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Dukes & Desires #3
Pretty Polly
Blessed with beauty, Mrs. Manners never bothered with the lesser skills of grammar and spelling. So, in order to entrap a second husband, namely the dashing Duke of Denbigh, she needed Miss Verity Bascombe. Surely the modest chit would be honored to write her love letters.
Poor Verity! Her old schoolmate was as selfish as ever. But the lovely girl's gilded pen soon had the duke most intrigues by the poetic Mrs. Manners!
But alas, what began as a tiny deception became troublesome indeed Ð for Verity soon found herself enamoured of the handsome duke herself!
ABOUT THE SERIES
In this whirlwind series, Marion Chesney brings us spirited, independent women who are at once bewitching, beguiling and determined to have their say and make their mark on both their world and the world at large, be it within their social circle or extending beyond. With their arms wide open, these women are absolutely original and unforgettable as are the tales in which they are featured. Here is life in all of its folly and foibles in a dizzying place where dreams are both shattered and made.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
From 1977 to the early 1990s, Marion Chesney wrote over one hundred romance novels. Now writing as M. C. Beaton, she is the bestselling award-winning author of two internationally successful mystery series - HAMISH MACBETH and AGATHA RAISIN. She lives in the United Kingdom.
Poor Verity! Her old schoolmate was as selfish as ever. But the lovely girl's gilded pen soon had the duke most intrigues by the poetic Mrs. Manners!
But alas, what began as a tiny deception became troublesome indeed Ð for Verity soon found herself enamoured of the handsome duke herself!
ABOUT THE SERIES
In this whirlwind series, Marion Chesney brings us spirited, independent women who are at once bewitching, beguiling and determined to have their say and make their mark on both their world and the world at large, be it within their social circle or extending beyond. With their arms wide open, these women are absolutely original and unforgettable as are the tales in which they are featured. Here is life in all of its folly and foibles in a dizzying place where dreams are both shattered and made.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
From 1977 to the early 1990s, Marion Chesney wrote over one hundred romance novels. Now writing as M. C. Beaton, she is the bestselling award-winning author of two internationally successful mystery series - HAMISH MACBETH and AGATHA RAISIN. She lives in the United Kingdom.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
30 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Marion Chesney
139 books750 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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July 18, 2018
This is Pretty Polly:
And, Pretty Polly ensures that this novel is a barrel of laughs ! Pretty P belongs to an uncaring, vain, bitchy and grasping young widow called Charlotte Manners. It's purely ironic that this lady has such a surname because she's uncouth and selfish. She's also scheming to attract the Duke of Denbigh because she wants to be duchess and he's filthy rich and hot too. A few years ago, when the H had been a mere younger son with no title aspirations, he had proposed to Mrs. Manners when she'd been the belle of her debutante season. Mrs. M had rejected the H because she was a gold digger but he hadn't been really hurt all that much because he'd been merely infatuated with her beauty. At the start of the story, Mrs. M realizes that she won't be able to get the H to propose unless she can prove that she's a refined, changed and suitably articulate woman since it's common knowledge that the duke isn't fond of airhead women. Mrs. M decides to invite her old school friend Verity because that young lady had been the most intelligent and successful student at the finishing school. Mrs. M wants Verity to write letters to the duke in order to initiate a communication and make him so enchanted that he will come to London to visit her and court her:
Charlotte’s spies told her that the duke was at his estates in the country. She planned to lure him back into London and into her arms. But to do that, she would need to write to him delicate letters, sweet letters that would reanimate his affections.
M.C. Beaton. Pretty Polly (Kindle Locations 82-84). Constable & Robinson. Kindle Edition.
Verity, the heroine, is a 24 yr old spinster who lives with her father ( a successful lawyer ) in the country. The heroine is attractive, articulate and very educated but she has low self esteem because she's not the conventionally pretty type of blonde like Mrs. Manners. Verity has resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood but her father wants her to get married. Verity's dad forces her to accept Mrs. M's invitation because he thinks that a season in London will provide his bluestocking daughter with introductions to eligible aristocratic men. When Verity arrives at Mrs. M's home in London, she is shocked to see a menagerie of pets that are ignored by the young widow. In fact, one of the pets ( a monkey ) is dead and lying on the carpet. The heroine is appalled and decides that she's gonna take care of the remaining pets. They're Pretty Polly, a fat lazy and greedy dog called Tray and a mean, biting and snarky cat called Peter.
This is Tray:
This is Peter:
Mrs. M's schemes get underway immediately and the hero, Charles, becomes intrigued with the letters he receives because he's shocked to discover that Mrs. M can actually write proper sentences and spell complicated words. He thinks that maybe he ought to give her another chance so he decides to start writing back to her. Meanwhile, in London, Mrs. M is having a lot of problems with her other admirers because every time one of them comes around to propose marriage, he ends up leaving hurriedly and refuses to have any future dealings with the widow. Pretty Polly is the one who interferes because the talkative parrot hates Mrs. M and ends up repeating all her nasty and mocking comments to these men while they're waiting for the lady to enter the room. This was so funny because Mrs. M is so vulgar that she often says horrible stuff about her admirers to Verity. Mrs. M is so vain that she's determined to dangle her admirers on a string while she awaits the H's arrival in London. One of the most comic scenes occurs when an elderly Earl, called Lord Veney, comes to propose to Mrs. M and the parrot repeats ( in the perfect imitative voice of Mrs. M ). Mrs. M hadn't received a recent letter from the H so she decides that she will marry the Earl since he's wealthy, but she doesn't count on Pretty Polly's big mouth:
Lord Veney stood amazed, his glass raised halfway to his lips. Then the voice began again and it was undoubtedly Charlotte’s voice,
“Affection and respect for Veney? You odd girl. I tell you straight, he is a boor and a lecher. But once I am countess, he may find his pleasures elsewhere. After I breed, I shall be finished with that side of marriage—and let us hope he can manage it quickly, for I could not bear him in my bed for very long.”
Lord Veney carefully put down his glass and looked at the empty fireplace. He was sure the flue was acting as some sort of speaking tube and that what he had just heard was Charlotte talking to Verity in a room above. He thought of plain and dowdy Miss Tring of Gloucester, who had adored him for years and whom he had snubbed. And all because of an infatuation for some trollop. Miss Tring should break her heart no longer. He would ride to Gloucester that very day and propose. The doors of the saloon opened and Charlotte tripped in. Lord Veney looked her up and down.
“You are disgusting and shameless,” he said.
M.C. Beaton. Pretty Polly (Kindle Locations 660-680). Constable & Robinson. Kindle Edition.
The H, after he arrives in London and meets Mrs. M, soon realizes that she isn't the author of the letters. He's also more intrigued and attracted to Verity. The heroine recognizes him when she sees him; a few years ago, she and her father had been at a crowded inn when the H had intervened to get the surly landlord to provide them with service. Verity's in love with him now but she doesn't think she has a chance because Mrs. M is more beautiful. Of course, Mrs. M notices all the attention that the H is giving to Verity so she puts a spoke in their budding romance by emotionally blackmailing the heroine. I hated Mrs. M. She treated Verity badly and used her, but the heroine wasn't spineless. Verity didn't put up with that lady's crap and was determined to return to her home in the country. The manipulative and nasty Mrs. M went into the heroine's bedroom and stole all her money, so that Verity would have no choice but to stay and be her reluctant companion. When Mrs. M realizes that the duke's not interested in her, she cries a lot of crocodile tears and forces Verity to do everything to help her win him over.
That's when the heroine does the dumbest thing ever ! The H, spurred on by a nice eccentric old lady called Lady Wythe, proposes marriage to Verity but the heroine rejects him because of her misplaced loyalty to the hagwitch Mrs. M. A comedy of stupid errors follow where Verity says a lot of naive stuff that makes the hero think that she's a promiscuous flirt. The MC's are estranged for a short period, during which Verity goes to live with Lady Wythe. Mrs. M, realizing that the H is never gonna propose to her, accepts the proposal from an admirer called James. Then, as if she hadn't kicked out the heroine from her house, she goes to Lady Wythe's home and begs Verity to help with her wedding. I couldn't wrap my head around the way Verity continued to allowed this mean woman to manipulate her. The H, after he reconciled with Verity and proposed to her again, knew that he needed to make his beloved fiancee see that Mrs. M was just a vicious user. But Verity didn't want to hear any bad word spoken about her friend so the duke decided that other tactics would have to be used. He calmly told the heroine to go and tell her "loving" friend about their upcoming marriage. This was the downfall of Mrs. M because she reacted in the way the H had expected:
“My dear friend,” said Verity. “I cannot come with you, but for a wonderful reason. I am engaged to Denbigh.”
“You’re what?” Charlotte’s eyes had narrowed into slits.
“I am engaged to be married to Denbigh.”
Charlotte took a deep breath. “You sly and devious creature,” she raged. “You have been plotting and scheming behind my back. I see it all now. He would have been mine had it not been for you. Now you are to be a duchess and you will take precedence over me. It is past bearing. Get out of here and never let me see your treacherous face again.”
The duke looked sympathetically at his beloved’s white face as he helped her back into the carriage. “I heard a crash,” he said. “What was it?”
“A very pretty ornament,” said Verity sadly.
M.C. Beaton. Pretty Polly (Kindle Locations 2210-2217). Constable & Robinson. Kindle Edition.
So, the heroine finally sees the light and the MC's can have a happy future that's free from any communication with the wicked Mrs. M. Pretty Polly, Tray and Peter are also given their wonderful ending because they are adopted by Verity.
This is the heroine, Verity:
This is the hero, Charles:
And, Pretty Polly ensures that this novel is a barrel of laughs ! Pretty P belongs to an uncaring, vain, bitchy and grasping young widow called Charlotte Manners. It's purely ironic that this lady has such a surname because she's uncouth and selfish. She's also scheming to attract the Duke of Denbigh because she wants to be duchess and he's filthy rich and hot too. A few years ago, when the H had been a mere younger son with no title aspirations, he had proposed to Mrs. Manners when she'd been the belle of her debutante season. Mrs. M had rejected the H because she was a gold digger but he hadn't been really hurt all that much because he'd been merely infatuated with her beauty. At the start of the story, Mrs. M realizes that she won't be able to get the H to propose unless she can prove that she's a refined, changed and suitably articulate woman since it's common knowledge that the duke isn't fond of airhead women. Mrs. M decides to invite her old school friend Verity because that young lady had been the most intelligent and successful student at the finishing school. Mrs. M wants Verity to write letters to the duke in order to initiate a communication and make him so enchanted that he will come to London to visit her and court her:
Charlotte’s spies told her that the duke was at his estates in the country. She planned to lure him back into London and into her arms. But to do that, she would need to write to him delicate letters, sweet letters that would reanimate his affections.
M.C. Beaton. Pretty Polly (Kindle Locations 82-84). Constable & Robinson. Kindle Edition.
Verity, the heroine, is a 24 yr old spinster who lives with her father ( a successful lawyer ) in the country. The heroine is attractive, articulate and very educated but she has low self esteem because she's not the conventionally pretty type of blonde like Mrs. Manners. Verity has resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood but her father wants her to get married. Verity's dad forces her to accept Mrs. M's invitation because he thinks that a season in London will provide his bluestocking daughter with introductions to eligible aristocratic men. When Verity arrives at Mrs. M's home in London, she is shocked to see a menagerie of pets that are ignored by the young widow. In fact, one of the pets ( a monkey ) is dead and lying on the carpet. The heroine is appalled and decides that she's gonna take care of the remaining pets. They're Pretty Polly, a fat lazy and greedy dog called Tray and a mean, biting and snarky cat called Peter.
This is Tray:
This is Peter:
Mrs. M's schemes get underway immediately and the hero, Charles, becomes intrigued with the letters he receives because he's shocked to discover that Mrs. M can actually write proper sentences and spell complicated words. He thinks that maybe he ought to give her another chance so he decides to start writing back to her. Meanwhile, in London, Mrs. M is having a lot of problems with her other admirers because every time one of them comes around to propose marriage, he ends up leaving hurriedly and refuses to have any future dealings with the widow. Pretty Polly is the one who interferes because the talkative parrot hates Mrs. M and ends up repeating all her nasty and mocking comments to these men while they're waiting for the lady to enter the room. This was so funny because Mrs. M is so vulgar that she often says horrible stuff about her admirers to Verity. Mrs. M is so vain that she's determined to dangle her admirers on a string while she awaits the H's arrival in London. One of the most comic scenes occurs when an elderly Earl, called Lord Veney, comes to propose to Mrs. M and the parrot repeats ( in the perfect imitative voice of Mrs. M ). Mrs. M hadn't received a recent letter from the H so she decides that she will marry the Earl since he's wealthy, but she doesn't count on Pretty Polly's big mouth:
Lord Veney stood amazed, his glass raised halfway to his lips. Then the voice began again and it was undoubtedly Charlotte’s voice,
“Affection and respect for Veney? You odd girl. I tell you straight, he is a boor and a lecher. But once I am countess, he may find his pleasures elsewhere. After I breed, I shall be finished with that side of marriage—and let us hope he can manage it quickly, for I could not bear him in my bed for very long.”
Lord Veney carefully put down his glass and looked at the empty fireplace. He was sure the flue was acting as some sort of speaking tube and that what he had just heard was Charlotte talking to Verity in a room above. He thought of plain and dowdy Miss Tring of Gloucester, who had adored him for years and whom he had snubbed. And all because of an infatuation for some trollop. Miss Tring should break her heart no longer. He would ride to Gloucester that very day and propose. The doors of the saloon opened and Charlotte tripped in. Lord Veney looked her up and down.
“You are disgusting and shameless,” he said.
M.C. Beaton. Pretty Polly (Kindle Locations 660-680). Constable & Robinson. Kindle Edition.
The H, after he arrives in London and meets Mrs. M, soon realizes that she isn't the author of the letters. He's also more intrigued and attracted to Verity. The heroine recognizes him when she sees him; a few years ago, she and her father had been at a crowded inn when the H had intervened to get the surly landlord to provide them with service. Verity's in love with him now but she doesn't think she has a chance because Mrs. M is more beautiful. Of course, Mrs. M notices all the attention that the H is giving to Verity so she puts a spoke in their budding romance by emotionally blackmailing the heroine. I hated Mrs. M. She treated Verity badly and used her, but the heroine wasn't spineless. Verity didn't put up with that lady's crap and was determined to return to her home in the country. The manipulative and nasty Mrs. M went into the heroine's bedroom and stole all her money, so that Verity would have no choice but to stay and be her reluctant companion. When Mrs. M realizes that the duke's not interested in her, she cries a lot of crocodile tears and forces Verity to do everything to help her win him over.
That's when the heroine does the dumbest thing ever ! The H, spurred on by a nice eccentric old lady called Lady Wythe, proposes marriage to Verity but the heroine rejects him because of her misplaced loyalty to the hagwitch Mrs. M. A comedy of stupid errors follow where Verity says a lot of naive stuff that makes the hero think that she's a promiscuous flirt. The MC's are estranged for a short period, during which Verity goes to live with Lady Wythe. Mrs. M, realizing that the H is never gonna propose to her, accepts the proposal from an admirer called James. Then, as if she hadn't kicked out the heroine from her house, she goes to Lady Wythe's home and begs Verity to help with her wedding. I couldn't wrap my head around the way Verity continued to allowed this mean woman to manipulate her. The H, after he reconciled with Verity and proposed to her again, knew that he needed to make his beloved fiancee see that Mrs. M was just a vicious user. But Verity didn't want to hear any bad word spoken about her friend so the duke decided that other tactics would have to be used. He calmly told the heroine to go and tell her "loving" friend about their upcoming marriage. This was the downfall of Mrs. M because she reacted in the way the H had expected:
“My dear friend,” said Verity. “I cannot come with you, but for a wonderful reason. I am engaged to Denbigh.”
“You’re what?” Charlotte’s eyes had narrowed into slits.
“I am engaged to be married to Denbigh.”
Charlotte took a deep breath. “You sly and devious creature,” she raged. “You have been plotting and scheming behind my back. I see it all now. He would have been mine had it not been for you. Now you are to be a duchess and you will take precedence over me. It is past bearing. Get out of here and never let me see your treacherous face again.”
The duke looked sympathetically at his beloved’s white face as he helped her back into the carriage. “I heard a crash,” he said. “What was it?”
“A very pretty ornament,” said Verity sadly.
M.C. Beaton. Pretty Polly (Kindle Locations 2210-2217). Constable & Robinson. Kindle Edition.
So, the heroine finally sees the light and the MC's can have a happy future that's free from any communication with the wicked Mrs. M. Pretty Polly, Tray and Peter are also given their wonderful ending because they are adopted by Verity.
This is the heroine, Verity:
This is the hero, Charles:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2017
This book was written after Marion Chesney had started her Hamish Macbeth series and her Six Sisters Regency series, granted, still in 1988, but is already a far cry from her earlier books.
Pretty Polly (not to be confused with her earlier book, Polly) is actually about a gentlewoman, Verity Bascombe, daughter of a widowed lawyer. When an old schoolfriend, Charlotte Manners, conceives on an idea to catch the Duke of Denbigh, she writes a letter to Verity, asking Verity to stay with her in London for a few weeks. Charlotte's secret motive is to request Verity to write grammatical and articulate letters as Charlotte and somehow lure the Duke out of seclusion back to London. Charlotte had once rejected the Duke back before he was a Lord and thinks she can get him back once he views her charms, which were multitudinous and physical.
Verity, because of some paternal pressure, does go see Charlotte and soon adopts Charlotte's menagerie of neglected, half-dying animals of a dog, a cat, and a very regal parrot who doesn't seem to have any talents, but is called Pretty Polly. Through a delightful and humorous chain of events, the Duke does post to London to meet his pen pal and we have a charming little romance without an iota of the gothic murderous undertones of Chesney's earlier works.
What makes Verity different from Chesney's earlier heroines is that Verity, although overly forgiving at times, actually stands up for herself multiple times throughout the book. Charlotte could very easily have been the villain of the piece, but I found myself liking her all the same for her childlike capriciousness. She could be malicious and selfish, but somehow would forget it all the next day on the turn of a dime or on a new whim. As a character, she was intriguing, but in person, undoubtedly such sudden changes of temperament would probably be psychopathic. Although Verity is wary of Charlotte, she forgives her each and every time, and is described at the end of the book like an intellectual who had very little social cunning.
The difference to the entire book was the marked improvement of the hero. Unlike Chesney's earlier heroes who seemed stupidly blind to the OW's faults and had the perceptive ability of a mealy worm, the Duke is described as liking intellectual women and works out who the letter-writer was on his own and fairly early on. He was not enamored of Charlotte and had only proposed to her years ago because she had never talked in his presence. Such astuteness automatically raised the quality of the book by several iotas (even though we know in real life, mealy worm men and women do abound).
This book is similar to a slightly ridiculous, light-hearted Barbara Metzger Regency romp. Considering that I find Marion Chesney's way with period conversation to be superior, I do recommend this book.
Pretty Polly (not to be confused with her earlier book, Polly) is actually about a gentlewoman, Verity Bascombe, daughter of a widowed lawyer. When an old schoolfriend, Charlotte Manners, conceives on an idea to catch the Duke of Denbigh, she writes a letter to Verity, asking Verity to stay with her in London for a few weeks. Charlotte's secret motive is to request Verity to write grammatical and articulate letters as Charlotte and somehow lure the Duke out of seclusion back to London. Charlotte had once rejected the Duke back before he was a Lord and thinks she can get him back once he views her charms, which were multitudinous and physical.
Verity, because of some paternal pressure, does go see Charlotte and soon adopts Charlotte's menagerie of neglected, half-dying animals of a dog, a cat, and a very regal parrot who doesn't seem to have any talents, but is called Pretty Polly. Through a delightful and humorous chain of events, the Duke does post to London to meet his pen pal and we have a charming little romance without an iota of the gothic murderous undertones of Chesney's earlier works.
What makes Verity different from Chesney's earlier heroines is that Verity, although overly forgiving at times, actually stands up for herself multiple times throughout the book. Charlotte could very easily have been the villain of the piece, but I found myself liking her all the same for her childlike capriciousness. She could be malicious and selfish, but somehow would forget it all the next day on the turn of a dime or on a new whim. As a character, she was intriguing, but in person, undoubtedly such sudden changes of temperament would probably be psychopathic. Although Verity is wary of Charlotte, she forgives her each and every time, and is described at the end of the book like an intellectual who had very little social cunning.
The difference to the entire book was the marked improvement of the hero. Unlike Chesney's earlier heroes who seemed stupidly blind to the OW's faults and had the perceptive ability of a mealy worm, the Duke is described as liking intellectual women and works out who the letter-writer was on his own and fairly early on. He was not enamored of Charlotte and had only proposed to her years ago because she had never talked in his presence. Such astuteness automatically raised the quality of the book by several iotas (even though we know in real life, mealy worm men and women do abound).
This book is similar to a slightly ridiculous, light-hearted Barbara Metzger Regency romp. Considering that I find Marion Chesney's way with period conversation to be superior, I do recommend this book.
August 26, 2011
2.5 stars. I loved another book by this author and wanted to try something else by her and the storyline of this book sounded really interesting so I gave it a shot but it didn't fully live up to expectations. The plot was entertaing in a way but the writing and dept of the characters were lacking. It was funny at times but quickly turned into eye rolling teritory. The parrot was cute but the authors inability to bring the characters to life over shadowed the storyline.
January 13, 2021
Good Lord. The Goodreads description of this novel: WHAT A PRETTY PICKLE SHE'D GOT INTO--AND IT TASTED MORE SOUR BY THE MOMENT!
Pure fluffy ridiculousness but I needed something to motivate me through cleaning my apartment. And this novel stepped up to the plate. Plot follows a wealthy widow who wants to lure one of her old flames (now a duke, because of course) back into her sphere of influence. So she convinces her old school friend to come and write letters for her. Things unfold as you would expect. There is a parrot who hangs around for comedic relief. I was enjoying this novel up until the climax which unnecessarily prolongs things.
But you need it prolonged because if this story were any shorter I don't know if you could even call it a novel?
Pure fluffy ridiculousness but I needed something to motivate me through cleaning my apartment. And this novel stepped up to the plate. Plot follows a wealthy widow who wants to lure one of her old flames (now a duke, because of course) back into her sphere of influence. So she convinces her old school friend to come and write letters for her. Things unfold as you would expect. There is a parrot who hangs around for comedic relief. I was enjoying this novel up until the climax which unnecessarily prolongs things.
But you need it prolonged because if this story were any shorter I don't know if you could even call it a novel?
December 23, 2024
Not as funny as some others by the author, but a bit more real than many of them. The love story was lovely at the beginning, but then it got more to the pattern of dumb misunderstandings, etc. Still, it was a nice time.
[3-3.5 stars]
[3-3.5 stars]
November 12, 2014
Beautiful, spoiled Mrs. Charlotte Manners, a wealthy widow, wants to ensnare the Duke of Denbeigh. Years ago, when he was a mere younger son, he proposed and she refused because she believed fortune was better than a title. Now she has fortune, Mrs. Manners wants a title and she is determined to be a Duchess and believes once the Duke sees her, he will be instantly smitten. The Duke has no plans to come to London for the Season, but Mrs. Manners thinks she can make him come by writing him wonderfully witty letters. Unfortunately, Mrs. Manners is neither witty nor clever, having always gotten by on her looks. She decides to bring an old schoolmate, Verity, daughter of a country lawyer, to town to write to the Duke. Verity quickly realizes she's being used by her old friend but Charlotte knows how to play on Verity's kindness and sensitivity to convince her to stay. Charity takes charge of Charlotte's pets, a dog, a cat and an unusual parrot and becomes noted in London for her kindness. Verity writes to the Duke of her visit to London and he is quite taken with the charming letter writer, whom he believes is Charlotte Manners. When the Duke shows no signs of appearing in London, Charlotte decides to settle for any gentleman with a fortune and title but every time a suitor comes to propose, he runs out the door never to be seen again. Unbeknownst to the ladies, the parrot can mimic their voices and repeats entire private conversations, revealing distasteful honest truths about Charlotte Manners and Verity. Verity falls in love with the Duke through his letters and when he finally does come to London, he quickly suspects the author of the letters is not Charlotte and the path to romance seems clear enough. However, jealousy rears it's ugly head and Charlotte destroys Verity's chance for happiness. It's up to Pretty Polly to save the day!
I really liked this story because it was about an older, intelligent heroine and not some silly debutante. I also like the idea of courtship through letters and actually getting to know a person before marrying them. The parrot provided some comedic moments and served as an unusual plot device. This is one of Chesney's best.
I really liked this story because it was about an older, intelligent heroine and not some silly debutante. I also like the idea of courtship through letters and actually getting to know a person before marrying them. The parrot provided some comedic moments and served as an unusual plot device. This is one of Chesney's best.
December 7, 2016
So, so, silly. But I like that. I mean, when the Polly referenced in the title turns out to actually be a parrot and is a significant character, you shouldn't be too surprised that this story is going for eye rolls and giggles. It is certainly not sophisticated, and it doesn't have much depth, but I enjoyed it for its ridiculous elements.
August 12, 2020
Meh. Sometimes I'm in the mood for these and sometimes I'm not, you know?
August 14, 2018
Nice read even if the heroine is a wee bit dense.
February 6, 2024
Cute one.
April 3, 2018
A delightful Laugh out Loud treasure
I don’t often find myself literally laughing out loud whilst reading many books (or even watching movies to be honest) so when I find myself giggling whilst reading a book, I tend to cling to the author who can thoroughly wrap me inside her world.
MC Beaton definitely delivers the Laugh out loud moments. The comedic timing is great. Pretty Polly was the perfect title to this book. Beautiful Charlotte is bewildered when she keeps expecting proposals from suitors only to find each time they run from the house before ever popping the question. She previously had rejected the proposal from the current Duke (of something I forget)when he was just a penniless younger son with no prospects. With his newly inherited title and wealth, he’s become Charlottes target for a new husband. Alas, she knows that she isn’t the best correspondent and so she asks an old schoolmate to come and to write letters to the Duke in the hopes it will bring him to London so she might attach herself to him.
The first part of the scheme goes down like a charm, however, it doesn’t take long when the Duke arrives in London and has one on one time with the ever so beautiful Charlotte to realize the Charlotte in person is nothing like the Charlotte of his amazing letters. Verity meanwhile has fallen in love with the Duke but being a good person and loyal friend when Charlotte declares herself to be truly in love, Verity cannot pursue her own hearts desire.
Truly fun reading! I’m enjoying reading all of MC Beaton’s regency (or close to it) series! With such a plethora of work, you would think she would lose her freshness of plots, but she seems to have an incredible fountain of fresh and witty plots tucked away in her mind.
I don’t often find myself literally laughing out loud whilst reading many books (or even watching movies to be honest) so when I find myself giggling whilst reading a book, I tend to cling to the author who can thoroughly wrap me inside her world.
MC Beaton definitely delivers the Laugh out loud moments. The comedic timing is great. Pretty Polly was the perfect title to this book. Beautiful Charlotte is bewildered when she keeps expecting proposals from suitors only to find each time they run from the house before ever popping the question. She previously had rejected the proposal from the current Duke (of something I forget)when he was just a penniless younger son with no prospects. With his newly inherited title and wealth, he’s become Charlottes target for a new husband. Alas, she knows that she isn’t the best correspondent and so she asks an old schoolmate to come and to write letters to the Duke in the hopes it will bring him to London so she might attach herself to him.
The first part of the scheme goes down like a charm, however, it doesn’t take long when the Duke arrives in London and has one on one time with the ever so beautiful Charlotte to realize the Charlotte in person is nothing like the Charlotte of his amazing letters. Verity meanwhile has fallen in love with the Duke but being a good person and loyal friend when Charlotte declares herself to be truly in love, Verity cannot pursue her own hearts desire.
Truly fun reading! I’m enjoying reading all of MC Beaton’s regency (or close to it) series! With such a plethora of work, you would think she would lose her freshness of plots, but she seems to have an incredible fountain of fresh and witty plots tucked away in her mind.
December 15, 2021
Umm. Alright.
At first, I thought the premise kind of clever despite the suspension of disbelief needed to humour it. I still did enjoy reading it on the whole, but by the climax of the novel I found the initially humorous farce to be taken a little too far: the quotes that the bird was regurgitating were becoming way too long and perfectly related to the person receiving the information. I know I'm being too logical here, but a farce can only go too far before the eyes begin to roll.
Overall, it was entertaining. Lord Byron makes a brief appearance in the novel, which was fun. But that's about it.
At first, I thought the premise kind of clever despite the suspension of disbelief needed to humour it. I still did enjoy reading it on the whole, but by the climax of the novel I found the initially humorous farce to be taken a little too far: the quotes that the bird was regurgitating were becoming way too long and perfectly related to the person receiving the information. I know I'm being too logical here, but a farce can only go too far before the eyes begin to roll.
Overall, it was entertaining. Lord Byron makes a brief appearance in the novel, which was fun. But that's about it.
June 22, 2018
Frivolous fun and fantasy
Beaton can never be Georgette Heyer, but her Recency novels are enjoyable fluff. I have read all the Heyers twice and Beat on, although uneven, is usually entertaining. I especially liked the Poor Relations series. Unfortunately, I cannot say anything positive about the Hamish and Agatha books.
Beaton can never be Georgette Heyer, but her Recency novels are enjoyable fluff. I have read all the Heyers twice and Beat on, although uneven, is usually entertaining. I especially liked the Poor Relations series. Unfortunately, I cannot say anything positive about the Hamish and Agatha books.
June 17, 2019
Verity is a writer
Verity is a spinster living with her father who decided he wants her to marry! An old school friend (not her friend) invites her to London to help her snare a Duke! Verity is intelligent with words but not with people! She has difficulty discerning the duplicity of Charlotte! Letters, lies and kisses later they Verity and Charles find their HEA!
Verity is a spinster living with her father who decided he wants her to marry! An old school friend (not her friend) invites her to London to help her snare a Duke! Verity is intelligent with words but not with people! She has difficulty discerning the duplicity of Charlotte! Letters, lies and kisses later they Verity and Charles find their HEA!
April 9, 2023
Charles, Duke of Denbigh, and Verity. She writes letters pretending to be Charlotte, to the Duke. Charlotte is spoiled and mean to Verity.Verify is staying with Charlotte. There's a Parrott Pretty Polly, who speaks at the most appropriate moments.
July 20, 2017
The animals in this book steal the show. I love the parrot. A super funny romance.
April 12, 2018
Verity tries helping Charlotte but Charlotte's parrot makes trouble for the both of them.
June 5, 2020
A little predictable with characters who are a bit uni-dimensional, I liked the prose.
July 25, 2020
Polly the parrot is the best minor character yet. I adored Verity and her Duke, they are both totally wound around the finger by the nasty Mrs Manners. But Polly always comes out trumps. Such wit.
May 4, 2022
Kind of a stupid version of Cyrano. Some moments were fun but, once again, a stupid bird. Why?
December 10, 2023
Maybe deserves a better rating. But don't remember it at all. OTOH I kept it.
June 9, 2024
silly bird!
Chesney has another plot twist involving a mynah, and cats and dogs roam from barn to bedroom in her works.
Chesney has another plot twist involving a mynah, and cats and dogs roam from barn to bedroom in her works.
September 16, 2024
A typical light read from MC with a naughty parrot, a crazy friend and a duke.
November 11, 2024
Silly, entertaining fluff.
February 3, 2025
Audiobook read in flat, fake British accent by an actor from South Carolina. Makes it sound like it’s read by my elementary school teacher. Bummer!
September 30, 2025
You have to read this!
This book is so fun to read! The parrot is hilarious, and you will fall in love with all the characters except one! Very cleverly written.
This book is so fun to read! The parrot is hilarious, and you will fall in love with all the characters except one! Very cleverly written.
October 9, 2025
cute but not her best. why did she have to kill the monkey?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2025
Funny, right to the last sentence.
October 29, 2023
Pretty Polly is a pet bird. Pretty Polly is also the main character and catalyst for the story to move along every time. Which seems a bit much. Actually, this is one of her better romances; she was very smart to change to mysteries.
March 19, 2013
Verity lives quietly with her father in a small village near Bath. Out of the blue she receives a letter from someone she was at school with who is now a young widow. Charlotte would like Verity to come and stay with her in London. She has an ulterior motive in that she wants Verity to write letters to a gentleman who once proposed to her and who has recently inherited a title. The reader can see straightaway that this is a course of action fraught with problems but how it all works out makes entertaining light reading.
The contrast between the characters of the two young women is well done with Charlotte vain and spiteful and only interested in what other people can do for her; and Verity a nice ordinary girl who when roused has a lot more spirit than might be expected. But the character who steals the whole story is the Pretty Polly of the title – a large parrot – which attaches itself very firmly to Verity along with Charlotte’s other two pets – Peter the cat and Tray the dog.
This is an amusing book which can be read in an evening. It is not actually set in the Edwardian era, in spite of the sub-title of the e-book – it is a Regency romance. I think something has gone amiss with both the Amazon product description and the publisher’s title of the e-book edition.
The contrast between the characters of the two young women is well done with Charlotte vain and spiteful and only interested in what other people can do for her; and Verity a nice ordinary girl who when roused has a lot more spirit than might be expected. But the character who steals the whole story is the Pretty Polly of the title – a large parrot – which attaches itself very firmly to Verity along with Charlotte’s other two pets – Peter the cat and Tray the dog.
This is an amusing book which can be read in an evening. It is not actually set in the Edwardian era, in spite of the sub-title of the e-book – it is a Regency romance. I think something has gone amiss with both the Amazon product description and the publisher’s title of the e-book edition.
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