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A House for the Season #1
The Miser of Mayfair
Is Number 67 Clarges Street the unluckiest house in Mayfair? Every season the beau mondes of the Regency would hire a house in the heart of London’s fashionable West End at disproportionately high rent for often inferior accommodation and yet Number 67 Clarges Street, a town house complete with staff, remains vacant from year to year. Could it be that it is associated with ill luck and even death? Something must be done so that the servants of this house don’t lose their livelihood.
Salvation seems to come in the form of Roderick Sinclair who confirms he wishes to rent the house for the current season. The staff is overjoyed - until they find that Mr. Sinclair is a terrible miser who is planning no parties. Furthermore, his ward, Fiona, though a dazzling Highland beauty, does not seem to possess one bright idea in her head. But it is Rainbird, Number 67’s clever and elegant butler, who sees through her facade and resolves to help his mysterious mistress in whatever way he can.
Salvation seems to come in the form of Roderick Sinclair who confirms he wishes to rent the house for the current season. The staff is overjoyed - until they find that Mr. Sinclair is a terrible miser who is planning no parties. Furthermore, his ward, Fiona, though a dazzling Highland beauty, does not seem to possess one bright idea in her head. But it is Rainbird, Number 67’s clever and elegant butler, who sees through her facade and resolves to help his mysterious mistress in whatever way he can.
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First published May 1, 1986
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About the author
Marion Chesney
143 books756 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 - 30 of 278 reviews
March 16, 2024
A Historical Romance!
Oh, I just love a good historical romance. Set during the regency period in Edinburg and London, Mr. Roderick Sinclair, the Miser of Mayfair, is tired of living hands to mouth.
He’s been waiting patiently for his rich brother to drop dead and leave him his fortune.
He never expected his brother, Jamie, to leave him a mouth to feed, instead. So now he’s off to London to make his fortune.
The Miser of Mayfair is filled with laughter from the perspective of the characters. From their personalities to their churlishness, from their mulishness to their vindictiveness. The characters are all very interesting and make you glad of the scene they’re in.
Fiona Sinclair and Lord Harrington are the major players in this story, but they have a great supporting cast of characters. The household staff has a lot of great scenes and comments that are helpful to the story.
The book is so good that I read it so fast. I just flew through the pages.
I’m gonna give this book five stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh, I just love a good historical romance. Set during the regency period in Edinburg and London, Mr. Roderick Sinclair, the Miser of Mayfair, is tired of living hands to mouth.
He’s been waiting patiently for his rich brother to drop dead and leave him his fortune.
He never expected his brother, Jamie, to leave him a mouth to feed, instead. So now he’s off to London to make his fortune.
The Miser of Mayfair is filled with laughter from the perspective of the characters. From their personalities to their churlishness, from their mulishness to their vindictiveness. The characters are all very interesting and make you glad of the scene they’re in.
Fiona Sinclair and Lord Harrington are the major players in this story, but they have a great supporting cast of characters. The household staff has a lot of great scenes and comments that are helpful to the story.
The book is so good that I read it so fast. I just flew through the pages.
I’m gonna give this book five stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 14, 2026
What a fun fast read. I was loving a strong female character who knows how to get things done. The book was written in 1986 and I have enjoyed other books by the author. She can write a strong female character. I enjoyed how aware of the heroine was of the tricks of people trying to take advantage and how she turns the tables on them. I was heading towards a 5* read. THEN at the 75% mark Fiona just becomes too stupid to live. The woman who could read people and know what they are plotting disappeared. It dropped to a 3* as all was tied up well....just because we needed a hea. Will I read the next book YES!
August 22, 2019
Honestly just not very good. Nothing is even remotely consistent. It was going for a Georgette Heyer feel, I think, but didn't manage it.
The book starts out well enough, with the beautiful Miss Fiona's introduction. She's so cow-eyed and dumb you can't help but assume it's a sham. And it is. She's a smart, capable card sharp. (Though we're never told how she came to these skills.) Then about mid book it all evaporates and she becomes just as stupid as she pretends. But only as long as it assists the plot. Then, she's suddenly smart, brave and capable again. The villains are cartoonish and the love interest has several unbelievable changes of heart for no apparent reason and goes against social convention without explanation. Also, he almost rapes Fiona, hardly a hero.
This has a nice new looking cover. So, I borrowed it from the library. But I later learned it was originally written in 1987. Maybe that explains a lot. But even for the late 80s, bad writing is bad writing. To her, credit Lindy Nettleton did as much with the manuscript as a narrator probably could. The narration is just fine. The book is not.
The book starts out well enough, with the beautiful Miss Fiona's introduction. She's so cow-eyed and dumb you can't help but assume it's a sham. And it is. She's a smart, capable card sharp. (Though we're never told how she came to these skills.) Then about mid book it all evaporates and she becomes just as stupid as she pretends. But only as long as it assists the plot. Then, she's suddenly smart, brave and capable again. The villains are cartoonish and the love interest has several unbelievable changes of heart for no apparent reason and goes against social convention without explanation. Also, he almost rapes Fiona, hardly a hero.
This has a nice new looking cover. So, I borrowed it from the library. But I later learned it was originally written in 1987. Maybe that explains a lot. But even for the late 80s, bad writing is bad writing. To her, credit Lindy Nettleton did as much with the manuscript as a narrator probably could. The narration is just fine. The book is not.
May 27, 2019
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
There is nothing I love better than a clever h who outwits everyone and shines in a novel. Fiona Sinclair uses her skills, looks, and brains to outmaneuver the Ton in this book. My issue is that the H is beneath her at times, although he does improve despite his initial snobbery. Later, she allows her emotions to get the better of her and is almost taken advantage of as a result. However, she is a very young girl of 18 or so. After all that she faced, I have to credit this as realistic.
Looking forward to reading more of this series and can't wait until the despicable Mr. Palmer gets his comeuppance all done Chesney style. So far a great start with a roster of serving class characters to keep things lively.
There is nothing I love better than a clever h who outwits everyone and shines in a novel. Fiona Sinclair uses her skills, looks, and brains to outmaneuver the Ton in this book. My issue is that the H is beneath her at times, although he does improve despite his initial snobbery. Later, she allows her emotions to get the better of her and is almost taken advantage of as a result. However, she is a very young girl of 18 or so. After all that she faced, I have to credit this as realistic.
Looking forward to reading more of this series and can't wait until the despicable Mr. Palmer gets his comeuppance all done Chesney style. So far a great start with a roster of serving class characters to keep things lively.
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April 12, 2013I remember reading a slew of Marion Chesney novels when my children were very young. They were just the right kind of light, mindless entertainment that I needed at the time. I had to read things that were very put-downable … books that would not consume me. My free time to read was very limited.
Basically, all of the books in any given Marion Chesney series were the same book. She had a formula, and stuck to it. She changed names, places and circumstances, but the basic plots remained identical. They were all set during the Regency (a period in history that I still adore to this day), and they were all usually under 200 pages each. The writing was simplistic, and really gave you nothing to ponder. These books fit the bill for me perfectly at the time.
Considering the number of books she has cranked out (Wikipedia lists 106 books under her own name and her pseudonyms), I’m not surprised that she does not write “great works of fiction”.
So I figured that since they were really all the same book, the same review would suffice!
Basically, all of the books in any given Marion Chesney series were the same book. She had a formula, and stuck to it. She changed names, places and circumstances, but the basic plots remained identical. They were all set during the Regency (a period in history that I still adore to this day), and they were all usually under 200 pages each. The writing was simplistic, and really gave you nothing to ponder. These books fit the bill for me perfectly at the time.
Considering the number of books she has cranked out (Wikipedia lists 106 books under her own name and her pseudonyms), I’m not surprised that she does not write “great works of fiction”.
So I figured that since they were really all the same book, the same review would suffice!
August 20, 2021
The thing about Marion Chesney is that the plots always start out so promisingly. Even when I remind myself that I never actually like her books, I think: "But for something fun and lighthearted!"
So I try again. And I remember why I hate these books. The heroes are attempted rapists. The heroines are spineless virgins who must be rescued from their own stupidity.
The side characters are great. But I can't enjoy them because I'm so busy loathing the main couple.
It is so frustrating!
So I try again. And I remember why I hate these books. The heroes are attempted rapists. The heroines are spineless virgins who must be rescued from their own stupidity.
The side characters are great. But I can't enjoy them because I'm so busy loathing the main couple.
It is so frustrating!
February 7, 2014
Another series by Chesney about down-on-their-luck characters. This time, the series revolves around the servants of the town house 67 Clarges Street: the comic butler Rainbird, ladylike housekeeper Mrs. Middleton, wild Scotch cook Angus MacGregor, beautiful Housemaid Alice, Chambermaid Jenny, little Scullery Maid Lizzie and young Pot Boy Dave. The house is said to be cursed and the servants are cheated and blackmailed out of their money by the Duke's wicked agent Palmer and have since become a little family because of the hardships they share. They hope and pray the house will be let and good times will come again. Their prayers are answered when miserly Mr. Jamie Sinclair of Edinburgh, Scotland dies and leaves his beautiful ward to his brother Roderick with no money for her keep. When Mr. Roderick Sinclair realizes he can marry this girl off to the highest bidder, he sells his meager possessions and heads off to London to 67 Clarges Street. A spring storm forces the mail coach to stop at the home of a gentleman, Mr. Pardon, where Mr. Sinclair must protect his sweet but unintelligent ward from their predatory host. Fiona meets the notorious misogynist the Earl of Harrington and charms him with her simple speech and beautiful looks. Once in London, Mr. Sinclair poses as a miser in order to make the ton think Fiona is an heiress. Her looks and reported fortune make her the toast of the town and popular with the gentlemen. However, the only man for Fiona is the Earl of Harrington and she confides her secrets to the amiable butler who helps her win her heart's desire. This book had a darker tone than most of Chesney's other novels. I really couldn't care for any of the characters because they all seemed so stereotypical and two dimensional. The story ends happily and predictably with a dramatic adventure followed by a wedding which resolved the story a little too quickly and neatly. This is not my favorite Chesney novel.
March 14, 2025
Fun to revisit one of my first MC Beaton fluffy light but fun books, back when she was writing Regency romances as Marion Chesney. I first read this in the late 80s, probably, found a paperback in a used bookstore, and appreciated her humor. Went on to read other romances, then Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin - she was prolific! And provided me with a lot of lighthearted entertainment over many decades as a wife and mother when I was too exhausted to read anything deeper. For that, I will be forever grateful. Beaton, Elizabeth Peters, Charlotte Macleod, Betty Neels - sometimes brain candy is just the ticket!
April 11, 2021
A sweet romance about a cursed house in Mayfair staffed by a small house who are cheated out of wages and hope each year that someone leases the house. A Scottish lawyer who had little money brings his ward, beautiful Fiona come to London for the season to find a husband. Fiona never shows her intelligence and manipulates people cleverly. There is a small mystery and has a fun ending.
January 5, 2020
Terrific, humorous, Regency novel, with an excellent audiobook version
I recently had a chance to newly experience this Regency novel, which is a longtime favorite of mine, as an audiobook. The British narrator, Lindy Nettleton, is quite talented. She ably portrays male and female characters of all ages and does an excellent job with British, French, and Scottish accents.
This is the first of six books in the Regency-romance series, "A House for the Season." The complete series is:
The Miser of Mayfair, the First Volume
Plain Jane, the Second Volume
The Wicked Godmother, the Third Volume
Rake's Progress, the Fourth Volume
The Adventuress, the Fifth Volume
Rainbird's Revenge, the Sixth Volume
This first book sets up the central core of this series. A group of servants, for various personal reasons, are miserably bound to their employment at Number 67 Clarges Street in London's Mayfair, a house notorious for being unlucky and haunted because a past owner, the Duke of Pelham, hung himself there, and a woman who lived there was murdered. The current extremely wealthy Duke of Pelham pays no attention to this property, leaving its disposition--including the salaries of the servants that go with it--completely at the discretion of Jonas Palmer, the duke's agent. Unfortunately, Palmer is a bully and an embezzler. He tells the duke he is paying good wages to the staff, but actually gives them barely enough money to survive on and pockets the difference. This constant state of poverty makes it impossible for them to fulfill their heart's desire, to buy an inn and run it as a group.
This plan feels quite workable to the staff because over the years they have banded together and formed a family of affiliation, headed by the 30-something butler, Rainbird, a former acrobat, magician and juggler. Rainbird is clever, kind and helpful to every decent person who comes into his orbit, not merely the staff, but tenants of the house.
The rest of the staff include a housekeeper named Mrs. Middleton, whose "Mrs." is an honorary title since she is a middle-aged spinster born to an impoverished curate; a brilliant chef who is a barbaric Scotsman named Angus MacGregor; a handsome, vain, and cowardly footman named Joseph; a chambermaid and skilled seamstress named Jenny; a beautiful, languorus, blond housemaid named Alice whom Rainbird frequently has to protect from lecherous guests; a sweet, innocent, teenage scullery maid named Lizzie, and the preteen pot boy, Dave, a former climbing boy whom Rainbird rescued from a cruel chimney sweep.
The staff of Number 67 Clarges Street are overjoyed when they hear they are to get tenants, only to learn that Mr. Roderick Sinclair, a middle-aged man with a beautiful, young ward named Fiona, is a terrible miser and refuses to entertain--depriving the staff of the "vails" (tips) which could augment their meager wages. But all is not as it seems with the presumably empty-headed Fiona, fortunately for the staff.
As always, this book, like all of Marion Chesney's Regencies, has a strong touch of the bizarre in its comedy, which can be quite startling to the uninitiated, and quite funny when you get used to it. Also, in spite of the many oddball events in her romances, Chesney does a great job of authentically portraying the Regency era, and her main characters are always sympathetic. In this series, the family of servants led by Rainbird are a terrific throughline linking it together. Every one of them, even vain Joseph, grows across the series, and each is lovable in his/her way. And the two lovers in this particular book are quite sympathetic. Finding out what Fiona is really like, compared to what everyone has always thought of her--until meeting Rainbird and crew--is an amazing experience.
I read this book as a Kindle edition. It is well formatted and edited, making it easy to read.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Rainbird and Crew: 4 stars
Historical World-Building: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Comedy: 4 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Audiobook version: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars
I recently had a chance to newly experience this Regency novel, which is a longtime favorite of mine, as an audiobook. The British narrator, Lindy Nettleton, is quite talented. She ably portrays male and female characters of all ages and does an excellent job with British, French, and Scottish accents.
This is the first of six books in the Regency-romance series, "A House for the Season." The complete series is:
The Miser of Mayfair, the First Volume
Plain Jane, the Second Volume
The Wicked Godmother, the Third Volume
Rake's Progress, the Fourth Volume
The Adventuress, the Fifth Volume
Rainbird's Revenge, the Sixth Volume
This first book sets up the central core of this series. A group of servants, for various personal reasons, are miserably bound to their employment at Number 67 Clarges Street in London's Mayfair, a house notorious for being unlucky and haunted because a past owner, the Duke of Pelham, hung himself there, and a woman who lived there was murdered. The current extremely wealthy Duke of Pelham pays no attention to this property, leaving its disposition--including the salaries of the servants that go with it--completely at the discretion of Jonas Palmer, the duke's agent. Unfortunately, Palmer is a bully and an embezzler. He tells the duke he is paying good wages to the staff, but actually gives them barely enough money to survive on and pockets the difference. This constant state of poverty makes it impossible for them to fulfill their heart's desire, to buy an inn and run it as a group.
This plan feels quite workable to the staff because over the years they have banded together and formed a family of affiliation, headed by the 30-something butler, Rainbird, a former acrobat, magician and juggler. Rainbird is clever, kind and helpful to every decent person who comes into his orbit, not merely the staff, but tenants of the house.
The rest of the staff include a housekeeper named Mrs. Middleton, whose "Mrs." is an honorary title since she is a middle-aged spinster born to an impoverished curate; a brilliant chef who is a barbaric Scotsman named Angus MacGregor; a handsome, vain, and cowardly footman named Joseph; a chambermaid and skilled seamstress named Jenny; a beautiful, languorus, blond housemaid named Alice whom Rainbird frequently has to protect from lecherous guests; a sweet, innocent, teenage scullery maid named Lizzie, and the preteen pot boy, Dave, a former climbing boy whom Rainbird rescued from a cruel chimney sweep.
The staff of Number 67 Clarges Street are overjoyed when they hear they are to get tenants, only to learn that Mr. Roderick Sinclair, a middle-aged man with a beautiful, young ward named Fiona, is a terrible miser and refuses to entertain--depriving the staff of the "vails" (tips) which could augment their meager wages. But all is not as it seems with the presumably empty-headed Fiona, fortunately for the staff.
As always, this book, like all of Marion Chesney's Regencies, has a strong touch of the bizarre in its comedy, which can be quite startling to the uninitiated, and quite funny when you get used to it. Also, in spite of the many oddball events in her romances, Chesney does a great job of authentically portraying the Regency era, and her main characters are always sympathetic. In this series, the family of servants led by Rainbird are a terrific throughline linking it together. Every one of them, even vain Joseph, grows across the series, and each is lovable in his/her way. And the two lovers in this particular book are quite sympathetic. Finding out what Fiona is really like, compared to what everyone has always thought of her--until meeting Rainbird and crew--is an amazing experience.
I read this book as a Kindle edition. It is well formatted and edited, making it easy to read.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Rainbird and Crew: 4 stars
Historical World-Building: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Comedy: 4 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Audiobook version: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars
July 22, 2016
This is one of a series of formulaic Regency romps by Marion Chesney. There are several series with mild varations and they are like potato chips to me, I can't read just one.
In this series the location is a house in London that is reported to be cursed
the main cast are the servants of said house who are mistreated by the agent but all of whom are 'trapped' in the job.
The 'unmarriageable' young lady in this case is an orphan who is the ward of a Scottish drunk. and the Man of her dreams is an Earl.
The young lady is absurdly beautiful, but believes she is ugly. They don't have a lot of money so she spreads the rumor that her guardian is a miser and then she proceeds to be a card sharp around town and adds 1000's to their coffers.
The Earl she loves isn't thinking of marrying so he falls head over heels in love with her and when she thinks he is lost she elopes with a rake. But she isn't the simpleton she portrays and had things well in hand before her rescue. She and the Earl live HEA and the staff are returned to their previous level of poverty.
In this series the location is a house in London that is reported to be cursed
the main cast are the servants of said house who are mistreated by the agent but all of whom are 'trapped' in the job.
The 'unmarriageable' young lady in this case is an orphan who is the ward of a Scottish drunk. and the Man of her dreams is an Earl.
The young lady is absurdly beautiful, but believes she is ugly. They don't have a lot of money so she spreads the rumor that her guardian is a miser and then she proceeds to be a card sharp around town and adds 1000's to their coffers.
The Earl she loves isn't thinking of marrying so he falls head over heels in love with her and when she thinks he is lost she elopes with a rake. But she isn't the simpleton she portrays and had things well in hand before her rescue. She and the Earl live HEA and the staff are returned to their previous level of poverty.
April 21, 2023
A promising beginning of another series by Marion Chesney.
As I wrote many times, Mrs Chesney's style was specific. I often feel a bit unsatisfied with her romances (they are fast, there is too little place for growing fond or passionate), but I got used to it (more or less ;-) ). I adore her wit, irony, and characters immensely.
This one wasn't one of the author's best, the hero's behaviour was too violent (it wasn't necessary). But I felt for the servants and will like to read more of their unhappy, yet funny adventures (knowing that in the end, they will have a happy ending).
[3-3.5 stars]
As I wrote many times, Mrs Chesney's style was specific. I often feel a bit unsatisfied with her romances (they are fast, there is too little place for growing fond or passionate), but I got used to it (more or less ;-) ). I adore her wit, irony, and characters immensely.
This one wasn't one of the author's best, the hero's behaviour was too violent (it wasn't necessary). But I felt for the servants and will like to read more of their unhappy, yet funny adventures (knowing that in the end, they will have a happy ending).
[3-3.5 stars]
March 18, 2013
This book was OK but I did not enjoy it as much as some of this author's books. I do not think I will read further in this series. I was not as taken with the servants (who will appear in the further volumes) to keep reading. That she thought breaking into his house was a good idea was ridiculous. That he thought attacking her in that manner was a good idea was ridiculous. That she thought marrying him after that attack was a good idea was ridiculous. I like farce but this was beyond farce into the ridiculous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2020
Typical for the genre, but still a lot of fun!
May 31, 2016
I enjoyed this book. It was nicely written and engaging.
I did like the character of Fiona although I did feel she was on the shallow side.
I did like the character of Fiona although I did feel she was on the shallow side.
August 8, 2018
I'm enjoying this series! I don't know if anything will ever beat The Poor Relations series, but this one is the most promising!
December 18, 2022
Audible Plus 5 hours 57 min. Narrated by Lindy Nettleton (A)
This is the first in a six book series A House For the Season.which is each a different romance and each of which, of course, ends happily!
Much credit must be given to Marion Chesney for skills and accuracy in describing the costumes of both ladies and gentlemen during this period. She also knows how to describe the well-laden tables and the numerous courses of fish,fowl, and game served with sauces and gravies but limited in vegetables.
This is the first in a six book series A House For the Season.which is each a different romance and each of which, of course, ends happily!
Much credit must be given to Marion Chesney for skills and accuracy in describing the costumes of both ladies and gentlemen during this period. She also knows how to describe the well-laden tables and the numerous courses of fish,fowl, and game served with sauces and gravies but limited in vegetables.
April 20, 2023
Read this many years ago and decided to revisit it - have to say I did not find it quite as enjoyable as I remembered.
The incredibly beautiful Miss Fiona Sinclair is brought from Edinburgh to London by her guardian Mr Roderick Sinclair in attempt to marry her to the highest bidder. Mr Sinclair had been anticipating inheriting a fortune from his brother, when all he actually inherits is the guardianship of Fiona who appears to be extremely naive and simple. They rent a London house which is being offered for a cheap rate because it is supposedly cursed and is usually inhabited only by the servants, all of whom are kept there, on very low wages, by the villainous agent of the property. Fiona implausibly sets her heart on a misogynistic Earl, an aim in which she eventually succeeds (hardly feel this is a spoiler in this type of book).
Although the edition I read was published in 2013, the original publication date was 1986. I think this is why I did not enjoy it as much as I did on previous reading, which was much nearer to the original date. The story moves along quite nicely, the main characters are quite appealing and there is humour in there. But two things rather let the story down for me. The first was when Fiona, taking tea with a society lady, comments on the footmen, who are men of colour; I think Beaton is just parroting Regency attitudes to such servants and Fiona says nothing hugely offensive it is just that she appears to regard the men as pieces of fashionable furniture. The second thing that didn't sit well with me is that there are two instances of attempted rape. The second is sort of germane to the plot and the attempt never really gets anywhere. However the first occurs . I suspect this scene was included beacause the book was first published when the bodice ripper genre very popular, although Beaton hardly seems comfortable even writing it.
The incredibly beautiful Miss Fiona Sinclair is brought from Edinburgh to London by her guardian Mr Roderick Sinclair in attempt to marry her to the highest bidder. Mr Sinclair had been anticipating inheriting a fortune from his brother, when all he actually inherits is the guardianship of Fiona who appears to be extremely naive and simple. They rent a London house which is being offered for a cheap rate because it is supposedly cursed and is usually inhabited only by the servants, all of whom are kept there, on very low wages, by the villainous agent of the property. Fiona implausibly sets her heart on a misogynistic Earl, an aim in which she eventually succeeds (hardly feel this is a spoiler in this type of book).
Although the edition I read was published in 2013, the original publication date was 1986. I think this is why I did not enjoy it as much as I did on previous reading, which was much nearer to the original date. The story moves along quite nicely, the main characters are quite appealing and there is humour in there. But two things rather let the story down for me. The first was when Fiona, taking tea with a society lady, comments on the footmen, who are men of colour; I think Beaton is just parroting Regency attitudes to such servants and Fiona says nothing hugely offensive it is just that she appears to regard the men as pieces of fashionable furniture. The second thing that didn't sit well with me is that there are two instances of attempted rape. The second is sort of germane to the plot and the attempt never really gets anywhere. However the first occurs . I suspect this scene was included beacause the book was first published when the bodice ripper genre very popular, although Beaton hardly seems comfortable even writing it.
October 30, 2016
This is the first book in the "A House For The Season" by M. C. Beaton writing as Marion Chesney and it was an excellent start to the series. There are currently six books in the series.
The series is about a series of residents who rent the home at 67 Clarges Street in Mayfair. The house is known as a bad luck house because the previous owner (a duke) killed himself in the house. Since then, all of the residents have had very bad luck befall them - the daughter of one family died, one family lost ALL of their money, etc. The house is available to rent for a give-away rate and is fully staffed by an odd grouping of servants. The servants are very poorly paid, but can't leave because they are all being blackmailed by the property manager to make them stay. They have become like family to each other and I think you'll enjoy getting to know them -- and seeing them manage and help each of the tenants.
In this first book, we have Mr. Roderick Sinclair who has received NO inheritance from his very rich and miserly brother, but has been left with the care of his brother's ward. The ward is Fiona and she is strikingly beautiful (aren't they all), but her previous caregiver always told her she was ugly and made her cover herself up. So, when her new caregiver tells her she is beautiful, she doesn't believe him.
Mr. Sinclair sells everything he owns in Scotland in order to take Fiona to London in order to give her a chance at a good marriage. They are on really, really limited funds - but - Fiona, who pretends to be a complete air head, manages to play cards and win them a tidy sum.
It is a delightfully entertaining tale. You'll watch the Clarges Street staff aid Fiona all along the way to finding and winning her happily ever after - even a little deception and card sharping along the way.
The series is about a series of residents who rent the home at 67 Clarges Street in Mayfair. The house is known as a bad luck house because the previous owner (a duke) killed himself in the house. Since then, all of the residents have had very bad luck befall them - the daughter of one family died, one family lost ALL of their money, etc. The house is available to rent for a give-away rate and is fully staffed by an odd grouping of servants. The servants are very poorly paid, but can't leave because they are all being blackmailed by the property manager to make them stay. They have become like family to each other and I think you'll enjoy getting to know them -- and seeing them manage and help each of the tenants.
In this first book, we have Mr. Roderick Sinclair who has received NO inheritance from his very rich and miserly brother, but has been left with the care of his brother's ward. The ward is Fiona and she is strikingly beautiful (aren't they all), but her previous caregiver always told her she was ugly and made her cover herself up. So, when her new caregiver tells her she is beautiful, she doesn't believe him.
Mr. Sinclair sells everything he owns in Scotland in order to take Fiona to London in order to give her a chance at a good marriage. They are on really, really limited funds - but - Fiona, who pretends to be a complete air head, manages to play cards and win them a tidy sum.
It is a delightfully entertaining tale. You'll watch the Clarges Street staff aid Fiona all along the way to finding and winning her happily ever after - even a little deception and card sharping along the way.
November 12, 2014
nuova serie per l'autrice di agatha raisin, stavolta ambientata nell'epoca regency e che ruota intorno a una casa di mayfair- da affittare per la stagione. niente di originale, ma questo primo volume è brioso e divertente nel raccontare le avventure della bellissima fiona e del suo tutore ubriacone e squattrinato, tra dialoghi brillanti e situazioni buffe.
November 14, 2018
The premise was promising, but the characters were not as engaging as those in the Poor Relations series, and then, toward the end, the book took a super rape-culture-y turn. I can appreciate an author who doesn't implant modern views into historical characters, but justifying/excusing rape crosses the line into "never okay," and in this situation it was disturbing and disgusting.
November 14, 2018
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book - with its seemingly vapid heroine and its humorous cast of servants. The final 1/3 though with its drama and near-rapes ruined it for me. In the end, I wasn't very happy with the couple.
May 7, 2017
I liked the idea of the story, especially with the servants point of view. I found the main character annoying at the start but she grows on you as you get to know more about her. The book is obviously well researched.
I really don't like the cover, its degrading and garish.
I really don't like the cover, its degrading and garish.
June 17, 2017
This is a review of "A House for the Season":
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 12, 2016
Valutazione 3,5 stelline
Il migliore della serie!!
Il migliore della serie!!
July 25, 2022
Such a fun entertaining book! Off to read the next 😁
December 5, 2022
3 stars.
I’m not quite sure what to make of this. I started it not realizing it was written in 1986, so that was a bit jolting.
The style and structure of it was so unusual. We get far more POV from the heroine’s guardian, from the servants, from random men about town than we actually do from Fiona or her eventual love interest. I didn’t even realize he was the love interest until like 80%! From the blurb I assumed it was the butler, which was quite incorrect.
As humorous historical fiction, I got really into it through the middle stretch. The servants had great banter, I loved Fiona’s doe-eyed innocent act as she fleeced the ton ladies at cards. It was a lot of fun!
But then the heroine seems to completely lose her mind in the last act, breaking into Harrington’s home and then running off with the clear villain. That fit with her dumb persona, not the clever girl we had been previously shown.
And then the “hero.” Well, he finds her in his home, loudly threatens to rape her and *literally rips her bodice*, and then when she escapes thinks “wow she’s quite pretty, I’m glad I didn’t rape her, I love her and want to get married.”
Not the kind of love I look for!
So, yeah. A shit ending let down a pretty fun (if not particularly romantic) romp.
CW: attempted sexual assault by hero and by villain, alcoholic side character, mention of suicide attempts, gambling
Steam: 0
I’m not quite sure what to make of this. I started it not realizing it was written in 1986, so that was a bit jolting.
The style and structure of it was so unusual. We get far more POV from the heroine’s guardian, from the servants, from random men about town than we actually do from Fiona or her eventual love interest. I didn’t even realize he was the love interest until like 80%! From the blurb I assumed it was the butler, which was quite incorrect.
As humorous historical fiction, I got really into it through the middle stretch. The servants had great banter, I loved Fiona’s doe-eyed innocent act as she fleeced the ton ladies at cards. It was a lot of fun!
But then the heroine seems to completely lose her mind in the last act, breaking into Harrington’s home and then running off with the clear villain. That fit with her dumb persona, not the clever girl we had been previously shown.
And then the “hero.” Well, he finds her in his home, loudly threatens to rape her and *literally rips her bodice*, and then when she escapes thinks “wow she’s quite pretty, I’m glad I didn’t rape her, I love her and want to get married.”
Not the kind of love I look for!
So, yeah. A shit ending let down a pretty fun (if not particularly romantic) romp.
CW: attempted sexual assault by hero and by villain, alcoholic side character, mention of suicide attempts, gambling
Steam: 0
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2023
MC Beaton is a deft writer and captures the era well. I have happily read several of her historical romances, both under MC Beaton and Marion Chesney. However, I have notes.
I wish that Fiona showed us more of her described blazing and forceful personality, but those moments were too few. Don't get me wrong, she was always planning and busy, but she didn't have a really great opportunity to truly shine. I also never really liked the Earl, as he barely comes out of his haughty persona by the end and doesn't really give a very lover-like performance. In fact, the two barely have reason to fall madly in love with each other, even tho they do. It seems to be all hormones. I will also add that the footman Joseph would likely be written as gay today, but I'm not entirely sure he isn't in this telling, anyway.
The plot runs along with many clever twists and fun developments.
HOWEVER. **spoiler**
At the end when Fiona goes to the Earl's house to look for papers about her past and he catches her there and accuses her of burglary, he locks her in his room with him, tells the servants to disregard any noises, and angrily tells her he's going to bed her. She clearly doesn't want this and is frightened. He begins to undress, forcefully kisses her, and rips open the bodice of her gown. He stops when her butler, who followed her, barges into the house when she screams. SHE FORGIVES HIM BEFORE SHE'S OUT OF THE HOUSE, saying she put herself into the situation. Later she wonders to herself why he'd bother to "make love" to her when he could have just called the police instead. After she leaves, he's filled with remorse and realizes he wants to marry her. He, at least, calls what he did "almost rape." They get married a few chapters later. NOT OKAY.
I wish that Fiona showed us more of her described blazing and forceful personality, but those moments were too few. Don't get me wrong, she was always planning and busy, but she didn't have a really great opportunity to truly shine. I also never really liked the Earl, as he barely comes out of his haughty persona by the end and doesn't really give a very lover-like performance. In fact, the two barely have reason to fall madly in love with each other, even tho they do. It seems to be all hormones. I will also add that the footman Joseph would likely be written as gay today, but I'm not entirely sure he isn't in this telling, anyway.
The plot runs along with many clever twists and fun developments.
HOWEVER. **spoiler**
At the end when Fiona goes to the Earl's house to look for papers about her past and he catches her there and accuses her of burglary, he locks her in his room with him, tells the servants to disregard any noises, and angrily tells her he's going to bed her. She clearly doesn't want this and is frightened. He begins to undress, forcefully kisses her, and rips open the bodice of her gown. He stops when her butler, who followed her, barges into the house when she screams. SHE FORGIVES HIM BEFORE SHE'S OUT OF THE HOUSE, saying she put herself into the situation. Later she wonders to herself why he'd bother to "make love" to her when he could have just called the police instead. After she leaves, he's filled with remorse and realizes he wants to marry her. He, at least, calls what he did "almost rape." They get married a few chapters later. NOT OKAY.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2021
Molto divertente questa commedia dal tipico humor inglese.
Il povero e squattrinato Mr. Sinclair passa dalla voglia di festeggiare la dipartita del ricco fratello alla disperazione più nera quando apprende che questi, non solo non glia ha lasciato nessuna eredità, ma gli ha affidato Fiona, la sua pupilla.
Da qui l'idea di trasferirsi a Londra per la Stagione e precisamente al 67 di Clarges Street , casa con una pessima nomea e con dei domestici molto particolari.
Il romanzo è divertene e brillante, c'è molta ironia in tutti i personaggi. Il deus ex machina che risolve tutti i problemi della protagonista e di suo "padre" è il
Il povero e squattrinato Mr. Sinclair passa dalla voglia di festeggiare la dipartita del ricco fratello alla disperazione più nera quando apprende che questi, non solo non glia ha lasciato nessuna eredità, ma gli ha affidato Fiona, la sua pupilla.
Da qui l'idea di trasferirsi a Londra per la Stagione e precisamente al 67 di Clarges Street , casa con una pessima nomea e con dei domestici molto particolari.
Il romanzo è divertene e brillante, c'è molta ironia in tutti i personaggi. Il deus ex machina che risolve tutti i problemi della protagonista e di suo "padre" è il
May 25, 2021
I read the second one first and liked it enough to read the first in the series. This was just okay; I enjoyed the second one more, as the servants’ characters were more developed and I really liked that aspect to the story. I may not have persevered with the series if I started where I was supposed to.
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