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The Jewelled Snuff Box
Impoverished Jane Spencer is amongst a group of travellers who are forced to delay their journey due to a snowstorm. Their stage coach is unable to continue its journey through the storm and its passengers are forced to get out and walk to a nearby inn.
Jane comes across a unconscious man, the victim of a beating, lying half dead in the snow.
The events that follow will change Jane's life.
What is the significance of the ornate jewelled snuff box?
Jane comes across a unconscious man, the victim of a beating, lying half dead in the snow.
The events that follow will change Jane's life.
What is the significance of the ornate jewelled snuff box?
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1959
169 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Alice Chetwynd Ley
32 books54 followersBorn Alice Mary Chetwynd Humphrey on 12 October 1913 in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, UK, she studied at King Edward VI Grammar School in Birmingham. On 3 February 1945, she married Kenneth James Ley. They had two sons; Richard James Humphrey Ley and Graham Kenneth Hugh Ley.
She was a teacher at Harrow College of Higher Education. In 1962, she obtained a diploma in Sociology at London University, and was awarded the Gilchrist Award of 1962. She was a lecturer in Sociology and Social History, from 1968 to 1971.
Under her married name, Alice Chetwynd Ley, she published romance novels from 1959 to 1986. She was also tutor in Creative Writing, from 1962 to 1984. She was elected the sixth Chairman (1971-1973) of the Romantic Novelists' Association and was named an honoured Life Member.
Alice Chetwynd passed away in 2004.
She was a teacher at Harrow College of Higher Education. In 1962, she obtained a diploma in Sociology at London University, and was awarded the Gilchrist Award of 1962. She was a lecturer in Sociology and Social History, from 1968 to 1971.
Under her married name, Alice Chetwynd Ley, she published romance novels from 1959 to 1986. She was also tutor in Creative Writing, from 1962 to 1984. She was elected the sixth Chairman (1971-1973) of the Romantic Novelists' Association and was named an honoured Life Member.
Alice Chetwynd passed away in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
August 17, 2016
3.5★
As I have said (many, many times!) I'm a big Heyer fan, but I don't normally care for other Regency romances.
I'm happy to make an exception for this book.
An original plot and intriguing beginning had me hooked immediately (although a minor caveat - I think a ruby & emerald snuff box would be really ugly!) I loved both Richard & Jane's character. In spite of the minor issue of well realised villainess Celia using mostly eighteenth century language, this book was going to get 4★ from me,but I didn't like the fairy tale ending.
As I have said (many, many times!) I'm a big Heyer fan, but I don't normally care for other Regency romances.
I'm happy to make an exception for this book.
An original plot and intriguing beginning had me hooked immediately (although a minor caveat - I think a ruby & emerald snuff box would be really ugly!) I loved both Richard & Jane's character. In spite of the minor issue of well realised villainess Celia using mostly eighteenth century language, this book was going to get 4★ from me,but I didn't like the fairy tale ending.
March 4, 2022
Georgian romance where it is essential for the heroine's love interest to regain his memory after becoming the victim of attack on the road. There is a sympathetic young woman at the center of the action for the reader to cheer for.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited
May 20, 2015
2.5 stars, rounded up. It's a C- rather than a D+!
I’m always interested when older romances make their way into digital format, so when I saw this one was a freebie for Kindle I picked it up, having vaguely recognised the author’s name as someone who wrote Regency Romances back in the 60s and 70s (and into the 1980s, according to her bio.)
Knowing that The Jewelled Snuff Box was likely to be a quick and fairly simple read, I picked it up one evening planning to whizz through it before bedtime – which is what I did. One of the things about many of these older titles is that they’re shorter than we’re used to and as a result, the characters and plotlines are rarely as well developed as those in the best of the historicals around today, so I wasn’t surprised when I was proven right on both counts by this story.
Miss Jane Spencer is going to London to take up her new post as a lady’s companion when the roads become impassable due to a heavy snowfall and the passengers are forced to take shelter at a nearby inn until the weather clears. As the group is walking to the inn, Jane notices a dark shape lying on the ground, and on going to investigate, discovers the shape is an injured man. He is taken to the inn where Jane tends to him, but on coming round, he discovers that he has no idea who or where he is, and no memory of his life before waking up in unfamiliar surroundings.
Jane and the stranger spend a little time together and a friendship starts to develop between them. When he feels better and the weather clears, Jane and the other passengers resume their journey and the man accompanies them, in hopes of learning something about himself from Jane’s lawyer, who she is sure will be able to help him to find his people and perhaps set him on the road to recovery.
Jane meets with said lawyer, but when she goes to find her new friend in order to introduce him, he is nowhere to be found. And when she finds a letter tucked securely into the secret compartment of the little jewelled snuff box which was his only possession – a letter which indicates he may be having an affair with a married woman – Jane is heartbroken. Although gently born, she has had to make her own way in the world for years, and had more or less given up all dreams of love and marriage. But the stranger had stirred those longings in her, and she had believed they had an affinity for one another – which makes this knowledge all the more devastating.
But Jane is a strong young woman, and heads to the address of her new job, only to discover that her employer the Earl of Bordesley, is married to an old schoolfellow of hers – the archetypal “mean girl” who had made her life a misery.
Celia Bordesley is petulant, spoiled and the sort of character who needs a good slap. Her much older husband indulges her to a point, and actually, I’d have liked to have got to know him a little more, as it’s clear from his interactions with Celia that he sees a lot more than he lets on and is well aware of his wife’s nature even as he can’t help being drawn to her youth and beauty.
There are revelations ahead about Jane’s family, and about the identity of her mystery man and the true nature of his involvement with the lady mentioned in the note as “C” (bet you can’t guess who she is! :P), and of course all ends well. Dating from 1977, the book is of course squeaky clean, and while it’s much as I expected – short and lightweight – it was easy to read and held my attention for the couple of hours it took to read it. The downside is that the characterisation is incredibly thin and the mystery element of the plot isn’t all that mysterious or well-developed.
I picked this up when it was free and also have The Guinea Stamp(which was also a freebie when I got it), but I’m not sure I’d have purchased any more at full price. That’s not to say this is a dreadful book – it isn’t. It’s well written and has echoes of Georgette Heyer and Jane Aiken Hodge - although it’s most definitely NOT in the same class as Heyer – and if you’re looking for something clean and simple that doesn’t come with the bucketful of angst typical of today’s HRs (and I’m not complaining about that – I love me some angst!) and something reminiscent of the time when the door (and the book) closed on a kiss, you might like this one.
I’m always interested when older romances make their way into digital format, so when I saw this one was a freebie for Kindle I picked it up, having vaguely recognised the author’s name as someone who wrote Regency Romances back in the 60s and 70s (and into the 1980s, according to her bio.)
Knowing that The Jewelled Snuff Box was likely to be a quick and fairly simple read, I picked it up one evening planning to whizz through it before bedtime – which is what I did. One of the things about many of these older titles is that they’re shorter than we’re used to and as a result, the characters and plotlines are rarely as well developed as those in the best of the historicals around today, so I wasn’t surprised when I was proven right on both counts by this story.
Miss Jane Spencer is going to London to take up her new post as a lady’s companion when the roads become impassable due to a heavy snowfall and the passengers are forced to take shelter at a nearby inn until the weather clears. As the group is walking to the inn, Jane notices a dark shape lying on the ground, and on going to investigate, discovers the shape is an injured man. He is taken to the inn where Jane tends to him, but on coming round, he discovers that he has no idea who or where he is, and no memory of his life before waking up in unfamiliar surroundings.
Jane and the stranger spend a little time together and a friendship starts to develop between them. When he feels better and the weather clears, Jane and the other passengers resume their journey and the man accompanies them, in hopes of learning something about himself from Jane’s lawyer, who she is sure will be able to help him to find his people and perhaps set him on the road to recovery.
Jane meets with said lawyer, but when she goes to find her new friend in order to introduce him, he is nowhere to be found. And when she finds a letter tucked securely into the secret compartment of the little jewelled snuff box which was his only possession – a letter which indicates he may be having an affair with a married woman – Jane is heartbroken. Although gently born, she has had to make her own way in the world for years, and had more or less given up all dreams of love and marriage. But the stranger had stirred those longings in her, and she had believed they had an affinity for one another – which makes this knowledge all the more devastating.
But Jane is a strong young woman, and heads to the address of her new job, only to discover that her employer the Earl of Bordesley, is married to an old schoolfellow of hers – the archetypal “mean girl” who had made her life a misery.
Celia Bordesley is petulant, spoiled and the sort of character who needs a good slap. Her much older husband indulges her to a point, and actually, I’d have liked to have got to know him a little more, as it’s clear from his interactions with Celia that he sees a lot more than he lets on and is well aware of his wife’s nature even as he can’t help being drawn to her youth and beauty.
There are revelations ahead about Jane’s family, and about the identity of her mystery man and the true nature of his involvement with the lady mentioned in the note as “C” (bet you can’t guess who she is! :P), and of course all ends well. Dating from 1977, the book is of course squeaky clean, and while it’s much as I expected – short and lightweight – it was easy to read and held my attention for the couple of hours it took to read it. The downside is that the characterisation is incredibly thin and the mystery element of the plot isn’t all that mysterious or well-developed.
I picked this up when it was free and also have The Guinea Stamp(which was also a freebie when I got it), but I’m not sure I’d have purchased any more at full price. That’s not to say this is a dreadful book – it isn’t. It’s well written and has echoes of Georgette Heyer and Jane Aiken Hodge - although it’s most definitely NOT in the same class as Heyer – and if you’re looking for something clean and simple that doesn’t come with the bucketful of angst typical of today’s HRs (and I’m not complaining about that – I love me some angst!) and something reminiscent of the time when the door (and the book) closed on a kiss, you might like this one.
January 31, 2016
Well, I'm glad to say that after the 60% mark this improved a bit as far as plot.
What I liked was that the language wasn't too modern, the manners felt right and the heroine, hero and other characters were likable, (Excuse me, MOST of them).
I did not like Celia, who Jane was a paid companion to. I was pleased with how the author turned things and will because of it considered reading something else by her. The nasty little Celia got her just deserts and in a realistic way. I'd feel sorry for her husband if I don't know he knew exactly what she was made of from the beginning.
The romance was a bit unbelievable to me, not because I don't believe in love-at-first-sight, but because I don't know what they saw in each other. Other than his thick, dark hair and aquiline features, (don't they all seem to be like this?), I don't know what drew Jane to him. And her, what was so fascinating? Hair pulled back severely, grey eyes and a sweet countenance. Okay, so. the attraction? I'm not saying they weren't both nice. But, but.. How many people do we know like this? A hundred if we know a dozen!
That said, it wasn't bad. Jane's circumstances are unusual and also seemed a bit contrived. Too perfect an ending. But, I picked this up wanting a light diversion and I got it.
G Perfectly clean, a few kisses, a few swears, mention of two characters having an affair and I found the use of God as a swear tiresome. It was only a few places but it was unnecessary.
What I liked was that the language wasn't too modern, the manners felt right and the heroine, hero and other characters were likable, (Excuse me, MOST of them).
I did not like Celia, who Jane was a paid companion to. I was pleased with how the author turned things and will because of it considered reading something else by her. The nasty little Celia got her just deserts and in a realistic way. I'd feel sorry for her husband if I don't know he knew exactly what she was made of from the beginning.
The romance was a bit unbelievable to me, not because I don't believe in love-at-first-sight, but because I don't know what they saw in each other. Other than his thick, dark hair and aquiline features, (don't they all seem to be like this?), I don't know what drew Jane to him. And her, what was so fascinating? Hair pulled back severely, grey eyes and a sweet countenance. Okay, so. the attraction? I'm not saying they weren't both nice. But, but.. How many people do we know like this? A hundred if we know a dozen!
That said, it wasn't bad. Jane's circumstances are unusual and also seemed a bit contrived. Too perfect an ending. But, I picked this up wanting a light diversion and I got it.
G Perfectly clean, a few kisses, a few swears, mention of two characters having an affair and I found the use of God as a swear tiresome. It was only a few places but it was unnecessary.
April 3, 2016
A very traditional regency, interesting characters (the sweet and the nasties), touching at times, but predictable.
May 31, 2019
The historical accuracy as for light historical romance was surprisingly good. And that is worth mentioning.
There were also an interesting (although not new) threads like a forbidden marriage, a calf love, a jealous husband, a governess' life.
But, first, I had difficulties with accepting the second amnesia. Secondly, I simply haven't enjoyed it as much as I hoped. It had to be something with the storytelling because (except the second amnesia) the fundamental parts that created the story were promising. There was a place for intrigue, mystery, for a romance, for misunderstandings that can give another thrill to the story. But simply something didn't work as well as it could have.
Nonetheless, I am going to try another of Alice Chetwynd Ley's novel in the future.
There were also an interesting (although not new) threads like a forbidden marriage, a calf love, a jealous husband, a governess' life.
But, first, I had difficulties with accepting the second amnesia. Secondly, I simply haven't enjoyed it as much as I hoped. It had to be something with the storytelling because (except the second amnesia) the fundamental parts that created the story were promising. There was a place for intrigue, mystery, for a romance, for misunderstandings that can give another thrill to the story. But simply something didn't work as well as it could have.
Nonetheless, I am going to try another of Alice Chetwynd Ley's novel in the future.
February 10, 2017
Amazon Prime Kindle Freebie
2.5 stars
Jane Spencer is on her way to a new post as companion in London when her stage coach is forced to stop at a wayside inn during a snowstorm. Jane is shocked to come across a body lying in the snow. Luckily, the man isn't dead, merely unconscious. With a fancy many caped greatcoat and a jeweled snuff box lying in the snow nearby, it is obvious this is a gentleman of Quality. Jane spends the night nursing the man and when he wakens, he can not remember who he is or how he got there! The pair travel to London where the man promptly disappears. Searching his snuffbox for clues, Jane and her lawyer discover a mysterious, incriminating letter that indicates although the man may be Quality, he is no gentleman. Jane is disappointed for she has fallen in love already! Then she discovers her new situation is less than ideal but she has nowhere else to go. It seems that her mysterious gentleman in somehow involved in a sordid affair with her married employer! Poor Jane!
I had high expectations for this early Regency reprint but ended up disappointed. There are a number of things wrong with this novel, in my opinion. First, there are serious breaches of etiquette right in the beginning of the novel. I highly doubt even an impoverished governess cum companion would be allowed to spend the night in a room alone with a mysterious man or even travel in a closed carriage. Next, most of the drama could have been avoided if the lawyer had bothered to find out who owned the snuff box and return it! Also, if Jane had suck close by her employer and listened to the conversations, she would have known what was going on. The plot sounded like it was going to be a fun spy story but turned into a take of adultery and jealousy among the ton, which didn't appeal to me. I don't buy the romance at all. There's nothing there to even form an attachment. Next the plot relies on too many coincidences. Finally, none of the characters are likable.
Jane starts off as a typical Mary Sue. I didn't like her very much. She was TOO good and self-sacrificing. Plus she put her reputation in danger to help a stranger. She did improve upon acquaintance, especially towards the end. She didn't have any good reason to be so insipid at first except she needed a job. Her fierce independence is something I can relate to, but why not stay with her friends if her work situation is intolerable? I don't think she can be legally adopted if she's over 21 so she can still be independent while accepting a kindly meant offer from friends. In the end, her mental toughness makes her more appealing when she finally tells it like it is. I wouldn't have waited so long.
Richard is not an ideal hero. He needs a good kick in the pants to grow up. His infatuation with Celia is unwarranted and he knows it. He knows what she is but can't help loving her. I did feel sorry for him that his concussion caused memory loss. He seemed like a nice man in the beginning but he needs a little more of Jane's independence and toughness.
Celia is an absolutely, extremely awful person. She is a spoiled beauty who doesn't appreciate what she has. She's an unreliable source of information because of her constant lying. I have no idea whether her husband is the jealous sort and if he has tantrums. I don't think he comes across as being temperamental. He just wants his wife to be faithful, patient and understanding during a difficult time. He worships her and she doesn't deserve it.
We also don't really know Julian's true character because most of the information about him is filtered through Celia and Richard. He doesn't seem like a very nice person but he isn't completely despicable either.
I rounded up to three stars because I liked the ending. I knock off some points for the Kindle edition being full of typos. If you want to read this, try to find a print copy.
2.5 stars
Jane Spencer is on her way to a new post as companion in London when her stage coach is forced to stop at a wayside inn during a snowstorm. Jane is shocked to come across a body lying in the snow. Luckily, the man isn't dead, merely unconscious. With a fancy many caped greatcoat and a jeweled snuff box lying in the snow nearby, it is obvious this is a gentleman of Quality. Jane spends the night nursing the man and when he wakens, he can not remember who he is or how he got there! The pair travel to London where the man promptly disappears. Searching his snuffbox for clues, Jane and her lawyer discover a mysterious, incriminating letter that indicates although the man may be Quality, he is no gentleman. Jane is disappointed for she has fallen in love already! Then she discovers her new situation is less than ideal but she has nowhere else to go. It seems that her mysterious gentleman in somehow involved in a sordid affair with her married employer! Poor Jane!
I had high expectations for this early Regency reprint but ended up disappointed. There are a number of things wrong with this novel, in my opinion. First, there are serious breaches of etiquette right in the beginning of the novel. I highly doubt even an impoverished governess cum companion would be allowed to spend the night in a room alone with a mysterious man or even travel in a closed carriage. Next, most of the drama could have been avoided if the lawyer had bothered to find out who owned the snuff box and return it! Also, if Jane had suck close by her employer and listened to the conversations, she would have known what was going on. The plot sounded like it was going to be a fun spy story but turned into a take of adultery and jealousy among the ton, which didn't appeal to me. I don't buy the romance at all. There's nothing there to even form an attachment. Next the plot relies on too many coincidences. Finally, none of the characters are likable.
Jane starts off as a typical Mary Sue. I didn't like her very much. She was TOO good and self-sacrificing. Plus she put her reputation in danger to help a stranger. She did improve upon acquaintance, especially towards the end. She didn't have any good reason to be so insipid at first except she needed a job. Her fierce independence is something I can relate to, but why not stay with her friends if her work situation is intolerable? I don't think she can be legally adopted if she's over 21 so she can still be independent while accepting a kindly meant offer from friends. In the end, her mental toughness makes her more appealing when she finally tells it like it is. I wouldn't have waited so long.
Richard is not an ideal hero. He needs a good kick in the pants to grow up. His infatuation with Celia is unwarranted and he knows it. He knows what she is but can't help loving her. I did feel sorry for him that his concussion caused memory loss. He seemed like a nice man in the beginning but he needs a little more of Jane's independence and toughness.
Celia is an absolutely, extremely awful person. She is a spoiled beauty who doesn't appreciate what she has. She's an unreliable source of information because of her constant lying. I have no idea whether her husband is the jealous sort and if he has tantrums. I don't think he comes across as being temperamental. He just wants his wife to be faithful, patient and understanding during a difficult time. He worships her and she doesn't deserve it.
We also don't really know Julian's true character because most of the information about him is filtered through Celia and Richard. He doesn't seem like a very nice person but he isn't completely despicable either.
I rounded up to three stars because I liked the ending. I knock off some points for the Kindle edition being full of typos. If you want to read this, try to find a print copy.
January 30, 2017
Please don't be put off by my one star rating of this book. There wasn't necessarily anything objectionable about it. It was just boring. The characters, especially the H (if you can even call him that since he hardly played a role in this book), were undeveloped, the plot was far fetched and silly, and the conventions of the time were haphazardly thrown out the window. The actual writing wasn't that great either. The author switched from a particular character's pov to omniscient and back again without nary an indication she was doing so. It was difficult to ascertain which character heard what unless s/he said something along the lines of: "I couldn't make out what they were saying..." I appreciated that this was a completely clean read and that there was no real ow/om drama, but that's it. If you're a fan of historical romance or a well developed story look elsewhere.
September 21, 2015
I love classic books since they're more likely to be clean reads. The Regency era is my favorite time period, so when I came across this ebook, I knew I had to read it. This is the first book I've read by this particular author and I put this book on my list of favorites.
Is the plot predictable? Yes. But does that take away from the fun? Absolutely not! I enjoyed word and I would happily read it again.
Is the plot predictable? Yes. But does that take away from the fun? Absolutely not! I enjoyed word and I would happily read it again.
December 2, 2018
Another quick-to-read, middle of the road historical romance. It was fairly easy to figure out where the plot was heading well in advance, and everything ended a bit too perfectly. The main let down for me was the lack of development for the main characters' relationship. Also, much of the conflict used to prolong the story was based on ones keeping someone else's secret that didn't deserve to be kept. I'm still hoping to find another book by Alice Chetwynd Ley that I will enjoy as much as Tenant of Chesdene Manor.
May 20, 2023
3.5 stars
The beginning was decent, the middle dragged, and the ending was good.
The beginning was decent, the middle dragged, and the ending was good.
September 29, 2019
One of the better regency romance attempts.
April 19, 2015
I really liked this book. It's very "old school" and reminds me, to some extent, of novels I've read by Jane Austen. What I mean by that is Ms. Chetwynd Ley keeps the characters conduct and speech very true to the times, thus the characters behave in a rather reserved manner and speak in a rather formal manner. Then there is the fact that the dialect is so authentic that at times I had a hard time deciphering what characters of the "lower orders" were saying. LOL For example when the coachman advised the passengers that they would not be able to carry on due to the weather, but would have to spend the night at a nearby inn, one elderly lady's response to this was, "Me darter's meeting me at Dartford. She'll be rare put about if I bain't there." LOL That one speech is actually pretty clear, but there were times when I found myself saying "WTH?" Luckily I had no such difficulties when the main characters were speaking, thus those instances didn't bother me in the least.
For me the story got off to a slightly slow start, as the author took the time to set the scene and describe each of the passengers who were traveling in the coach with Jane. I confess I started to wonder if this was one of those books where I would be inundated with detailed descriptions of everyone and everything in a scene! Luckily that prove not to be the case, as a couple of pages into the book, once Jane comes upon Richard lying unconscious in the snow, the story moved along at a nice lively pace. When Richard awakens the next morning with no memory of who he is, Jane offers to take him to London to see her lawyer, who, hopefully, will be able to help him. A strong rapport quickly develops between Richard and Jane; one so significant that when he suddenly disappears from her life she is despondent from the loss.
However, doesn't have the time to wallow in her pain of her loss as her new employer is expecting her at her new position as companion to the Countess of Bordesley. When Jane arrives she is dismayed to discover that the Countess is none other than erstwhile Celia Walbrook, an old school-mate and a most selfish and unpleasant female. During her employment with Celia, Jane once again comes face to face with Richard. When he appears to have no memory of her, she is uncertain as to how to handle the situation...she's not sure whether or not to mention their previous acquaintance, and under the circumstances, she is most reluctant to do so. Despite the fact that all evidence seems to point to the fact that Richard and Celia may be having an affair, Jane cannot make herself believe it. The man she had met for those initial few hours was not the type to dally with another man's wife! Thus the tender feelings she has for Richard, which had taken root during their first encounter, continue to blossom.
The story that unfolds is very entertaining, and, I thought, extremely touching. I actually got teary eyed a time or two while reading it. FYI, as you might expect, this is a super squeaky clean romance. My only complaint is that the ending is a bit abrupt. An epilogue depicting Jane in her new life would have been a most welcome addition to the story; especially in light of all the major changes it was about to undergo. Nonetheless, I liked it very much and highly recommend it as a worthwhile read. Happy reading!
For me the story got off to a slightly slow start, as the author took the time to set the scene and describe each of the passengers who were traveling in the coach with Jane. I confess I started to wonder if this was one of those books where I would be inundated with detailed descriptions of everyone and everything in a scene! Luckily that prove not to be the case, as a couple of pages into the book, once Jane comes upon Richard lying unconscious in the snow, the story moved along at a nice lively pace. When Richard awakens the next morning with no memory of who he is, Jane offers to take him to London to see her lawyer, who, hopefully, will be able to help him. A strong rapport quickly develops between Richard and Jane; one so significant that when he suddenly disappears from her life she is despondent from the loss.
However, doesn't have the time to wallow in her pain of her loss as her new employer is expecting her at her new position as companion to the Countess of Bordesley. When Jane arrives she is dismayed to discover that the Countess is none other than erstwhile Celia Walbrook, an old school-mate and a most selfish and unpleasant female. During her employment with Celia, Jane once again comes face to face with Richard. When he appears to have no memory of her, she is uncertain as to how to handle the situation...she's not sure whether or not to mention their previous acquaintance, and under the circumstances, she is most reluctant to do so. Despite the fact that all evidence seems to point to the fact that Richard and Celia may be having an affair, Jane cannot make herself believe it. The man she had met for those initial few hours was not the type to dally with another man's wife! Thus the tender feelings she has for Richard, which had taken root during their first encounter, continue to blossom.
The story that unfolds is very entertaining, and, I thought, extremely touching. I actually got teary eyed a time or two while reading it. FYI, as you might expect, this is a super squeaky clean romance. My only complaint is that the ending is a bit abrupt. An epilogue depicting Jane in her new life would have been a most welcome addition to the story; especially in light of all the major changes it was about to undergo. Nonetheless, I liked it very much and highly recommend it as a worthwhile read. Happy reading!
May 26, 2014
I hadn't read any Alice Chetwynd Ley since I was a teenager, and recently had the urge to read her again - and I'm glad I did!
Jane Spencer is employed by Lord Bordesley as a companion for his spoilt wife, Celia, who knew Jane from her schooldays and had little respect for her. It is on her way to take up this position that Jane finds an unconscious man lying in the snow...
"The Jewelled Snuff Box" is a sweet, fun, well-written read with an interesting plot that fair skated along. I really enjoyed this light-hearted Georgian romance, and will certainly read another of Alice Chetwynd Ley's books before too long!
Jane Spencer is employed by Lord Bordesley as a companion for his spoilt wife, Celia, who knew Jane from her schooldays and had little respect for her. It is on her way to take up this position that Jane finds an unconscious man lying in the snow...
"The Jewelled Snuff Box" is a sweet, fun, well-written read with an interesting plot that fair skated along. I really enjoyed this light-hearted Georgian romance, and will certainly read another of Alice Chetwynd Ley's books before too long!
March 21, 2016
Satisfying Combination Produces Exceptional Romance
One of the best renditions of the amnesia themed romance that I have ever read. This is a sweet Regency romance with a poor governess / companion falling in love with a mystery gentleman who she found unconscious by the road in the snow, obviously robbed and who cannot remember what happened. A bit of the Little Mermaid and a bit of Cinderella along with the orphaned impoverished governess and a rich handsome Lord Regency theme combine smoothly into a very different plot. Several unusual twists occur that drive the story and I highly recommend it to all romantic souls.
One of the best renditions of the amnesia themed romance that I have ever read. This is a sweet Regency romance with a poor governess / companion falling in love with a mystery gentleman who she found unconscious by the road in the snow, obviously robbed and who cannot remember what happened. A bit of the Little Mermaid and a bit of Cinderella along with the orphaned impoverished governess and a rich handsome Lord Regency theme combine smoothly into a very different plot. Several unusual twists occur that drive the story and I highly recommend it to all romantic souls.
July 5, 2016
Old school adversaries collide
This is a sweet, clean Regency romance written as though it were an old novel. It's language is complex and old-fashioned, which makes it unusual for a modern Regency novel.
It all revolves around a snuff box with a secret compartment and the letter it contains. Lost memory, lost family, lost friends, all play a role.
"She had never believed in love at first sight. That surely, she told herself, was an invention of novelists, whose business it was to make everything slightly larger than life."
This is a sweet, clean Regency romance written as though it were an old novel. It's language is complex and old-fashioned, which makes it unusual for a modern Regency novel.
It all revolves around a snuff box with a secret compartment and the letter it contains. Lost memory, lost family, lost friends, all play a role.
"She had never believed in love at first sight. That surely, she told herself, was an invention of novelists, whose business it was to make everything slightly larger than life."
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July 22, 2016Very wordy, had to do a lot of skimming. Also, the males in this book are very dimwitted and will fall about and compromise themselves for a very pretty face. They all seemed very shallow. Our heroine took stoic and independent into martyr territory. There were some plot threads left dangling at the end. Not my thing.
July 20, 2016
this novella stars Jane Tarrant Spencer, an impoverished sensible young lady whose path crosses several connected people on the way to new employment as a companion in London. I like the Jane was eminently sensible in everything she does yet with a bit of humor than endears her to many.
April 9, 2015
A story too juvenile for my taste.
July 19, 2016
A very nice, traditional regency romance, similar yo Georgette Heyer (but not as long or as fully developed). Still a fun and light read.
August 12, 2016
If you like Georgette Heyer, check Alice Chetwynd Ley out. Fun, Regency romance!
January 17, 2017
Loved it, wish there was an epilogue
I loved the book but it ended right on the climax...I always wish for a little winding down. If not for that I'd give it 5 stars.
I loved the book but it ended right on the climax...I always wish for a little winding down. If not for that I'd give it 5 stars.
January 12, 2023
This book was first published in 1959, more than sixty years ago - a very different era. It’s wordy in places, there’s a fair amount of head-hopping (jumping from one character’s internal thoughts to another’s without a signal) and the plot veers between implausible and outright incredible, and yet I found it a whole heap of fun. I liked the two main characters, the difficulties between them were believable and the romance was low-key but rather sweet. For modern readers, it might be jarring but for anyone weaned on Georgette Heyer, this is a nice, light read.
Here’s the premise: Jane Spencer is travelling to London to take up a position as a companion after several years as a governess. Her stage coach is caught in snow, and the passengers are forced to walk up a hill to spare the horses. During the walk, Jane finds a man lying unconscious in a ditch, possibly set upon by highwaymen. Under his inert body, she finds a treasure the thieves missed - a valuable jewelled snuff box. The stage coach passengers and the injured man are forced to take shelter overnight at a small wayside inn, where Jane discovers that the man has lost his memory.
She looks after him, and they strike up an instant rapport. She rather fancies him, and he trusts her, so when the stagecoach sets off again, she takes him with her to London to meet her lawyer, who she hopes will help him find out who he is. But when she’s concluded her own business with the lawyer and goes to bring in the mysterious stranger, he’s disappeared. Jane’s very disappointed, and a closer look at the snuff box reveals a secret - a hidden letter, making an illicit assignation with a married woman. Now she’s seriously disappointed, and tries to set him out of her mind.
But there’s another shock when she takes up her new position - Celia, the countess she’s to work for, is a girl she knew at school as a bully and a thoroughly unpleasant person. She’s delighted to have the chance to make Jane’s life miserable all over again, and to make matters worse, her husband takes a creepily strong interest in Jane. And when Jane finally discovers the identity of her mystery man, not only has he forgotten her, but it’s Celia he’s been having an affair with…
Now, this is a fairly tangled situation, and it’s a short book, so not everything is resolved satisfactorily, to my mind. In particular, I’d like to know just how Celia’s comeuppance worked, legally. I don’t want to give too much away, but she was just air-brushed away in a page or two, and I’d have liked to know a bit more about it. I also wondered very much just why the earl married her, because he seemed like a sensible guy, much older than her and too smart and experienced to be taken in by Celia’s sickly-sweet public face. I just didn’t believe that he could be so much in love with her that he didn’t see what she was really like.
As I said at the beginning, there’s a lot of implausibility in the plot, particularly in the amnesia business. It’s a very common trope in the genre, and one I try to avoid as much as possible. I see the appeal in it, because what could be more delicious than a character who doesn’t know who he is? So much mystery to unravel, and so much tension - is he rich or poor, a grocer or a marquess? Although in this case, there’s an early discussion of our hero’s expensive clothes and shiny boots, so it’s obvious he’s a gentleman of means, at the very least. But it’s still hard to suspend disbelief. A simple bump on the head, everything’s forgotten, but later the memories will all come back and there’ll be no lasting ill effects. Nope, not believable. But I like to give a book it’s basic premise, however hard to swallow, so I went along with it, and then became thoroughly caught up in the plot.
The story is a bit uneven, and it became hard to remember sometimes just who knew what (or rather, who DIDN’T know what), but there’s one glorious scene in the middle between the earl, Celia, Jane, the hero and Celia’s maid, where everybody knows things are not what they seem, even though nobody quite knows everything, but they all just play along with the hastily improvising Celia as she tries to get them out of a huge mess. It could have been a deeply emotional moment, but the author basically plays it for laughs and it turns into the best part of the book.
As usual with Regencies of this era, the writing is literate and historically accurate, influenced very much by Georgette Heyer (although I rolled my eyes at every ‘pon rep!’). It’s not perfect, and it does require a shed-load of suspension of disbelief, and the ending is extremely abrupt (if you’re a fan of long, syrupy epilogues, this is not the book for you), but I really enjoyed it, quirks and all. Those implausibilities keep it to four stars.
Here’s the premise: Jane Spencer is travelling to London to take up a position as a companion after several years as a governess. Her stage coach is caught in snow, and the passengers are forced to walk up a hill to spare the horses. During the walk, Jane finds a man lying unconscious in a ditch, possibly set upon by highwaymen. Under his inert body, she finds a treasure the thieves missed - a valuable jewelled snuff box. The stage coach passengers and the injured man are forced to take shelter overnight at a small wayside inn, where Jane discovers that the man has lost his memory.
She looks after him, and they strike up an instant rapport. She rather fancies him, and he trusts her, so when the stagecoach sets off again, she takes him with her to London to meet her lawyer, who she hopes will help him find out who he is. But when she’s concluded her own business with the lawyer and goes to bring in the mysterious stranger, he’s disappeared. Jane’s very disappointed, and a closer look at the snuff box reveals a secret - a hidden letter, making an illicit assignation with a married woman. Now she’s seriously disappointed, and tries to set him out of her mind.
But there’s another shock when she takes up her new position - Celia, the countess she’s to work for, is a girl she knew at school as a bully and a thoroughly unpleasant person. She’s delighted to have the chance to make Jane’s life miserable all over again, and to make matters worse, her husband takes a creepily strong interest in Jane. And when Jane finally discovers the identity of her mystery man, not only has he forgotten her, but it’s Celia he’s been having an affair with…
Now, this is a fairly tangled situation, and it’s a short book, so not everything is resolved satisfactorily, to my mind. In particular, I’d like to know just how Celia’s comeuppance worked, legally. I don’t want to give too much away, but she was just air-brushed away in a page or two, and I’d have liked to know a bit more about it. I also wondered very much just why the earl married her, because he seemed like a sensible guy, much older than her and too smart and experienced to be taken in by Celia’s sickly-sweet public face. I just didn’t believe that he could be so much in love with her that he didn’t see what she was really like.
As I said at the beginning, there’s a lot of implausibility in the plot, particularly in the amnesia business. It’s a very common trope in the genre, and one I try to avoid as much as possible. I see the appeal in it, because what could be more delicious than a character who doesn’t know who he is? So much mystery to unravel, and so much tension - is he rich or poor, a grocer or a marquess? Although in this case, there’s an early discussion of our hero’s expensive clothes and shiny boots, so it’s obvious he’s a gentleman of means, at the very least. But it’s still hard to suspend disbelief. A simple bump on the head, everything’s forgotten, but later the memories will all come back and there’ll be no lasting ill effects. Nope, not believable. But I like to give a book it’s basic premise, however hard to swallow, so I went along with it, and then became thoroughly caught up in the plot.
The story is a bit uneven, and it became hard to remember sometimes just who knew what (or rather, who DIDN’T know what), but there’s one glorious scene in the middle between the earl, Celia, Jane, the hero and Celia’s maid, where everybody knows things are not what they seem, even though nobody quite knows everything, but they all just play along with the hastily improvising Celia as she tries to get them out of a huge mess. It could have been a deeply emotional moment, but the author basically plays it for laughs and it turns into the best part of the book.
As usual with Regencies of this era, the writing is literate and historically accurate, influenced very much by Georgette Heyer (although I rolled my eyes at every ‘pon rep!’). It’s not perfect, and it does require a shed-load of suspension of disbelief, and the ending is extremely abrupt (if you’re a fan of long, syrupy epilogues, this is not the book for you), but I really enjoyed it, quirks and all. Those implausibilities keep it to four stars.
October 31, 2024
This is a really sweet story.
A young woman who has fallen on hard times is mistreated by a mean and jealous woman. And then things fall into place for her and her life becomes better.
It was written during a different period in time and in a style that is no longer what readers expect when they read a romance.
Jane helps a stranger who has been injured and falls in love with him. He cannot remember who he is. Jane pays for him to go to London and see her solicitor so he can be helped. But, he disappears and she has no idea where he is or who he is.
She must take a position as a companion and she finds that the woman who will be her employer, Celia, is a woman she knew from her boarding school. The woman is not a nice person. Celia was a mean spirited girl and she has not changed since she became a woman.
Jane runs into the man, Richard, who was injured and he Is part of Celia’s life.. Celia is a beautiful woman who has had many affairs and believes she has played her husband for a fool. Her relationships are all based on what she can gain and who she can control.
The story is interesting but at times I felt it got bogged down.
This author was a talented writer and I understand why she was successful. Her character development is outstanding. Her sense of human nature is spot on. In short, she was a terrific writer about people from a different time and place.
I suggest that this is a book for anyone who would like a sweet story about a young woman whose life is blessed after trials and tribulations.
A young woman who has fallen on hard times is mistreated by a mean and jealous woman. And then things fall into place for her and her life becomes better.
It was written during a different period in time and in a style that is no longer what readers expect when they read a romance.
Jane helps a stranger who has been injured and falls in love with him. He cannot remember who he is. Jane pays for him to go to London and see her solicitor so he can be helped. But, he disappears and she has no idea where he is or who he is.
She must take a position as a companion and she finds that the woman who will be her employer, Celia, is a woman she knew from her boarding school. The woman is not a nice person. Celia was a mean spirited girl and she has not changed since she became a woman.
Jane runs into the man, Richard, who was injured and he Is part of Celia’s life.. Celia is a beautiful woman who has had many affairs and believes she has played her husband for a fool. Her relationships are all based on what she can gain and who she can control.
The story is interesting but at times I felt it got bogged down.
This author was a talented writer and I understand why she was successful. Her character development is outstanding. Her sense of human nature is spot on. In short, she was a terrific writer about people from a different time and place.
I suggest that this is a book for anyone who would like a sweet story about a young woman whose life is blessed after trials and tribulations.
October 23, 2024
A Regency romance with some mystery!
When Jane's father dies, she is left impoverished and chooses to earn her living as a working gentlewoman.
Jane is traveling to London to start her new job as a companion to a young countess. When walking to an inn, she stumbles upon an unconscious man lying in the snow beside a snuffbox. She helps the stranger, but discovers he has lost his memory. They go to London together, but he suddenly disappears and Jane discovers a note in the snuffbox indicating that the guy was having an affair with a married woman.
Jane attempts to put it out of her mind and proceeds to meet her employer. Much to her surprise, the lady she is to be a companion for is her old schoolmate—a beautiful but mean bully who captivates men. In London, Jane must live with her cruel mistress, the jealous earl, and meet old friends.
What follows is quick and lighthearted tale with some twists. Jane is a bit of a Mary Sue, but I liked her well enough. She is sensible, if not somewhat naive and overly romantic for a woman in her position. The romance is somewhat instant love on her part, which is never a particular favorite, but it's done well. The historical details seem to match (I'm no expert), and I did really like the writing style.
When Jane's father dies, she is left impoverished and chooses to earn her living as a working gentlewoman.
Jane is traveling to London to start her new job as a companion to a young countess. When walking to an inn, she stumbles upon an unconscious man lying in the snow beside a snuffbox. She helps the stranger, but discovers he has lost his memory. They go to London together, but he suddenly disappears and Jane discovers a note in the snuffbox indicating that the guy was having an affair with a married woman.
Jane attempts to put it out of her mind and proceeds to meet her employer. Much to her surprise, the lady she is to be a companion for is her old schoolmate—a beautiful but mean bully who captivates men. In London, Jane must live with her cruel mistress, the jealous earl, and meet old friends.
What follows is quick and lighthearted tale with some twists. Jane is a bit of a Mary Sue, but I liked her well enough. She is sensible, if not somewhat naive and overly romantic for a woman in her position. The romance is somewhat instant love on her part, which is never a particular favorite, but it's done well. The historical details seem to match (I'm no expert), and I did really like the writing style.
October 12, 2022
Impoverished Jane Spencer is amongst a group of travellers who are forced to delay their journey due to a snowstorm. Their stage coach is unable to continue its journey through the storm and its passengers are forced to get out and walk to a nearby inn.
Jane comes across a unconscious man, the victim of a beating, lying half dead in the snow. She gets him to the Inn and nurses him and gets him into the coach bound for London. She loses sight of him when she meets with her solicitor and takes a job as a lady's companion to someone she knew back in school who treated her badly then and continues to do so. She finds a true friend and finds out that the man she rescued is her friend's brother. A lot of confusion ensues and there are many complications. Now ask me how the snuff box fits in! An interesting story~
Jane comes across a unconscious man, the victim of a beating, lying half dead in the snow. She gets him to the Inn and nurses him and gets him into the coach bound for London. She loses sight of him when she meets with her solicitor and takes a job as a lady's companion to someone she knew back in school who treated her badly then and continues to do so. She finds a true friend and finds out that the man she rescued is her friend's brother. A lot of confusion ensues and there are many complications. Now ask me how the snuff box fits in! An interesting story~
August 31, 2018
3.5 stars.
I preferred this to The Clandestine Betrothal as the heroine was more mature, I could see why the hero would fall in love with her, and the circumstances were more believable.
Once again, the historical accuracy helped immerse me in the story without fear that some anacronysm would pull me up short. The ending was a little abrupt for my liking, although I am beginning to think that is just the author's style, but it did leave me looking for more pages as though I had missed something. Not that there were any loose ends that still needed tying, it just felt rather sudden.
Enjoyable, I will definitely read her others.
I preferred this to The Clandestine Betrothal as the heroine was more mature, I could see why the hero would fall in love with her, and the circumstances were more believable.
Once again, the historical accuracy helped immerse me in the story without fear that some anacronysm would pull me up short. The ending was a little abrupt for my liking, although I am beginning to think that is just the author's style, but it did leave me looking for more pages as though I had missed something. Not that there were any loose ends that still needed tying, it just felt rather sudden.
Enjoyable, I will definitely read her others.
January 15, 2022
I read this book because Goodreads lists this author as GH regency like. Well it’s not. It’s clean, yes. But it’s not funny. The language is forced I don’t know if back then that was the King’s English but it doesn’t read as well as GH’s English.
The characters are all cardboard like. But the worst was h. She was like Cinderella. Perfect ; Pretty, generous, honest. Likes to help people. Everyone loves her except Celia and I’m with Celia on this one. Her only default? She’s poor but no worries even that is fixed in the end.
H is nothing to call home about. The romance and the plot were both AWOL. One good thing ? The agony is of short duration. Only 178 pages.
The characters are all cardboard like. But the worst was h. She was like Cinderella. Perfect ; Pretty, generous, honest. Likes to help people. Everyone loves her except Celia and I’m with Celia on this one. Her only default? She’s poor but no worries even that is fixed in the end.
H is nothing to call home about. The romance and the plot were both AWOL. One good thing ? The agony is of short duration. Only 178 pages.
April 27, 2023
I chose this book because it had been a long time since I read a regency romance novel in the lines of Georgette Heyer's works.The heroine of the novel is indeed a remarkable woman who inspite of her situation in life is self reliant, dignified and mature in the times when girls of her age were busy dressing lovely and attending balls.How she comes across the hero and the trials of recovering a missing snuff box form the crux of the story. Though the idea is well received, I found the story lacking a certain element of excitement and passion that usually forms the heart of novels of this genre.Hence the rating 3 out of 5 stars.According to me, a one time read.
March 24, 2018
This was recommended to me as a fan of historical fiction, but it really was pure romance along the lines of Jane Austen and Barbara Cartland, successful writers of a very romantic style. It reminded me of books I enjoyed in my teenage years, and I would certainly recommend it as an enjoyable story in that context. However, because of the lack of any real historical content, other than the setting, I can only give 3 stars. Romance fans will enjoy it more, I'm certain.
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