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Dutiful Daughter
At the ripe old age of twenty-four, it seems that Chloe Rothwell has missed her chance in the Regency marriage market.Called home in the middle of the London Season by the death of her father, meek and mild Chloe had resigned herself to a life spent serving her unappreciative family – her manipulative stepmother Lady Rothwell, overbearing brother Edward, and her sisters, the air- headed Lydia and the scheming Sophy.Now the surprising news that she has inherited a fortune might give her the freedom and independence she craves.But it also leaves her prey to England’s most seductive fortune-hunters ...Francis Hensley’s excellent manners and connections almost make up for his lack of intelligence.Julian Stoddard is attractive and charming, but infamous for his gambling and lecherous habits.Thaddeus Invers seems sophisticated and worldly, but steals all his wit and wisdom from books.Can her childhood friend Sir Richard Davenant rescue inexperienced Chloe from making a terrible mistake?With all four men in a race to win her hand and with her own family making demands on her money, Chloe will have to make up her mind quickly between duty and happiness.'The Dutiful Daughter' is a brilliant historical romance that will grip readers from the first page to the last.Vanessa Gray (along with Jocelyn Carew) is a pen-name used by Jacquelyn Aeby, who was born in Indiana and graduated from the University of Chicago. Under these three names she has written over thirty historical romance novels with a particular focus on the Georgian and Regency periods. Other best-selling Vanessa Gray titles include ‘The Masked Heiress’, ‘The Lonely Earl’, ‘The Wicked Guardian’ and ‘The Wayward Governess’.Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 23, 2014
Okay, very old school quick read. Chloe is on the shelf. Chloe inherits. Oh, look at the suitors arrive. But alas, Chloe's family is full of greedy piglets...and so on.
There are not the usual "I read a book about fashion in this period" delightful detailed descriptions of gowns and waistcoats (well, there is a flowered waistcoat), nor the yummy descriptions of exactly what is served at tea, and for that I fault Ms. Gray, because if you are going to bother with this fluff you need the window dressing. So to speak.
On the positive side there is a lop eared puppy.
I really wanted more about the inherited property and better contact between our lovers, but in order to do all that the entire premise of the book would have had to be overturned, and I am certain it is unfair to expect an author to cater to my peculiar tastes. (but she'd have gotten more stars, what can I say?).
And also...really, Chloe is such a milk sop.
There are not the usual "I read a book about fashion in this period" delightful detailed descriptions of gowns and waistcoats (well, there is a flowered waistcoat), nor the yummy descriptions of exactly what is served at tea, and for that I fault Ms. Gray, because if you are going to bother with this fluff you need the window dressing. So to speak.
On the positive side there is a lop eared puppy.
I really wanted more about the inherited property and better contact between our lovers, but in order to do all that the entire premise of the book would have had to be overturned, and I am certain it is unfair to expect an author to cater to my peculiar tastes. (but she'd have gotten more stars, what can I say?).
And also...really, Chloe is such a milk sop.
December 1, 2025
Very moving - emotional roller coaster!
Very much enjoyed this book. This is a new author for me … I don’t believe I’ve read anything by her before. The storyline, although not original, contained a story filled with pain and abuse. There was emotional depth to the story, which I loved. I couldn’t help but be moved by the heroine’s attempts to free herself from her relatives’ control and manipulation. Naturally, it ends with her marrying the gentleman she loves, thank heavens! I only wish the story had been slightly longer so the reader could at long last see the happy couple together. I felt it ended too abruptly. The dialogue was well done, with no glaring modern expressions. The writing was mostly excellent. Thank you for a wonderful read.
Very much enjoyed this book. This is a new author for me … I don’t believe I’ve read anything by her before. The storyline, although not original, contained a story filled with pain and abuse. There was emotional depth to the story, which I loved. I couldn’t help but be moved by the heroine’s attempts to free herself from her relatives’ control and manipulation. Naturally, it ends with her marrying the gentleman she loves, thank heavens! I only wish the story had been slightly longer so the reader could at long last see the happy couple together. I felt it ended too abruptly. The dialogue was well done, with no glaring modern expressions. The writing was mostly excellent. Thank you for a wonderful read.
July 26, 2020
This was an entertaining book, but it also made me feel exasperated at Chloe's meekness and submission to a domineering family
All in all , it was diverting anyway
All in all , it was diverting anyway
September 15, 2024
DNF halfway through. This was just a bunch of misunderstanding tropes, which I don’t mind if the chemistry is there, but nah it wasn’t.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews