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A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom.
Hope has no wish to marry, but it’s almost five years since her father died, and the final peculiar clause of his will is about to come into effect: if Hope’s brothers can’t be found, then the whole estate will be bequeathed to the church, and Hope must move to the Dower House with her mother. There’s just one way out: her cousin Hugo can inherit Allamont Hall, but only if he marries Hope. Can she bear to give up the chance of finding a man who loves her, even if it means saving her home?
Hugo was a wild, troubled young man until his father suggested he help out his fatherless cousins and look after the finances at Allamont Hall. He discovered an unexpected passion for the house and the land, and there’s a chance he can own it all, if he can just persuade his cousin Hope to marry him. And even if he manages that, there’s still the risk that her long-lost brothers will turn up and snatch everything away from him.
Hope has no wish to marry, but it’s almost five years since her father died, and the final peculiar clause of his will is about to come into effect: if Hope’s brothers can’t be found, then the whole estate will be bequeathed to the church, and Hope must move to the Dower House with her mother. There’s just one way out: her cousin Hugo can inherit Allamont Hall, but only if he marries Hope. Can she bear to give up the chance of finding a man who loves her, even if it means saving her home?
Hugo was a wild, troubled young man until his father suggested he help out his fatherless cousins and look after the finances at Allamont Hall. He discovered an unexpected passion for the house and the land, and there’s a chance he can own it all, if he can just persuade his cousin Hope to marry him. And even if he manages that, there’s still the risk that her long-lost brothers will turn up and snatch everything away from him.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2017
411 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Mary Kingswood
68 books479 followersI live in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland with my husband. I like chocolate, whisky, my Kindle, massed pipe bands, long leisurely lunches, chocolate, going places in my campervan, eating pizza in Italy, summer nights that never get dark, wood fires in winter, chocolate, the view from the study window looking out over the Moray Firth and the Black Isle to the mountains beyond. And chocolate. I dislike driving on motorways, cooking, shopping, hospitals.
The lovely lady in my avatar is Archduchess Clementina of Austria (1798-1881), Princess of Salerno, painted around 1839.
NOTE: I read Regency romances as well as write them, and I review them all on my website, or you can find them right here on Goodreads on my real-name account at Pauline M. Ross.
The lovely lady in my avatar is Archduchess Clementina of Austria (1798-1881), Princess of Salerno, painted around 1839.
NOTE: I read Regency romances as well as write them, and I review them all on my website, or you can find them right here on Goodreads on my real-name account at Pauline M. Ross.
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December 2, 2022
История о дочерях Алламонт Холла завершилась. Подумать только, а ведь все началось с банального спора и моего желания окунутся в нечто похожее на Бриджертонов. Что уж тут сказать? Это конец друзья. Конец эксперимента, к которому я изначально относилась с большим скепсисом. Знала ли я в начале года, что все так обернется? Да не то чтобы. По правде говоря, я вообще ничего не ожидала от этих книг, более того, я даже не думала, что смогу закончить серию. Но я смогла, и это определенно был один из самых ярких опытов этого года (это же насколько поганый год у меня был?). Уходящий 2021 надо завершить если не красиво, то хотя бы знаменательно. И я считаю окончание серии “Дочери Алламонт Холла” именно таким событием. Я наконец-то поняла, что такое отдыхать с литературой. Эти книги милые и наивные, но никогда не создавалось ощущения, что меня принимают за дуру. А еще эти книги точно не давали мне скучать, ведь чем дальше, тем больше у Мэри Кингсвуд ехала крыша и тем более авантюрными и сумашедшимы становились местные сюжеты.
Итак, со дня смерти папаши Алламонта прошло пять лет, и самая младшая из дочерей Хоуп - единственная, кто все еще не замужем. Хоуп не особо хочет замуж, но не потому что она ярая противница института брака, мужененавистница или не хочет семью. Как раз наоборот, она очень даже хочет все эти вещи. “В чем же дело тогда?”, спросите вы. Все помнят Леди Вивиан, жену Сэра Генри, которая жила в Ливерпуле, а потом вернулась? Так вот, у них с Сэром Генри вроде бы наладились отношения, и она забеременела. К сожалению, и Леди Вивиан и новорожденный умерли в конце прошлой книги, и это событие очень травмировало Хоуп. Она до трясучки боится умереть в родах или родить мертвого ребенка. В целом, ее можно понять, вот только так как пятилетний срок завещания почти прошел, а Фрэнк и Эрнест так и не вернулись, церковь уже протягивает свои костлявые и влажные от святой воды ручонки к Алламонт Холлу. Хоуп не хочет расставаться с родным домом, и ее кузен, он же один из Алламонтов Побочных, Хьюго предлагает выход. Они заключают фиктивный брак, Хьюго таким образом становится новым хозяином ��олла, а Хоуп остается там жить. Делить постель и иметь детей он с ней не собирается, так что Хоуп с энтузиазмом соглашается.
Хьюго персонаж тоже довольно любопытный. Так как его старшие братья особо не смогли подняться в обществе (старший женился на дочке фермера по залету, средний стал разбойником), задача вернуть Алламонтам Побочным их доброе имя легла на плечи Хьюго. Он всегда хотел стать владельцем Алламонт Холла и помогал тамошним обитателям вести дела. Они уже довольно близки с Хоуп, поэтому он не видит особой проблемы в том, чтобы женится на ней.
Однако, новобрачные Мистер и Миссис Алламонт не смогли насладится своим беззаботным существованием, ведь, внезапно, на дом появился еще один претендент. Да, это один из сбежавший братьев, Эрнест. Причем, приехал он не один, а с женой Клариссой, сыном от служанки и толпой слуг.
Пожалуй, моей основной претензией является факт того, что “Хоуп” - это крайне неровная книга. Как финальная часть, которая закрывает все сюжетные линии серии, она хороша. Как любовная история конкретно Хоуп и Хьюго она не работает. В середине Хоуп и Хьюго внезапно признались друг-другу в любви. Хоуп избавилась от своего страха тоже как-то быстро. Не то чтобы в предыдущих книгах было много самокопаний персонажей, но тут Хоуп и Хьюго задвинули даже не на второй, а на третий план. Мэри Кингсвуд словно было неинтересно про них писать. Про Хоуп из второй книги, где она является соперницей Белль, я могу сказать намного больше, чем про Хоуп из этой. Но я бы не сказала, что мне было скучно. Какая уж тут скука, когда такие страсти кипят!
Параллельно истории Хоуп и Хьюго идут линии Эрнеста и Сэра Генри с Леди Сарой. Эрнест не особо пытается войти в английское высшее общество. Его жена абсолютно не понимает нормы поведения и нередко становится предметом насмешек. По воспоминаниям сестер, Эрнест всегда был довольно бездушным парнем с тягой к жестоким розыгрышам. Даже если Эрнест проигрывает, то он попытается дополнительно подпортить жизнь окружающим, дабы испытать хоть какое-то превосходство. Тоже самое произошло и здесь. Эрнест понимает, что роль хозяина Алламонт Холла не для него. Но просто продать дом и уехать он не хочет, не так слеплен. Он решает дополнительно насолить сестрам, да и вообще всем, и отдать поместье тому, кто выиграет у него в карты. И тут начинается одна из самых эпичных сцен в этой серии. Устраивается масштабный карточный турнир, в котором участвуют абсолютно все: Леди Сара, Сэр Генри, все сестры (кроме Дульси, потому что она в Шотландии) и их мужья. И все проигрывают! Кажется, что надежды больше нет. Но тут появляется некий неизвестный джентльмен, который выигрывает Холл и отдает его Хоуп и Хьюго, аки языческий бог из кареты.
Леди Сару по праву можно считать одним из самых загадочных и интересных персонажей серии. Вся ее предыстория с Сэром Генри была одной из моих любимых линий в этих книгах.
Леди Сара - это яркий пример женщины, которой не нужно замужество и дети, но она родилась в то время, когда без этого было нельзя. Возможно, она бы остепенилась, но брак с папашей Алламонтом окончательно извратил идеи замужества и материнства для нее. К своим детям она равнодушна, потому что те лишь являются цепями, которые дополнительно ограничивают ее свободу. Кроме того, она понимает, что тоже сильно повлияла на то, какими ее дочери выросли (а выросли они крайне поломанными людьми), но не готова прикладывать усилия для исправления своих ошибок. Она хочет побыстрее выдать дочерей замуж, там самым выполнить свой материнский долг, и забыть об этом периоде своей жизни. Ее отношение к Максвеллу (тому самому сыну, которого она отдала сестре) намного проще. Он уже взрослый, маленьким она его не знала. Она никоим образом не повлияла на формирование его как личности. В отличие от дочерей, его она не испортила. Просто потому что у нее не было такой возможности изначально. С ним не связано никакого чувства вины, потому что в отличие от девочек, о Максвелле хорошо заботились. Ему не нужно был бороться за любовь своей матери и соответствовать заоблачным стандартам отца. Леди Сара отказалась от него, и это было единственное правильное решение, которое она приняла касаемо своих детей.
Сэру Генри же приходит внезапное осознание, что они оба вдовцы, а значит можно окольцеваться со своей первой любовью. Честно, я сначала не поняла зачем ему оно надо, ибо эта женщина обманывала его и целого сына скрыла. Этот самый сын потом чуть на своей единокровный сестре не женился, на минуточку. Но Леди Сара ему отказывает, вдобавок стали ходит нехорошие слухи касательно ее постоянных поездок в Шропшир.
На самом деле, Леди Сара в течении всей серии вела себя довольно странно. После своих поездок в Шропшир она становилась добрее и пыталась давать дочерям жизненные советы. Но потом внутри словно что-то щелкало, и она вновь становилась равнодушной. Объяснение этому было настолько простым, что я до сих пор злюсь из-за неспособности догадаться самой.
Счастливый конец. Что же еще сказать? Алекс Дрюммон все еще самый топовый мужчина в этой серии. Барфорд, Джордж и Хьюго звезд с неба не хватают, но и не бесят. Эмблсайда следует выкинуть на мороз в одних штанах, чтобы его съели бродячие псы, Маркиза туда же. Первые три книги серии являются типичными неторопливыми любовными историями по типу Джейн Остен, но чем дальше, тем больше автор давала себе волю. Серию про многочисленных братьев Маркиза Каррбриджского я читать пока не планирую. Бриджертонов тоже. Прощай, семейство Алламонтов, меня ждут Бедвины!
Мои рецензии на: Серия "Дочери Алламонт Холла" 6/6
1. Эми 2. Белль 3. Конни 4. Дульси 5. Грейс
Рецензия на Goodreads
February 2, 2019
Peculiar, Tedious, and not much of a romance. Only one star. Most of it was about a mentally disturbed relative trying to disrupt everyone else's lives. The previous books were satisfactory but not great. This one was terrible. I tried to skip a few paragraphs when I can tell the author was repetitive and tedious. I did not like this book. Not sure if I will read any of her other books.
Sorry, I try to encourage all authors, but I just couldn't find anything about this book to compliment.
Sorry, I try to encourage all authors, but I just couldn't find anything about this book to compliment.
December 27, 2024
I made it to the end! I loved Hope and Hugo’s relationship and wish we got even more with just them, but the overarching story needed to be completed and the mystery of the twins had to be settled.
This did make me want to read the second series again, though I read it a few months ago. Mary Kingswood has a really wonderful style that I enjoy immensely.
This did make me want to read the second series again, though I read it a few months ago. Mary Kingswood has a really wonderful style that I enjoy immensely.
July 18, 2021
Kind of convoluted.
A mix of many twists and turns that may make some dizzy. Last minutes surprises that were more page fillers from my point of view. That is what a review is, just someone's point of view not necessarily anyone else's. I'm sure many enjoyed this book, I could not get the point of much of what went on. The return of the brothers left me with many gaps in what went on and the far fetched behavior was insane. Is so liked other books and series by this author but not this one.
A mix of many twists and turns that may make some dizzy. Last minutes surprises that were more page fillers from my point of view. That is what a review is, just someone's point of view not necessarily anyone else's. I'm sure many enjoyed this book, I could not get the point of much of what went on. The return of the brothers left me with many gaps in what went on and the far fetched behavior was insane. Is so liked other books and series by this author but not this one.
February 1, 2018
This final book of the series was my least favorite. Both primary characters were weaker than in books about the other sisters. However, I did like the way the mother's story wrapped up. The class consciousness, behavior strictures, and pretentious morality were almost excessively pressed upon the reader. I prefer being impressed with the societal and cultural aspects of the historical period, not oppressed by them.
April 21, 2024
I don't know how I finished this. Or why. But I pushed through because it was the final book and lemme tell you something.
It was fucking terrible.
And this review is gonna be a very very long review on just how terrible this book is.
First, I agree with the other comment-- this book is pretty much about a mentally disturbed relative and has barely any romance. Oh, and it has some random twists shoved in here and there that no one cares about because NO ONE KNOWS WHATS GOING ON. The plot is so damn convoluted.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Frank comes back! Dude ran away because he was afraid him and his brother would kill the dad…um, from what the author details about their family life, however, it wasn’t that bad to warrant that sort of reaction? Both Ernest and Frank talk about how much they hate the dad and how cruel he was but we never really get any of that at all so it's hard to sympathise or even feel like he was responsible for how they turned out to be...so pathetic.
And I understand why they didn’t take any of the sisters but they could have written letters or SOMETHING to keep in contact with them and let them know they were okay, but the whole thing just seemed to be an excuse for them to want to run away because...they just wanted to. Frank was annoying in the sense that he kept going on and on about how he’s not a good guy and he doesn’t want to be a good guy—like okay, we got it the first time, you’re not going to take the house from under them, shut up now. It was just repetitive.
And then the whole Kent thing, a character never ever brought up until toward the end of the book for the 'major twist' which was unbearably predictable. Apparently no one recognised that Kent was actually Frank because he put a little powder in his hair...GASP, he's now a changed man! Like come on, how is that believable? He didn't wear a wig or a fake beard and the shape of his face isn't changed with any sort of 'makeup'. Oh, and the 'lights were dim' but Ernest would have recognised him because they were sitting right opposite each other! If I were to give them the benefit of the doubt, okay, I would but then Frank was there earlier in the card room and Hugo DEFINITELY saw him in the light and outside and not once did it ever occur to him that it was Frank? Because hello, he saw him that very first time!
Henry is a pathetic simp. Bro will do anything for Sara and it’s cringe. He literally had sex with her when his WIFE WAS ILL AND ON THE VERGE OF DYING. He dives into marriage like it’s a competition or something, like dude, chill. He then offers marriage to her--now a prostitute and running a brothel--in return for his silence. And DON’T even get me started on Sara and Tilly, oh my fucking god. They're both prostitutes who keep trying to justify it every time they pop up in the story. Sara tries to justify every morally wrong thing she does because she claims her life as a lady used to be so difficult, because it (wait for it) had order. She hated her kids because she didn't have freedom, and we're supposed to feel sympathy for her. It’s like the author wants us to like her, but…why? What has she done that was likeable or pitiable? She was selfish, even her ‘explanation’ was so selfish, I didn’t care.
The topics addressed in this book were wildly inappropriate for a simple regency ROMANCE (ahem). I like the customs and so I want to read about them, not be told that it isn't freeing for women. Which brings me to my next point: Some of the things Sara said and did just didn’t fit well with the women of the time. This book had, at various times, made me wonder if the author's whole agenda was to push a toxic political message about feminism and how bad men are down my throat. Sara and Tilly were 21st century toxic feminists playing dress up. I feel like they ALL were. It didn't seem like I was reading a HR but a contemporary family drama with characters in cosplay. Even for a character that may very well have been real, there’s a way you can make it realistic for the times, not by modernising them. She, at one point, justifies young girls being sex slaves and then repeatedly goes on to say, ‘I don’t need a man’. Okay, but you need a man in order to sleep with you in your brothel so actually, yes, you do need a man? Very modern thinking lol. I’m supposed to pity the woman who had a secret affair, left her child behind (and then when that child comes back, is not excited or regretful and doesn’t care about him in the least), sees her children as burdens and then tries to get sympathy from them by blaming the dad for not letting her see her children?
And after the husband died, she had all the time in the world with them but instead she was too busy trying to marry them off so she could spend time being a prostitute. Tilly didn't even tell Henry that it was her until after they got married. The whole thing was an ick. Imagine being the female version of the simp (Henry, ofc) and being played by two twin prostitute men (or porn stars, if you will) that constantly switch between each other, you have sex with both of them thinking it's the other one...and then you're okay being with the one you didn't want to be with because she looks like her? Gross.
And then there’s Mary. My god, how I hate Mary so much. She’s a hypocrite. I feel like she was brought up at the start of the book way too much. This rant is an extension of the rant from her novella that I can’t get over. There’s a scene at the start where she acknowledges how great Sir Osborne is and then tells her brother he better be a good husband…as if she’s a good wife lol. Like why don’t you take your own advice, sis. And then, oh dear god this killed me, she brings up intimacy in marriage and when poor Hugo just RESPONDS to it, she gets all mad and is like ‘don’t talk about your private life with me’ like HUH?! Girl, you literally brought it up! Belle, later on, talks about how lucky she is to have Osborne because he’s a good guy and ‘doesn’t keep a mistress as Papa did’ as if to bring up how women are the innocent ones but it's never shown that they can be just as bad considering Mary is keeping a paramour. So yeah, another one to add to the 'author supposedly hates men' list.
Hope was bearable but she seemed like a different character as if the author forgot about how she’d written her in the previous one. Literally in the book before hers so it’s only been a year, so how can someone change that much lmao. In ‘Grace’, Hope fusses over Amy’s babies and is all happy and excited and then in this book…does a complete 360 and doesn’t like kids? Oh, and constantly, CONSTANTLY, she would tell us, the reader, that she's not in love with Hugo, that there could never be any passion and after the fiftieth time of her saying that, a page after, they're making out in passion and saying they're in love now. WHAT IS GOING ON. Is the author confused? Because I was. I still am.
Also I feel like she got the worst male hero out of all of them. I mean ‘he smelt like horse and dog'. Uh, wow, so sexy...For a romance novel, there was barely any romance between the main characters. I didn’t buy his feelings for her at all because there was no real reason behind it, despite him mentioning it three billion times. And for him to all of a sudden change his mind about the house when he was in the middle of high stakes gambling FOR IT made me laugh so hard because it was so stupid. An example, if you will: 'I never even thought about her or even wanted to think about her, I only dreamt of her inheritance, and now I'm stuck with her and so I love her so much it's crazy.' Not the exact words but pretty much the gist. And so not the convenience of marriage romance novel I was expecting.
I actually liked Ernest’s and Clarissa’s characters. Ernest more than Clarissa because he's a borderline psychopath and I loved it. Well, up to a certain point, that is (all of a sudden switching up everything and making Clarissa innocent and Ernest the bad guy was poorly done because there was nothing in it to hint it going that way at all; in fact, Clarissa seemed more of the villain from the start and there was nothing to suggest otherwise so I don’t buy it). I don’t think the author intended for that, but they were actually written so well, I could picture them perfectly in my head.
It was interesting because they kind of symbolised (at least to me) the 21st century because of the way they challenge the norms (shaking hands, dancing close together etc etc). Hugo has a meltdown about the 'collapse of civilisation without hierarchy', and when Ernest sniggered, I did too because it's a big contrast in how the world works now! I enjoyed that aspect of it. Which would be the one star, because I would give it 0 if I could.
on a side note: HOLY SHIT, that twist of Ambleside having an illegitimate child and paying her and her mother to keep silent was so shocking. An actual twist that had me gasping for air (because I was laughing so hard. I knew my POS radar was on point). Poor Amy. She deserved way better than him.
END OF SPOILERS.
Frank's end statement: 'What a wonderful family'.
Correction: What a horrible, miserable family.
That was a ride I never want to go on again.
It was fucking terrible.
And this review is gonna be a very very long review on just how terrible this book is.
First, I agree with the other comment-- this book is pretty much about a mentally disturbed relative and has barely any romance. Oh, and it has some random twists shoved in here and there that no one cares about because NO ONE KNOWS WHATS GOING ON. The plot is so damn convoluted.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Frank comes back! Dude ran away because he was afraid him and his brother would kill the dad…um, from what the author details about their family life, however, it wasn’t that bad to warrant that sort of reaction? Both Ernest and Frank talk about how much they hate the dad and how cruel he was but we never really get any of that at all so it's hard to sympathise or even feel like he was responsible for how they turned out to be...so pathetic.
And I understand why they didn’t take any of the sisters but they could have written letters or SOMETHING to keep in contact with them and let them know they were okay, but the whole thing just seemed to be an excuse for them to want to run away because...they just wanted to. Frank was annoying in the sense that he kept going on and on about how he’s not a good guy and he doesn’t want to be a good guy—like okay, we got it the first time, you’re not going to take the house from under them, shut up now. It was just repetitive.
And then the whole Kent thing, a character never ever brought up until toward the end of the book for the 'major twist' which was unbearably predictable. Apparently no one recognised that Kent was actually Frank because he put a little powder in his hair...GASP, he's now a changed man! Like come on, how is that believable? He didn't wear a wig or a fake beard and the shape of his face isn't changed with any sort of 'makeup'. Oh, and the 'lights were dim' but Ernest would have recognised him because they were sitting right opposite each other! If I were to give them the benefit of the doubt, okay, I would but then Frank was there earlier in the card room and Hugo DEFINITELY saw him in the light and outside and not once did it ever occur to him that it was Frank? Because hello, he saw him that very first time!
Henry is a pathetic simp. Bro will do anything for Sara and it’s cringe. He literally had sex with her when his WIFE WAS ILL AND ON THE VERGE OF DYING. He dives into marriage like it’s a competition or something, like dude, chill. He then offers marriage to her--now a prostitute and running a brothel--in return for his silence. And DON’T even get me started on Sara and Tilly, oh my fucking god. They're both prostitutes who keep trying to justify it every time they pop up in the story. Sara tries to justify every morally wrong thing she does because she claims her life as a lady used to be so difficult, because it (wait for it) had order. She hated her kids because she didn't have freedom, and we're supposed to feel sympathy for her. It’s like the author wants us to like her, but…why? What has she done that was likeable or pitiable? She was selfish, even her ‘explanation’ was so selfish, I didn’t care.
The topics addressed in this book were wildly inappropriate for a simple regency ROMANCE (ahem). I like the customs and so I want to read about them, not be told that it isn't freeing for women. Which brings me to my next point: Some of the things Sara said and did just didn’t fit well with the women of the time. This book had, at various times, made me wonder if the author's whole agenda was to push a toxic political message about feminism and how bad men are down my throat. Sara and Tilly were 21st century toxic feminists playing dress up. I feel like they ALL were. It didn't seem like I was reading a HR but a contemporary family drama with characters in cosplay. Even for a character that may very well have been real, there’s a way you can make it realistic for the times, not by modernising them. She, at one point, justifies young girls being sex slaves and then repeatedly goes on to say, ‘I don’t need a man’. Okay, but you need a man in order to sleep with you in your brothel so actually, yes, you do need a man? Very modern thinking lol. I’m supposed to pity the woman who had a secret affair, left her child behind (and then when that child comes back, is not excited or regretful and doesn’t care about him in the least), sees her children as burdens and then tries to get sympathy from them by blaming the dad for not letting her see her children?
And after the husband died, she had all the time in the world with them but instead she was too busy trying to marry them off so she could spend time being a prostitute. Tilly didn't even tell Henry that it was her until after they got married. The whole thing was an ick. Imagine being the female version of the simp (Henry, ofc) and being played by two twin prostitute men (or porn stars, if you will) that constantly switch between each other, you have sex with both of them thinking it's the other one...and then you're okay being with the one you didn't want to be with because she looks like her? Gross.
And then there’s Mary. My god, how I hate Mary so much. She’s a hypocrite. I feel like she was brought up at the start of the book way too much. This rant is an extension of the rant from her novella that I can’t get over. There’s a scene at the start where she acknowledges how great Sir Osborne is and then tells her brother he better be a good husband…as if she’s a good wife lol. Like why don’t you take your own advice, sis. And then, oh dear god this killed me, she brings up intimacy in marriage and when poor Hugo just RESPONDS to it, she gets all mad and is like ‘don’t talk about your private life with me’ like HUH?! Girl, you literally brought it up! Belle, later on, talks about how lucky she is to have Osborne because he’s a good guy and ‘doesn’t keep a mistress as Papa did’ as if to bring up how women are the innocent ones but it's never shown that they can be just as bad considering Mary is keeping a paramour. So yeah, another one to add to the 'author supposedly hates men' list.
Hope was bearable but she seemed like a different character as if the author forgot about how she’d written her in the previous one. Literally in the book before hers so it’s only been a year, so how can someone change that much lmao. In ‘Grace’, Hope fusses over Amy’s babies and is all happy and excited and then in this book…does a complete 360 and doesn’t like kids? Oh, and constantly, CONSTANTLY, she would tell us, the reader, that she's not in love with Hugo, that there could never be any passion and after the fiftieth time of her saying that, a page after, they're making out in passion and saying they're in love now. WHAT IS GOING ON. Is the author confused? Because I was. I still am.
Also I feel like she got the worst male hero out of all of them. I mean ‘he smelt like horse and dog'. Uh, wow, so sexy...For a romance novel, there was barely any romance between the main characters. I didn’t buy his feelings for her at all because there was no real reason behind it, despite him mentioning it three billion times. And for him to all of a sudden change his mind about the house when he was in the middle of high stakes gambling FOR IT made me laugh so hard because it was so stupid. An example, if you will: 'I never even thought about her or even wanted to think about her, I only dreamt of her inheritance, and now I'm stuck with her and so I love her so much it's crazy.' Not the exact words but pretty much the gist. And so not the convenience of marriage romance novel I was expecting.
I actually liked Ernest’s and Clarissa’s characters. Ernest more than Clarissa because he's a borderline psychopath and I loved it. Well, up to a certain point, that is (all of a sudden switching up everything and making Clarissa innocent and Ernest the bad guy was poorly done because there was nothing in it to hint it going that way at all; in fact, Clarissa seemed more of the villain from the start and there was nothing to suggest otherwise so I don’t buy it). I don’t think the author intended for that, but they were actually written so well, I could picture them perfectly in my head.
It was interesting because they kind of symbolised (at least to me) the 21st century because of the way they challenge the norms (shaking hands, dancing close together etc etc). Hugo has a meltdown about the 'collapse of civilisation without hierarchy', and when Ernest sniggered, I did too because it's a big contrast in how the world works now! I enjoyed that aspect of it. Which would be the one star, because I would give it 0 if I could.
on a side note: HOLY SHIT, that twist of Ambleside having an illegitimate child and paying her and her mother to keep silent was so shocking. An actual twist that had me gasping for air (because I was laughing so hard. I knew my POS radar was on point). Poor Amy. She deserved way better than him.
END OF SPOILERS.
Frank's end statement: 'What a wonderful family'.
Correction: What a horrible, miserable family.
That was a ride I never want to go on again.
October 14, 2019
I didn't like it as much as the rest of the series. The subplot with someone not being recognized I could buy - but not after that person had already met with them, and made a point of showing them how good he was at disguises and altering his voice. And the whole Lady Sara stuff just ... felt forced and rushed and inappropriate for a Regency drawing room romance. I liked Hope and Hugo though. E. and C. felt over the top.
February 19, 2020
The last book of the Allamont series wraps up the story that started with the death of the family patriarch. Hope loves her childhood home and her cousin Hugo convinces her to marry him in order to retain the house as per the unusual will terms Hope's father left. At first, Hope is reluctant, but short of her brothers showing up to claim the house, it will go to the Church and she doesn't want strangers to own it. Hugo and Hope marry, but the estate is claimed by Earnest, Hope's older brother.
This isn't an easy book to review, Hope is easily discouraged and prone to tears and Hugo isn't the most patient of people. Whilst Earnest, who seems to be an overly proud petty miscreant seems to make it his life's mission to be awful to people for the imagined slights of his childhood doesn't seem to have a redeeming feature.
I think in comparison to Belle's and Dulcie's stories, Hope seems to be too wan and too whiny to carry the book, but Hope grows up and becomes wiser and less despairing. Her husband learns humility and patience. The fact that it's done together as a couple only makes their marriage stronger. It's definitely more a Hugo and Hope book.
There are a few resolutions about the Allamont family themselves, such as the the not so pristine nature of the business Hope's grandfather left behind when he changed his name to Allamont. The book answers questions about Henry, Hugo's father as well as Lady Sarah.
All in all, it's an okay book to read at the end of the series, because it's just doesn't work as a standalone. Personally, I believe a novella about the Allamont brothers is in order as this novel doesn't tie up all the loose ends.
This isn't an easy book to review, Hope is easily discouraged and prone to tears and Hugo isn't the most patient of people. Whilst Earnest, who seems to be an overly proud petty miscreant seems to make it his life's mission to be awful to people for the imagined slights of his childhood doesn't seem to have a redeeming feature.
I think in comparison to Belle's and Dulcie's stories, Hope seems to be too wan and too whiny to carry the book, but Hope grows up and becomes wiser and less despairing. Her husband learns humility and patience. The fact that it's done together as a couple only makes their marriage stronger. It's definitely more a Hugo and Hope book.
There are a few resolutions about the Allamont family themselves, such as the the not so pristine nature of the business Hope's grandfather left behind when he changed his name to Allamont. The book answers questions about Henry, Hugo's father as well as Lady Sarah.
All in all, it's an okay book to read at the end of the series, because it's just doesn't work as a standalone. Personally, I believe a novella about the Allamont brothers is in order as this novel doesn't tie up all the loose ends.
April 1, 2019
Hope
Hope Allamont the last of six daughters to marry to get her dowry. When her father died the Will said that for his daughters to get their dowry they had to get married in sequence. The oldest first then the second and so on. Also if his oldest son were to show he may have the Allamont Hall. His sons ran away when they were thirteen. Otherwise Mr. Allamont’s cousins may inherit if they marry one of his daughters. Five of them married for love and not a cousin. Hope the youngest married her cousin Hugo to save the Hall so it wouldn’t go to the church. Hugo just wanted the Hall. At the last minute the oldest son came to stop everything and got the Hall. He was so mean and thought everything was a joke. In a card game he lost the Hall to a stranger which was his own twin brother that no one new who he was then turned it over to Mr. Hugo and Hope. By then Hope and Hugo was much in love.
Hope Allamont the last of six daughters to marry to get her dowry. When her father died the Will said that for his daughters to get their dowry they had to get married in sequence. The oldest first then the second and so on. Also if his oldest son were to show he may have the Allamont Hall. His sons ran away when they were thirteen. Otherwise Mr. Allamont’s cousins may inherit if they marry one of his daughters. Five of them married for love and not a cousin. Hope the youngest married her cousin Hugo to save the Hall so it wouldn’t go to the church. Hugo just wanted the Hall. At the last minute the oldest son came to stop everything and got the Hall. He was so mean and thought everything was a joke. In a card game he lost the Hall to a stranger which was his own twin brother that no one new who he was then turned it over to Mr. Hugo and Hope. By then Hope and Hugo was much in love.
July 18, 2019
Hopeless Hope, 6th Allamont sister and still hopelessly waiting for that adoring love~struck look that she once glimpsed from her former suitor and now 3rd sister Belle's husband, had to marry cousin Hugo Allamont for convenience yet fulfilling the will's conditions. With this final installment of the series, all the mysteries and secrets would be exposed as well as the resurrection of the long~thought~dead relatives bringing with them their sundry acquired not~the~thing in polite society entourage and accoutrements for the reader to marvel at... including their own less than virtuous characters and natures as the absence of positive Ernest~ness (except in his earnestness to burn the Hall) and being less than Frank in their dealings with their family and others. A nicely layered intriguing plot and sub~plots bringing to a satisfactory close the Allamont saga. Thank you Mary Kingswood.
July 27, 2020
I've just re-read this series (The Daughters of Allamont Hall) and the related Sons of the Marquess books. I'm hooked, and about to start on the Sisters of Woodside Mysteries.
My first impression overall was they're Georgette Heyer lite, but I'm enjoying the flawed characters, the awareness many of them have of their extreme privilege, and - although so far, they've all been 'rescued' from poverty in the nick of time - their willingness to work for a living rather than sitting about in stately poverty.
Of all the Daughters of Allamont Hall, Hope is probably the whiniest and least attractive. I'm not that keen on the chap she ends up with, either, as he seems to have changed personality mid-book; or perhaps they just both grow up. Some series-long mysteries are solved, and there's a bit of a surprise ending!
My first impression overall was they're Georgette Heyer lite, but I'm enjoying the flawed characters, the awareness many of them have of their extreme privilege, and - although so far, they've all been 'rescued' from poverty in the nick of time - their willingness to work for a living rather than sitting about in stately poverty.
Of all the Daughters of Allamont Hall, Hope is probably the whiniest and least attractive. I'm not that keen on the chap she ends up with, either, as he seems to have changed personality mid-book; or perhaps they just both grow up. Some series-long mysteries are solved, and there's a bit of a surprise ending!
February 20, 2023
Nail biting!
I'm new to Mary Kingswood's books, and initially started on the Sons of the Marquess series, where I fell in love with the characters, the writing, and the historical accuracy. However, after the first book I found myself wanting to know about Constance and Carrbridge and so found myself diving into The Daughters of Allamont Hall series. Each book was wonderful, each daughter so perfect in their own way even Dulcie with her temper, which might have been one of my favourites. In each book the underlying mystery carried over into until the exciting finale in Hope's story. Now I'm returning back to The Sons of the Marquess series to continue with Humphrey's story.
I'm new to Mary Kingswood's books, and initially started on the Sons of the Marquess series, where I fell in love with the characters, the writing, and the historical accuracy. However, after the first book I found myself wanting to know about Constance and Carrbridge and so found myself diving into The Daughters of Allamont Hall series. Each book was wonderful, each daughter so perfect in their own way even Dulcie with her temper, which might have been one of my favourites. In each book the underlying mystery carried over into until the exciting finale in Hope's story. Now I'm returning back to The Sons of the Marquess series to continue with Humphrey's story.
July 2, 2024
I really liked this book about the last of the Allamont sisters to be married. The book held my interest from the first page until the last. It had a lot of twists and turns involving the various characters in the book which made it unpredictable. I wish there was a family tree included in this series so that it could be less confusing as to which sister was married to whom and who the various cousins were. It would have made it easier to recall the relationships between the characters.
It was also quite thought provoking when the subject of social ranking was discussed. I came away thinking that in some ways it worked very well for society back then - everyone knew their place in society. But for today, it seems rather affected and unimportant.
It was also quite thought provoking when the subject of social ranking was discussed. I came away thinking that in some ways it worked very well for society back then - everyone knew their place in society. But for today, it seems rather affected and unimportant.
February 8, 2019
The End, Sadly!
I have read every word of this series and am sad to come to the conclusion!
Ms Kingswood is a dynamic writer! I have not been able to put these stories down once I start to read them. From the beginning there was a teaser that in itself kept me interested. I kept track of the twists and turns and was pretty sure that I knew what was going on by Grace Book 3. Before I finished Dulcie, I was positive I had it figured out.
I hope you invest the time to appreciate this series. It is good clean romance at it's best.
I have read every word of this series and am sad to come to the conclusion!
Ms Kingswood is a dynamic writer! I have not been able to put these stories down once I start to read them. From the beginning there was a teaser that in itself kept me interested. I kept track of the twists and turns and was pretty sure that I knew what was going on by Grace Book 3. Before I finished Dulcie, I was positive I had it figured out.
I hope you invest the time to appreciate this series. It is good clean romance at it's best.
June 21, 2022
Many revelations!
I'm never as happy when the romance is between old friends or relatives as in the case of this final installment of this series. And I'm also not a fan of restating info we've already been told several times before. But at least the big mysteries were resolved in an interesting way, while some threads were left to be tied off in the next series involving the sons. I enjoy Ms. Kingswood's world regardless, especially her creative and varied plots that give her books depth and intrigue.
I'm never as happy when the romance is between old friends or relatives as in the case of this final installment of this series. And I'm also not a fan of restating info we've already been told several times before. But at least the big mysteries were resolved in an interesting way, while some threads were left to be tied off in the next series involving the sons. I enjoy Ms. Kingswood's world regardless, especially her creative and varied plots that give her books depth and intrigue.
March 10, 2022
I can njoyed the series as a whole. It is well written and has some really lovely moments throughout.
I do think a separate book about the brothers would be appreciated. There are discrepancies between the versions told by each brother in relation to their lives following their departure from the family home. Their relationship, the effects of their upbringing, their decision to run away and their adventures or struggles afterwards would make an interesting addendum to this series.
I do think a separate book about the brothers would be appreciated. There are discrepancies between the versions told by each brother in relation to their lives following their departure from the family home. Their relationship, the effects of their upbringing, their decision to run away and their adventures or struggles afterwards would make an interesting addendum to this series.
July 3, 2017
Hope, the prettiest of the sisters, is a worrywort and tends to be pessimistic about most things. She doesn't want to marry unless she finds passionate love. The likelihood of that seems very small. This was a fun bit of fluff to read but was growing tired of it by the time I got to this last book.
May 26, 2018
Good, but not great, wrap up to the series. Too many unexplained things regarding the "lost" brothers, in my opinion. But now all the girls are married off, happily, and there is just a time in life for needing a few happily ever afters. Don't think this series is as strong as the Sons of the Marquess series, but it was nice cotton candy for spring reading.
April 1, 2019
Whoa.
That was an intense ending to the series! I enjoyed the relationship between Hope and Hugh, but there was so much else in the story: the brothers! The house! Lady Sara and Tilly! Ahhh! It was nearly too much for me.
And seriously. Did there have to be so much about brothels? Lol.
4 stars.
That was an intense ending to the series! I enjoyed the relationship between Hope and Hugh, but there was so much else in the story: the brothers! The house! Lady Sara and Tilly! Ahhh! It was nearly too much for me.
And seriously. Did there have to be so much about brothels? Lol.
4 stars.
June 10, 2019
Marriage of convenience happens early in the book and you wonder what more there is to it since the previous books have ended with the girls marriages. Oh but despair not! This one has so much more to bring to the party! Lost family members return. Entanglements unwind, and things you thought you knew are revealed as false. Oh yeah! This is definitely worth the read.
Read
January 12, 2020Last of the rather strange series. A couple books in, I read another review that said the series is basically the mother's story, more that the stories of the rather tiresome sisters. I'm so glad I read that (because I'm slow and hadn't figured it out for myself yet. I skipped the unread sisters' books and went to the end to skim this one. done. Now I know.
February 26, 2021
Enjoyed the last book in the series
I don’t want to give anything way for those who haven’t read it yet. Also recommend reading the series in order .
I hope there is a story or even a Novella, for Miss Firth. Also a story Frank Allamont , as I feel he would have quite a story to tell on to read book 1 About Lord Reginald ( Reggie) .
I don’t want to give anything way for those who haven’t read it yet. Also recommend reading the series in order .
I hope there is a story or even a Novella, for Miss Firth. Also a story Frank Allamont , as I feel he would have quite a story to tell on to read book 1 About Lord Reginald ( Reggie) .
June 2, 2023
Most of the loose ends are tied up in this last book of the series. It has more than its share of unsavory characters, which made reading it a bit unpleasant. I would like to have learned how Mary's situation with Sir Osborne and Daniel Merton turned out, but maybe we'll find out in a future series.
September 4, 2023
Saved the best for last
This was by far the best of the series. I read this one first and enjoyed it so much that I went back to book number one. After reading through the other five, which were good, I found they were certainly no match to this final book which was full of twists and turns.
This was by far the best of the series. I read this one first and enjoyed it so much that I went back to book number one. After reading through the other five, which were good, I found they were certainly no match to this final book which was full of twists and turns.
May 6, 2017
I'm so happy to have found this series! This book was the perfect ending. True love and twists wound their way through six books, and I followed along, unable to stop! Will be following this author closely.
May 20, 2017
Daughters of Allamont Series
I have just finished reading this series and I really enjoyed all the books. Each book contained a very interesting story and left me eager to learn more about the family. There was always a twist to keep it interesting.
I have just finished reading this series and I really enjoyed all the books. Each book contained a very interesting story and left me eager to learn more about the family. There was always a twist to keep it interesting.
June 29, 2019
I love these books
After finishing the Daughters of Allamont Hall series I felt sad because I could no longer look forward to go ding out more about the characters created by Mary Kingswood. They are so very human and real I will miss them
After finishing the Daughters of Allamont Hall series I felt sad because I could no longer look forward to go ding out more about the characters created by Mary Kingswood. They are so very human and real I will miss them
July 18, 2019
This wasn’t my favorite Kingswood book. It focuses more on Allamont Hall rather than on the relationship. In fact, the relationship between Hope and Hugo seems pretty smooth sailing. There is more suggestive dialogue in this one than in the others but it is still clean and kisses only.
May 28, 2020
Forgot to post this review. Actually not a bad story of the last Allamont girl and her efforts to save Allamont Hall with the help of her cousin Hugo Allamont. We also get to the bottom of the story of Frank and Ernest as well as Lady Sara.
I liked this one a lot.
I liked this one a lot.
June 30, 2021
I was disappointed
All the other books it was about the other sisters. This book should have been about Hugo or Sara. I was wanting to know about Hope not Earnest. Very disappointing.
All the other books it was about the other sisters. This book should have been about Hugo or Sara. I was wanting to know about Hope not Earnest. Very disappointing.
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