The Irish Upstart

by Shirley Kennedy

Unconventional, twenty-four-year-old Irish spinster Evleen O'Fallon accompanies her young half-brother, Patrick, to England after he becomes the heir to a vast estate, only to find herself an outcast in London's Regency society, until the handsome Lord Thomas Linberry takes her under his wing. Original.

Genres: Historical Romance, Regency, Romance, Historical, Regency Romance, Ireland

214 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

First place (GOLD) winner in the Romance category of the 2013 Independent Publisher (IPPY) awards for THE LAST OF LADY LANSDOWN.

I was born and raised in Fresno, California, where I graduated from Fresno High School. I lived in Canada for many years, enjoying skiing and riding horses, and am a graduate of the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada with a B.S. in Computer Science.
I've had many jobs in my lifetime, including working for several years as a computer programmer/analyst. However, my true passion has always been writing, so I quit my day job (something you're never supposed to do) and started writing Regency romances. After publishing several Regencies with Ballantine, Signet, and Camel Press, I switched genres.
Now I'm writing western romances for Kensington Lyrical Press, all taking place in the Gold Rush days of the 1850's. I love this period of time. There's so much to write about! With my shelves full of research books, I doubt I'll change genres again.
I have two daughters and am forever proud of their accomplishments--and grateful, too, that both are the kind of loving, supportive daughters every mother hopes she'll have. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I belong to the Las Vegas chapter of Romance Writers of America.
I love hearing from my readers and can be reached at mailto:shirleyken360@gmail.com

Reviews

[LadyCalico · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out good and Evleen was a strong character in the beginning and ending, but what the heck was going on in the middle? The inconsistencies were so prevalent that it was like two different authors wrote this book without bothering to read each other's segments. Headstrong Evleen made such a drastic personality change into Casper Milquetoast that I wondered if she were a Regency version of Sybil. Why grovel to obey Lydia knowing that Lydia was out to sabotage her--what was Lydia to her (nothing); what authority did Lydia have over her (none); what would happen if she just told old Lydia to go suck a toad (they would all just have to let her be herself)? Why debase herself borrowing Charlotte's clothes--just say no and stay home a few days until the new gowns are done--no biggie, where's her famous pride and backbone? Seriously, Evleen advising Amanda to be true to herself when Evleen was being too stupid, cowardly, and weak to take her own advice! What's with the brothers inexplicably turning into brain-dead zombies when it came to marrying spoiled witches Charlotte and Bettina It was already established that each dude was capable of making his own decisions. Thomas had already received all the inheritance he was going to get, and the author kept repeating how fortunate he was that as second son he was his own man. And we are supposed to believe Montague suddenly cared about pleasing the old man when he never had before and was openly a drunken wastrel and gambler? Just too much messy internal inconsistency badly in need of a clean-up.

[Kimberly Brewington · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 This wasn’t bad, but not great either. I just read another book by this author recently and this book has the same issues that one did. Characters not making consistent decisions and a plot that is just forgettable. I just read the last book a couple of weeks ago and realized I couldn’t remember the plot so I went back and read the synopsis and STILL can’t remember what happened in that book. I fear that is exactly what will happen with this one as well.

[Blubonnet1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

07/12/2022

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring typical romance.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much for Romance novels...let's see how this goes.
Not a bad story line, set in Ireland and England.
After completing the book I can honestly say that Romance series novels are not for me. Too predictable. Guess I need a bit of mystery.

[mary.charlene]

Entertaining + Enjoyable

ENGAGING FROM THE FIRST CHAPTER. ALTHOUGH THE FINAL OUTCOME WAS PREDICTABLY, THE JOURNEY THERE WAS MOST ENJOYABLE. WOULD HAVE LIKE A FEW MORE CHAPTERS CONTINUING THE SAGA.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regency

[Suzan Tisdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! More review to follow.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A regency set in Ireland and England. A quick read.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy d this book and want to read more by this writer.

[siriusedward · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 only coz evleen turned a bit too proud at times.and thomas was a very nice hero....