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The Charming Impostor
Theodosia had been invited to Stanwood Oaks to keep the irrepressible Helena Stanwood out of the sort of romantic folly that Helena was so unfortunately prone to. Helena's stern Cousin Roberta might have told Helena's guardian brother Bartram that Theo was hardly the person to ride herd on anyone. Theo's aristocratic suitor, Sir Thomas Holwell, might have told Bartram how maddening a Miss she could be. Bartram's own fiancee, the sharp-eyed, sharp-tongued Clarissa Cranely, might have told him that Theo was a most dangerous young woman to become involved with. In fact, they all did—but by then the bedazzled Lord Bartram was listening only to his own heart....
- GenresRegencyHistoricalRomance
221 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 3, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 17, 2018
2.35 stars - pg/mild pg13 (secular “clean” traditional regency – cleaner than most)
I think this book could be a “hit” for some people, but for me, at this stage of my life, it was, overall, more of a “miss”. As I first started to read, I thought this was a funny, cute story. But then it began to feel a bit silly, a bit “thin”, a bit “copy & paste Regency”, almost like an author’s first writing attempt where she’s trying too hard to convince the reader. Characters and situations are all just a bit too over-the-top cliché for me.
Little details didn’t always fit or make sense (sometimes completely conflicting). Some things seemed unlikely and contrived, and perhaps too modern, unrealistic and unbefitting for the time period and the social station/manners of the characters. I got frustrated because of the silly stuff and the curt dialogue and manners that did not seem to me to be the acceptable norm for the era; it just kept breaking up my reading flow. I couldn’t get a good feel for any of the characters and didn’t really like any of them enough to feel invested in the story.
And to me, the romance angle was sloppily handled. I lost count of how many times the author had heroine wishing she could soothe and smooth away the worries in the Hero’s face. And she’d only just met him!! This was presumably to show her growing feelings. Argh! Once was okay, but multiple times already?!? And, seriously, I’m not all that convinced he’s swoon-worthy. I lost count of how many times his dialogue and replies were unnecessarily and inappropriately curt or rude. Instead of “he said”, “he answered”, “he explained”, etc. we get “he retorted”, “he thundered”, “he replied curtly” or “he replied witheringly”. Ugh! First book syndrome??
Up to chapter 14 and at the 50% point I decided I was done. I then skipped ahead and read the last three chapters (23-25) and found them to be just like the first half. I had a “Huh??/What??” kind of scowl on my face throughout the book. It’s really not even that bad of a book, it’s more that I’m hormonal(!), and my life’s just too short… The best part for me was the heroine’s grandmother who had a small part near the beginning of the book, she was quite funny!
My friend, QNPoohBear, enjoyed this book more than I did. I usually like the same books that she does, so there’s a chance I was just “in a mood” when I tried to read this one. Here’s a link to her review. If someone enjoys traditional regency books, there is a good possibility they’ll like this one as much as PoohBear did.
I think this book could be a “hit” for some people, but for me, at this stage of my life, it was, overall, more of a “miss”. As I first started to read, I thought this was a funny, cute story. But then it began to feel a bit silly, a bit “thin”, a bit “copy & paste Regency”, almost like an author’s first writing attempt where she’s trying too hard to convince the reader. Characters and situations are all just a bit too over-the-top cliché for me.
Little details didn’t always fit or make sense (sometimes completely conflicting). Some things seemed unlikely and contrived, and perhaps too modern, unrealistic and unbefitting for the time period and the social station/manners of the characters. I got frustrated because of the silly stuff and the curt dialogue and manners that did not seem to me to be the acceptable norm for the era; it just kept breaking up my reading flow. I couldn’t get a good feel for any of the characters and didn’t really like any of them enough to feel invested in the story.
And to me, the romance angle was sloppily handled. I lost count of how many times the author had heroine wishing she could soothe and smooth away the worries in the Hero’s face. And she’d only just met him!! This was presumably to show her growing feelings. Argh! Once was okay, but multiple times already?!? And, seriously, I’m not all that convinced he’s swoon-worthy. I lost count of how many times his dialogue and replies were unnecessarily and inappropriately curt or rude. Instead of “he said”, “he answered”, “he explained”, etc. we get “he retorted”, “he thundered”, “he replied curtly” or “he replied witheringly”. Ugh! First book syndrome??
Up to chapter 14 and at the 50% point I decided I was done. I then skipped ahead and read the last three chapters (23-25) and found them to be just like the first half. I had a “Huh??/What??” kind of scowl on my face throughout the book. It’s really not even that bad of a book, it’s more that I’m hormonal(!), and my life’s just too short… The best part for me was the heroine’s grandmother who had a small part near the beginning of the book, she was quite funny!
My friend, QNPoohBear, enjoyed this book more than I did. I usually like the same books that she does, so there’s a chance I was just “in a mood” when I tried to read this one. Here’s a link to her review. If someone enjoys traditional regency books, there is a good possibility they’ll like this one as much as PoohBear did.
February 7, 2014
Helena Stanwood is bored in Bath where she is forced to stay with her father's cousin Roberta while in mourning for her parents who died nearly a year ago. Nella convinces her friend Theodosia Elston to impersonate Nella's brother Bartram in order for the young girls to go out for a drive. Unfortunately, the joke is on them when the real Bartram shows up in Bath insisting on taking Nella back to Stanwood Oaks to keep her out of trouble. He agrees to take Theodosia along, as long as she meets with his approval. Once again, Nella asks her friend to be someone she's not - a prim and proper young miss - in order to fool Bartram. The plan works and they are on their way to the country when Cousin Roberta drops the news that her uncle, Nella and Bartram's grandfather, left a hidden treasure for his male heir to find and inherit. The young ladies quickly turn the house inside and out searching for clues. Their behavior offends the prissy Clarissa Cranely as well as Lord Thomas Holwell, the intended fiances of Bartram and Dosia. A crisis shows Bartram that Theodosia is not the flighty young miss he fears she is but neither is she the prim and proper young lady he first men - she's an impostor and a charming one at that!
This is a quick, light read which combines the traditional Regency plot with comedy of manners. The characters are pretty well-developed and have good chemistry. Though I figured out the villain quickly, there are a number of red herrings that made me doubt my hunch. This is a good read for fans of both comedy of manners and traditional mystery plots.
This is a quick, light read which combines the traditional Regency plot with comedy of manners. The characters are pretty well-developed and have good chemistry. Though I figured out the villain quickly, there are a number of red herrings that made me doubt my hunch. This is a good read for fans of both comedy of manners and traditional mystery plots.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews