother can pretend to be younger than she is to catch a new husband. The Relations cook up a scheme to bring the young lady out and free her from pretending to be a child. Needless to say, all sorts of outlandish situations ensue, translating into tons of entertainment for the reader!
Everything about this series is light, clever, humourous and fun. The books are short and easy to read [Note: if you enjoy audiobooks then I highly recommend getting the audio version of these, as the narrator captures perfectly the tones, the accents and the pretensions of the times which adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the stories!] and they are just perfect for commuting, or to carry around in case you end up having to wait in line unexpectedly somewhere [just don't say I didn't warn you if the others in line give you funny looks when you laugh out loud at the goings-on at The Poor Relation!]
If you like Jane Austen books, but you wish those misses would get some gumption and tell off those dandies occasionally, then The Poor Relations series should be right up your alley. My only complaint is that there are only six books in the series. Highly recommended for light reads.
The fun of this series is the "fish-out-of-water" aspect of all the characters. The fact that all the poor relations ought to be gentrified "quality" members of society, and would probably have been quietly moldering away in some country pile, but because they have all ended up penniless in a society that believes becoming poor is a sin you are to be punished for, they have been freed - or rather freed themselves - from the ridiculously unreasonable strictures and rules the society of the time dictated. The dichotomy of their knowing what "proper" is and should be, but completely thumbing their noses at it now that they are all - gasp! - "in trade" just makes for some of the most gleefully fun shenanigans ever!
I love all the characters, each with their own back-story and quirks, and each of them contributes something unique and clever to the running of The Poor Relation Hotel which they jointly own. As we've progressed through the series, we have - sort-of spoiler alert, but not really - lost some of the members as they have created new lives for themselves through the people who have visited the hotel.
So in this installment, we find the Relations deciding to help out a young lady whose mother is determined to keep her nearly grown daughter looking and dressing like a young girl so the mother can pretend to be younger than she is to catch a new husband. The Relations cook up a scheme to bring the young lady out and free her from pretending to be a child. Needless to say, all sorts of outlandish situations ensue, translating into tons of entertainment for the reader!
Everything about this series is light, clever, humourous and fun. The books are short and easy to read [Note: if you enjoy audiobooks then I highly recommend getting the audio version of these, as the narrator captures perfectly the tones, the accents and the pretensions of the times which adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the stories!] and they are just perfect for commuting, or to carry around in case you end up having to wait in line unexpectedly somewhere [just don't say I didn't warn you if the others in line give you funny looks when you laugh out loud at the goings-on at The Poor Relation!]
If you like Jane Austen books, but you wish those misses would get some gumption and tell off those dandies occasionally, then The Poor Relations series should be right up your alley. My only complaint is that there are only six books in the series. Highly recommended for light reads.
January 12, 2018
For some reason I did not like this one quite as much as the others. Maybe a case of overindulgence? Or was some of the information on the times just too much knowledge to enjoy the book? Or it might be that the antagonists were both women and I did not like the portrayal of them? I’ll still read the next one. It is like a TV show for me: I am hooked, even if some episodes may disappoint.
April 5, 2011
This is one of the few books/series I would read again. These stories of Marion Chesney started me on my adventure...reading Regency Romance/Novels/History! There is not a set of books that will teach you more about the basics about life in Regency England. There are six series with six books each. I love them all. It must be a "past life" thing:)
February 6, 2017
I found the writing in this entry of the Poor Relations Hotel series not up to the quality I had come to expect. For example:
"Lady Fortescue, who had overheard the aside, reflected that no one could ever call Miss Tonks pretty, and yet the new hair-style made her look undoubtedly interesting and mundane."
Interesting and mundane!!?! Mundane means 'lacking interest'!
I also found that this Kindle edition has several noticable formatting/proofreading errors, the worst one being a sentence which was clearly made by combining two different sentences with who knows how much omitted in between!
"Arabella sat and quietly ate another cake before stand-yet, why should he worry? he wondered." (he being Sir Philip, who was not in the scene with Arabella just prior to this!).
"Lady Fortescue, who had overheard the aside, reflected that no one could ever call Miss Tonks pretty, and yet the new hair-style made her look undoubtedly interesting and mundane."
Interesting and mundane!!?! Mundane means 'lacking interest'!
I also found that this Kindle edition has several noticable formatting/proofreading errors, the worst one being a sentence which was clearly made by combining two different sentences with who knows how much omitted in between!
"Arabella sat and quietly ate another cake before stand-yet, why should he worry? he wondered." (he being Sir Philip, who was not in the scene with Arabella just prior to this!).
March 5, 2019
I know I said the last one was my favorite, but Im changing my mind again. THIS ONE is the best. I am liking this series the more it goes on which is rare for me! Sir Philip is not the most likable character in these books but he is defiantly the most interesting and he has those moments of helpfulness that make him more appealing.
In this one we got new characters and the drama between the remaining poor relations is coming to a head. The romance was also better then last time mainly because the guy (Duke? Earl? I already cant remember what this ones title is lol) actually LIKES the poor relations unlike that controlling Marques dude form the last one who I didn't like at all.
Anyway, if you are this far in to the series, you will like this one.
In this one we got new characters and the drama between the remaining poor relations is coming to a head. The romance was also better then last time mainly because the guy (Duke? Earl? I already cant remember what this ones title is lol) actually LIKES the poor relations unlike that controlling Marques dude form the last one who I didn't like at all.
Anyway, if you are this far in to the series, you will like this one.
October 8, 2020
That was definitely better than the previous book. Sir Philip was in 'full glory'. I liked also that the story of Arabella and Denby wasn't around 'she is in trade'. Of course, a romance was unbelievably abrupt, but such are Chesney's romances. I know what to expect of her. More important is that there was something a bit original.
And those bits of information (like powder taxing and a theatrical life) and satirical observations, hidden behind the 'sweet eccentricity' of the upper class, are always priceless.
And those bits of information (like powder taxing and a theatrical life) and satirical observations, hidden behind the 'sweet eccentricity' of the upper class, are always priceless.
September 8, 2018
Another hit! I really enjoyed the Poor Relations assisting the young Arabella with her romantic aspirations. The main characters continue to draw me into the narrative. And the new characters are quite captivating in their own right. All in all, it was a fun romp with a happy ending.
March 25, 2020
Every single book in this series is just what I need right now, with unique madcap adventures in each installment. Highly recommend this series on audio, Davina Porter is sublime.
April 30, 2018
Mrs. Budge is a very greedy woman who gets on everyone's nerves except Sir Philip Somerville's because he is smitten with her. When Sir Philip brings her to stay at the Poor Relation Hotel, the other owners are not very happy so they try figure out a way to dislodge Mrs. Budge. With the help of a guest, Lady Arabella Carruthers, they come up with a plan to help their cause by hiring an actor by the name of Jason Davy to pursue the horrible Mrs. Budge to be with him instead of Sir Philip.
Lady Arabella is a 19-year-old woman, who’s widowed mother is not ready for her to be grown up because it will make her look older. She has her still dressed as a school girl. She wants a new husband of her own and doesn’t want the competition. The Poor Relations help with a plan to force her mother to bring her out, but have a few mishaps along the way. Luckily, handsome Lord Denby is there to help too.
I really like Sir Philip. He seems so gross and unkind at times – but he is also very clever and is the go-to person when a job needs to get done. I found myself laughing throughout, just like the other books in this series.
Lady Arabella is a 19-year-old woman, who’s widowed mother is not ready for her to be grown up because it will make her look older. She has her still dressed as a school girl. She wants a new husband of her own and doesn’t want the competition. The Poor Relations help with a plan to force her mother to bring her out, but have a few mishaps along the way. Luckily, handsome Lord Denby is there to help too.
I really like Sir Philip. He seems so gross and unkind at times – but he is also very clever and is the go-to person when a job needs to get done. I found myself laughing throughout, just like the other books in this series.
Read
July 19, 2018This series continues to be absolutely ridiculous. Sir Philip is the foulmouthed criminal mastermind among the Poor Relations (the mostly elderly band of poor gentlepeople running a hotel during the Regency), but when he falls in love with someone absolutely inappropriate, the rest of the gang have to up their own game in order to drive away his beloved. Also, there is a long infodump about the hair powder tax that I found absolutely fascinating--even if it was relevant only to understand an insult one character hurled at another, I appreciated it. At the very least, Chesney's Regencies resemble no other Regency romances I've read.
There is a lot of fat shaming in this book, unfortunately. :(
There is a lot of fat shaming in this book, unfortunately. :(
August 19, 2017
A group of poor relations of various high society families are invited by Lady Fortescue to help each other maintain their status with society. Out of necessity, they turn Lady Fortescue's home into a hotel. Each book in the series focuses on one of the members of this little group and entertains the readers with wit and charm.
This particular book was my least favorite in this series. It was not horrible, but it lacked a certain something.
Each book can stand on its own and delivers an HEA. These are very important attributes in a series for me. I'm glad I found this one.
This particular book was my least favorite in this series. It was not horrible, but it lacked a certain something.
Each book can stand on its own and delivers an HEA. These are very important attributes in a series for me. I'm glad I found this one.
Read
January 26, 2019Fun light entertaining read.
March 1, 2019
Of all the books in this series, I feel like I liked the relationship in this book best. I really felt like Arabella and Denby were actually getting to know each other, becoming friends, enjoying each other's company. Sure, the attraction on Arabella's part was a bit shallow at first, but I think it really developed throughout and I was glad. And quite honestly, her mother was such a delightful antagonist (in that you really didn't mind disliking her), I would have supported anyone Arabella fell for at first sight to get out of that woman's clutches.
At the same time, I think this couple had the best interaction and most support within the poor relations themselves. This allowed there to be a lot of great interactions between the relations and the couple. There was also a great deal of them helping each other reach their goals. Just a great balance between the plot lines.
And delight of delights - Sir Philip was not painful to read despite his large role in this installment! And Mrs. Budge is gone! And Miss Tonks may be on the verge of her own romance! I can't wait to pick up book 5, but what will I do when I run out of this series?
At the same time, I think this couple had the best interaction and most support within the poor relations themselves. This allowed there to be a lot of great interactions between the relations and the couple. There was also a great deal of them helping each other reach their goals. Just a great balance between the plot lines.
And delight of delights - Sir Philip was not painful to read despite his large role in this installment! And Mrs. Budge is gone! And Miss Tonks may be on the verge of her own romance! I can't wait to pick up book 5, but what will I do when I run out of this series?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2017
I'll just say it: It's so fun to read romance novels written by someone who writes mysteries, too. You can see what's coming from a mile away, but even so, the plot details are right and perfectly done.
Also, every time someone tells someone else to stop "making a cake" of him-or herself, I laugh out loud.
Also, every time someone tells someone else to stop "making a cake" of him-or herself, I laugh out loud.
April 4, 2018
This is an easy and fast fun read...or in my case a listen. I have enjoyed this series but of the 4 books this is my least favorite. It could be that I just don't like Sir Phillip! Two more books in the series and I will finish it out.
July 2, 2019
What a book, I always enjoy reading these books.
July 4, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ The couple in this one were really quite lovable.
This one had a lot of scheming and maneuvering. First to get the mother of the heroine, Arabella, to allow her to have a season. Second, to dispatch the vulgar Ms. B from Sir Philip’s life and their hotel.
This one had a lot of scheming and maneuvering. First to get the mother of the heroine, Arabella, to allow her to have a season. Second, to dispatch the vulgar Ms. B from Sir Philip’s life and their hotel.
December 20, 2019
Extremely silly installment in the Poor Relations series where old Sir Phillip brings a most unsuitable paramour to the Poor Relations hotel. How is is extricated from this relationship involves the usual silly misadventures
June 28, 2020
I do enjoy this series so much, and this was no exception. The Poor Relations are gaining market share for their hotel, and the French chef is a big draw. However, the bad-tempered Sir Philip has poor taste in women, and is taken in by a gold-digger who ticks off the rest of the staff. Various plots to remove the offending paramour are unsuccessful but entertaining. Meanwhile, a new resident has her heart set on a visiting Earl, and that subplot added to the fun. Suspend your disbelief for a short time and listen to the incomparable Davina Porter narrate another diverting tale.
July 4, 2018
Loved this book! Found myself laughing out loud on my train ride home from work. This was my first book of the Poor Relations series. Listened to the book. Narrator is great. Added the rest of the series to my audio library.
September 21, 2017
3.5 stars. I enjoyed all the drama between the poor relations and the romance played out perfectly
February 7, 2014
In this fourth volume of the series, Sir Philip has installed his lazy paramour in the hotel. Mrs. Budge is unhelpful, expensive and unwanted, so the other three partners, with the help of new friends, come up with a plan to rid the hotel of Mrs. Budge. They also conspire to help bring out Arabella Carruthers, a19 year old hotel guest whose mother is on the hunt for husband #2. Lady Carruthers thinks that by leaving her daughter in the schoolroom, she, Lady Carruthers, will appear younger. However, Arabella has other ideas and the other Poor Relations sympathize with Arabella and together, with the Earl of Denby, another guest, they help make all of Arabella's dreams come true. This was the best book of the series so far. I liked the characters I was supposed to like and even Sir Philip redeemed himself by the end. The romance was kind of improbable but sweet and chaste. My biggest complaint is that the author stopped the narrative to explain the history of hair powder tax which jarred me and took away from the story. Otherwise, I liked the book a lot
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May 12, 2017I was glad to get further along in the story, but I felt this was a continuation of another story and not a complete work on its own. I felt that it mimicked Miss Tonks Turns to Crime or even Harriet's situation in Lady Fortescue Steps Out. There is a bit of formula to this story, but it is still interesting enough and different enough to be worth a read.
January 27, 2018
The beginning was awesome! I was a bit grossed out by Miss Tonks falling for Sir Philip, but I loved how awesome she was when confronted by a real highwayman (watching Tonks come into her own is one of the perks of this series). Sir Philip ends up being conned by a curvy widow, and I loved the whole crazy antics the other Poor Relations get up to in order to shove her out of the hotel. Once again, there's a romance that the Poor Relations have to help foster, and I really enjoyed it. So funny and the audiobooks are amazing!
June 8, 2017
This one was a little more awkward than the others since Sir Phillips is a bit of a rake and a dirty old man to boot. I did like the scandal and how the other poor relations brainstormed the solution to the problem. It was nice to enter in a new regular character too.
August 31, 2021
Meh. This one didn’t live up to the previous three. Too much tawdry romance—it felt much like other cheap wannabe Rengency lit, and not like the previous 3 books in the series that are of a higher standard.
February 27, 2013
Still part of the Poor Relation family, but I little liked the descriptions of Sir Phillip's paramour. This one is my least favorite in the series. But I can't stop reading them.
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