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Changing Fortunes #4
Lady Anne's Deception
When Lady Anne Sinclair vowed to marry anyone as long as it meant she married before her spoilt beauty of a sister, she had no idea the 'anyone' would be the Marquess of Torrance. Long the darling of the ton - and considered quite the confirmed bachelor - he succumbed to Annie's charms and, most magically, made her his wife.
But Annie's lifelong battle for attention had ill-prepared her for married life. In a tipsy revery on her wedding night, she blurted out her real reason for marrying the Marquess - and her husband's formidable pride shut the door on any further communication.
Only a crisis of major proportions could bring the headstrong newlyweds together. And no less than the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with sinister political ambitions known only to himself, embroiled Annie in a dangerous plot that taught her the truth about her wifely sentiments.
But Annie's lifelong battle for attention had ill-prepared her for married life. In a tipsy revery on her wedding night, she blurted out her real reason for marrying the Marquess - and her husband's formidable pride shut the door on any further communication.
Only a crisis of major proportions could bring the headstrong newlyweds together. And no less than the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with sinister political ambitions known only to himself, embroiled Annie in a dangerous plot that taught her the truth about her wifely sentiments.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 1986
44 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Tremaine
16 books35 followersMarion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Gibbons (née Chesney) was a Scottish writer of romance and mystery novels. Marion wrote her historical romances under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, as well as several pseudonyms ( Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, and Charlotte Ward). Using the pseudonym M.C. Beaton she also wrote many popular mystery novels, most notably the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mystery series. Both of these book series have been adapted for TV. Because of her great success with mystery novels her publishers both in the U.S. and abroad began using the M.C. Beaton pseudonym for all of her novels.
aka: Ann Fairfax, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Gibbons (née Chesney) was a Scottish writer of romance and mystery novels. Marion wrote her historical romances under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, as well as several pseudonyms ( Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, and Charlotte Ward). Using the pseudonym M.C. Beaton she also wrote many popular mystery novels, most notably the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mystery series. Both of these book series have been adapted for TV. Because of her great success with mystery novels her publishers both in the U.S. and abroad began using the M.C. Beaton pseudonym for all of her novels.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 34 reviews
May 6, 2019
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
The volatile ginger-haired Lady Anne is forced to grow up in a MOC to a man who may actually have strong feelings for her--or getting his own way. Who can blame her? After being ignored and stomped on by her parents in favor of her stunningly beautiful but belligerent elder sister, Marigold, Anne is lost. But not for long-
In the journey of self-discovery, Anne learns there is more to life than groveling for familial and social acceptance. She learns what it means to be a woman in a world where countless limits are set. A world where dishonor towards women is common and a woman's desperation can result in suicide--or murder. A world where you have no rights and privileges are few when inside a gilded cage. Until you discover your worth and learn that you are indeed loved by someone that is worthy.
The volatile ginger-haired Lady Anne is forced to grow up in a MOC to a man who may actually have strong feelings for her--or getting his own way. Who can blame her? After being ignored and stomped on by her parents in favor of her stunningly beautiful but belligerent elder sister, Marigold, Anne is lost. But not for long-
In the journey of self-discovery, Anne learns there is more to life than groveling for familial and social acceptance. She learns what it means to be a woman in a world where countless limits are set. A world where dishonor towards women is common and a woman's desperation can result in suicide--or murder. A world where you have no rights and privileges are few when inside a gilded cage. Until you discover your worth and learn that you are indeed loved by someone that is worthy.
December 10, 2010
I don't think the story had been thought through properly, for example a confirmed bachelor agreed to marry Lady Anne after meeting her just twice? I never bonded with Lady Anne as she appeared so petty, and although I always like a strong man who falls in love with the heroine, I never understood why he loved her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2017
Fast, entertaining reading.
A love story with lots of misunderstandings.
On the one hand it was one of the advantage of the book that it was so short, but on the other hand it could have been also good if it had been longer.
I have a nice time but I am afraid I will forget about it quite soon. It was this kind of a book one need to relax.
A love story with lots of misunderstandings.
On the one hand it was one of the advantage of the book that it was so short, but on the other hand it could have been also good if it had been longer.
I have a nice time but I am afraid I will forget about it quite soon. It was this kind of a book one need to relax.
April 25, 2019
Lady Anne Sinclair has always taken second place to her spoilt and selfish sister Marigold. When they are both sent to London to stay with their Aunt Agatha to ‘do’ the season and find husbands it is assumed that Marigold will have no problems attracting a suitable match.
Anne – always known as Annie – is treated as a sort of also ran in the matchmaker stakes. But practical and sensible Annie who is really a romantic dreamer at heart surprises them all by attracting the attention of the notorious and glamorous rake, Jasper Marquis of Torrance.
Apart from this book being billed as part of a Regency series when it is actually set in the Edwardian era this is an entertaining light romance. The love/hate relationship between the two sisters is well drawn and doesn’t show either of them in a terribly good late but I found myself warming to Annie who has to do a lot of growing up in a very short space of time before she can find happiness
Anne – always known as Annie – is treated as a sort of also ran in the matchmaker stakes. But practical and sensible Annie who is really a romantic dreamer at heart surprises them all by attracting the attention of the notorious and glamorous rake, Jasper Marquis of Torrance.
Apart from this book being billed as part of a Regency series when it is actually set in the Edwardian era this is an entertaining light romance. The love/hate relationship between the two sisters is well drawn and doesn’t show either of them in a terribly good late but I found myself warming to Annie who has to do a lot of growing up in a very short space of time before she can find happiness
July 11, 2018
The heroine was immature. I had no clue why the hero married, let alone, fell in love with Anne. And the writing was stilted; I thought it might have been the first story she wrote. It wasn't. The best part of the story was the cover on my 1986 paperback.
May 21, 2013
I read this on my Kindle, having recently been republished. Not quite sure why it was part of a trilogy marketed as Regency Royal as only the first book was set in the Georgian period - this was much later (early 20th century) and none of the books were related to each other at all. Heroine in this one a bit silly, but still, MC Beaton always gives you a good read.
November 14, 2014
Anne is unlikable - jealous, hot-headed, and out for revenge against her sister, Marigold. As ever, Chesney/Beaton uses sexual assault as a romantic device.
August 2, 2015
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Chesney is remarkably good at writing romances where I am 100% TEAM NOBODY.
Everyone in this book is an asshole, except for maybe for that woman on the steps towards the end; she seemed pretty nice. The rest of the characters, though, can fuck off.
Everyone in this book is an asshole, except for maybe for that woman on the steps towards the end; she seemed pretty nice. The rest of the characters, though, can fuck off.
February 17, 2022
Anne & Jasper
Another TSTL heroine. To say she's not the brightest crayon in the box would be an insult to crayons everywhere.
The hero is pretty likable and there is a secondary plot about women's suffrage.
Another TSTL heroine. To say she's not the brightest crayon in the box would be an insult to crayons everywhere.
The hero is pretty likable and there is a secondary plot about women's suffrage.
June 19, 2016
Wow! The heroine is such an immature little brat. She didn't deserve a HEA.
June 16, 2024
I found this book on the M. C. Beaton website, billed as a Regency romance. As many other reviewers have pointed out it is not set in the regency persiod, and since this is the third I've read in the books grouped together under that heading I wonder if those responsible for the site just grouped any books together under that heading that they felt had something in common, since one of those books takes place pre American revolution and this one takes place after the the invention of the automobile, and neither of those time periods can be considered Regency. Apart from that, Beaton seems to delight in bringing us girls barely out of the schoolroom becoming involved with men in their 30's. Sadly this was not an uncommon state of affairs for daughters of the upper classes during these time periods.. One has to wonder at what these men were getting out of a relationship with girls so young and sheltered that they are little more than a child. Difficult to believe that the gentlemen are actually falling in love with spoiled, immature brats. Coming from a family with plenty of sisters, the feuding of Anne with her sister Marigold is unfortunately believable, and fortunately one of the more entertaining parts of the story. Theirs is a complicated relationship, and frequently quite hurtful, in part due to parental favoritism of the elder daughter, and in part due to their general immaturity. As happens with feuding of this sort, unfortunately the sisters are not the only ones getting hurt by their feuds, as collateral damage is rained upon others that are close to them.
In this book, despite the fact that the girl has been taught to read, she apparently hasn't been taught to think, because it never occurs to her to gain an understanding of the political issue of the day, or to pay the slightest attention to what her husband does in the House of Lords, or even the most elementary level of knowledge about either her or her husbands finances.
As a person who often got into trouble due to the devious nature of her older sister, she has become an automatic liar, and since she has been frequently unjustly accused of misdeeds, and treated as an also ran, she has an outsized grudge and sense of frustration, that frequently turns into retaliatory aggression, and unfortunately an outsized view that everyone is automatically against her.
It's good that I read this as an audiobook, because if I was reading it in book format I probably would have thrown my own tantrum and put the book down. Still, Beaton has a way of phrasing, that is sometimes amusing, often psychologically insightful. She never seems to write about characters that do not have the flaws and foibles that we all have, and I like that about her characters. But having read several of her historical romances, I definitely favor the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series.
In this book, despite the fact that the girl has been taught to read, she apparently hasn't been taught to think, because it never occurs to her to gain an understanding of the political issue of the day, or to pay the slightest attention to what her husband does in the House of Lords, or even the most elementary level of knowledge about either her or her husbands finances.
As a person who often got into trouble due to the devious nature of her older sister, she has become an automatic liar, and since she has been frequently unjustly accused of misdeeds, and treated as an also ran, she has an outsized grudge and sense of frustration, that frequently turns into retaliatory aggression, and unfortunately an outsized view that everyone is automatically against her.
It's good that I read this as an audiobook, because if I was reading it in book format I probably would have thrown my own tantrum and put the book down. Still, Beaton has a way of phrasing, that is sometimes amusing, often psychologically insightful. She never seems to write about characters that do not have the flaws and foibles that we all have, and I like that about her characters. But having read several of her historical romances, I definitely favor the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series.
July 15, 2024
Listened to the Audio book - read well but I got very frustrated with the principals and their behaviour - I do love a regency romance and was inclined to sympathise entirely with Anne’s position and her constantly being overlooked in favour of her beautiful sister Marigold, but her character didn’t hold true across the book for me. She initially was sensible and had her own charm but she then started to behave really quite stupidly in her search for a kind of revenge which just didn’t work for me!
September 18, 2019
I have really been into MCB’s regency romance collection so this one the next one on my list. After reading this one I will be taking a break from them for awhile. Anne made me so angry. The entire book is here throwing one big tantrum. I wonder why the marquess even loves her in the first place. I know I don’t
February 9, 2021
I liked the story very much.
The heroine was a little bit too childish, but very well „described“ by the author. I was really able to understand her and her motives. The hero was left a mystery, as his point of view was not „taken“ by the author. A pity
The story reminded me of one of Georgette Heyer‘s book (Pharo‘s daughter I think), but this one was more fast paced and sexier.
The heroine was a little bit too childish, but very well „described“ by the author. I was really able to understand her and her motives. The hero was left a mystery, as his point of view was not „taken“ by the author. A pity
The story reminded me of one of Georgette Heyer‘s book (Pharo‘s daughter I think), but this one was more fast paced and sexier.
May 22, 2017
A funny historical romance that makes me think about the dangers of not communicating.
May 29, 2017
3.5 stars. Better characterisation in this one; I liked seeing Marigold get her comeuppance.
September 17, 2017
I enjoyed this book.
January 26, 2019
Another fun romance by Chesney, although the male romantic lead was a little less fleshed out.
March 19, 2019
Hated everyone in this book. The heroine is an idiot and the hero is a near-rapist. Yuck.
February 25, 2020
Audible Romance Package
AUDIOBOOK: Read 24 February 2020
4hrs 54Min
Narrator: Lindy Nettleton is good enough
It was just ok.
AUDIOBOOK: Read 24 February 2020
4hrs 54Min
Narrator: Lindy Nettleton is good enough
It was just ok.
May 7, 2020
This has to be the worst book I have ever read by Marion Chesney. Anne has to be the most horrible person, childish h I have ever read. Everyone in this book is stupid.
February 27, 2024
I'm embarrassed to admit I read this. Yes, it was that bad.
August 15, 2025
I wanted the Marquess to spank the spoiled dimwit that is Lady Anne. Fighting with her sister Marigold. She's lucky the Marquess had patience.
September 14, 2023
I've long been a fan of Marion Chesney under all the different names and genres of that author. Therefore I feel a bit bad at having to be so blunt about this book. I must say, from all of her books that I have read, I find this heroine to be the least appealing of any. We all know that the ending of these Romance books generally brings a feeling of happy well-being.... but in this case I wound up feeling rather sorry for the hero of the book.
Lady Anne Sinclair is young, and inexperienced with interactions with gentlemen, but she quickly shows herself to be frequently selfish, jealous, untruthful and even unreasonably vindictive. She spreads these emotions mostly between her beau, and her spoilt sister to the extent that I simply could not relate to her character at all; other than feel that she was completely undeserving of the good fortune laid at her feet.
The book meanders to it's inevitable conclusion, and Anne, in a rather "Christmas Carol"epiphanic moment magically casts aside all her unpleasant characteristics just in time for a happy ending.
This is one I'll not be re-reading, but I hope others enjoy it more than I.
Lady Anne Sinclair is young, and inexperienced with interactions with gentlemen, but she quickly shows herself to be frequently selfish, jealous, untruthful and even unreasonably vindictive. She spreads these emotions mostly between her beau, and her spoilt sister to the extent that I simply could not relate to her character at all; other than feel that she was completely undeserving of the good fortune laid at her feet.
The book meanders to it's inevitable conclusion, and Anne, in a rather "Christmas Carol"epiphanic moment magically casts aside all her unpleasant characteristics just in time for a happy ending.
This is one I'll not be re-reading, but I hope others enjoy it more than I.
August 23, 2019
Though I like everything written by Marion Chesney, but this book hit me hard, an idiot simple mind second daughter who has been neglected all her life and been mistreated marries by simple lie and keep on acting weirdly even after marriage, her jealousy turns her to a silly lady.
Usually mistreatment turns one into his best behavior as brain develops to maturity and wisdom
Her husband by whims accept to marry her though he has been confirmed bachelor.
I couldn't wait to finish this book as it turned to be boring, the only good thing about it is hidden conspiracy and murder.
Usually mistreatment turns one into his best behavior as brain develops to maturity and wisdom
Her husband by whims accept to marry her though he has been confirmed bachelor.
I couldn't wait to finish this book as it turned to be boring, the only good thing about it is hidden conspiracy and murder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2015
I listened to the audio version of this book during a long drive. The story is pretty standard historical romance. The author tries to create tension through constant misunderstandings between the two main characters, which got annoying after a while. The main character, Annie Sinclair is lauded as a woman with brains (whereas her sister, Marigold, has all the beauty). Yet, at no point during this book is there any indication Annie has even the slightest thing resembling a brain. Somewhat annoying heroine and a slightly transparent/ strange mystery -- this is an easy, forgettable read.
March 21, 2015
She is one of my favorite authors so it was really tough to give just an "ok" type review. She did not develop the characters as much as the other books that I really enjoyed .... that is probably my main complaint.
May 18, 2015
Silly story
It has potential if the story will stretch the development between h/H. The H is a 30 year old rake, the catch of the ton willingly marry Anne, the brat h,since she told her family that their engaged out of spite to her older sister.
It has potential if the story will stretch the development between h/H. The H is a 30 year old rake, the catch of the ton willingly marry Anne, the brat h,since she told her family that their engaged out of spite to her older sister.
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January 27, 2021Would not read again. Complete waste...
Displaying 1 - 29 of 34 reviews