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Regency Royal #13
The Paper Princess
Miss Felicity Channing escapes her Cornwall home and wicked stepfather and journeys to London, disguising herself as a royal princess to move among the city's elite circles under the curious eye of raffish Lord Arthur Bessamy
176 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Marion Chesney
150 books773 followersMarion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
October 13, 2017
Fast, enjoyable reading.
The story, or rather some details and plot twists were original (e.g. an attitude of Mr. Barchester regarding engagements of his daughter, or what became of Bessie). Some of them really funny. And like Annecelestet wrote:The descriptions of the country of Brasnia are hilarious.
I couldn't stop thinking how the story would have looked like if Heyer had written it, because there was a big potential and interesting characters. Lord Bellamy - classical Regency hero ;-), Felicity - strong and independent, Miss Chubb - an unconventional governess, Charles Godolphin - a nice friend of hero, Spinks, the butler - a funny eccentric.
The story, or rather some details and plot twists were original (e.g. an attitude of Mr. Barchester regarding engagements of his daughter, or what became of Bessie). Some of them really funny. And like Annecelestet wrote:The descriptions of the country of Brasnia are hilarious.
I couldn't stop thinking how the story would have looked like if Heyer had written it, because there was a big potential and interesting characters. Lord Bellamy - classical Regency hero ;-), Felicity - strong and independent, Miss Chubb - an unconventional governess, Charles Godolphin - a nice friend of hero, Spinks, the butler - a funny eccentric.
May 3, 2008
A Regency novel smack dab in the middle of Marion Chesney's romance writing career, published in 1988.
This book had a slightly different plot from Marion Chesney's usual murderous villains, with the main storyline about being an impostor. She utilized this storyline from time to time, but only a couple have this as the main impetus (case in point, her book Lucy) while the rest are used as gimmicks by one of the characters for only a brief span of time (say, in Poor Relations).
Felicity Channing was the youngest daughter of a rich man's widow who had married a greedy bully who forced his timid wife ever closer to a decline. He had arranged marriages for all of Felicity's older sisters to older, nasty-seeming men with a lot of money so that none of them would be competition for the Channing fortune. Felicity, being the youngest, knew what was coming but was adamant it wouldn't happen to her.
At the beginning of the book, she and her old governess frequently dressed as men in their lonely county and went down to the local inn to have a drink and delight in their little adventure. One day, she meets Lord Arthur Bellamy who seems to see through her disguise as Mr. Freddie Channing. They have a few interactions as Lord Bellamy meets her as Felicity when his friend is invited by a gross older relative who has been arranged to marry Felicity. They don't exactly hit it off but he is concerned enough for her when the next morning, Felicity was said to have run away and fallen off a cliff and drowned. He even gets a small jetty and goes diving for her remains.
Meanwhile, Felicity, whose last hope of remaining at home dies when her mother passes away and faced with a distasteful marriage, is propelled by an old groom and her governess to take the secreted Channing jewels and run away to London. They do so when the governess, an incredibly creative, intrepid lady of an endless supply of resourceful ideas, suggests that she becomes a foreign nobility.
And so Felicity emerges soon as the Princess of Brasnia and all of London is taken by storm, as there was no internet back in the day. There is a slight mishap as by this time, Lord Bellamy had gotten himself engaged, but finds himself embroiled in Felicity's deception as well as being drawn to her. The romance here was done fairly well, as you can see their interactions from back when she was dressed as a boy and then herself as a very feisty Felicity. I can definitely see why he would be drawn to her in an era where you don't delve beneath the surface too deeply. Moreover, there was less of the heaving sexual drive that seemed to be what passed for love for some of Marion Chesney's heroes. And of course, it helped that the hero wasn't dumb enough to be clueless to the whole deception or to continue to be engaged like a wimp.
This book had a slightly different plot from Marion Chesney's usual murderous villains, with the main storyline about being an impostor. She utilized this storyline from time to time, but only a couple have this as the main impetus (case in point, her book Lucy) while the rest are used as gimmicks by one of the characters for only a brief span of time (say, in Poor Relations).
Felicity Channing was the youngest daughter of a rich man's widow who had married a greedy bully who forced his timid wife ever closer to a decline. He had arranged marriages for all of Felicity's older sisters to older, nasty-seeming men with a lot of money so that none of them would be competition for the Channing fortune. Felicity, being the youngest, knew what was coming but was adamant it wouldn't happen to her.
At the beginning of the book, she and her old governess frequently dressed as men in their lonely county and went down to the local inn to have a drink and delight in their little adventure. One day, she meets Lord Arthur Bellamy who seems to see through her disguise as Mr. Freddie Channing. They have a few interactions as Lord Bellamy meets her as Felicity when his friend is invited by a gross older relative who has been arranged to marry Felicity. They don't exactly hit it off but he is concerned enough for her when the next morning, Felicity was said to have run away and fallen off a cliff and drowned. He even gets a small jetty and goes diving for her remains.
Meanwhile, Felicity, whose last hope of remaining at home dies when her mother passes away and faced with a distasteful marriage, is propelled by an old groom and her governess to take the secreted Channing jewels and run away to London. They do so when the governess, an incredibly creative, intrepid lady of an endless supply of resourceful ideas, suggests that she becomes a foreign nobility.
And so Felicity emerges soon as the Princess of Brasnia and all of London is taken by storm, as there was no internet back in the day. There is a slight mishap as by this time, Lord Bellamy had gotten himself engaged, but finds himself embroiled in Felicity's deception as well as being drawn to her. The romance here was done fairly well, as you can see their interactions from back when she was dressed as a boy and then herself as a very feisty Felicity. I can definitely see why he would be drawn to her in an era where you don't delve beneath the surface too deeply. Moreover, there was less of the heaving sexual drive that seemed to be what passed for love for some of Marion Chesney's heroes. And of course, it helped that the hero wasn't dumb enough to be clueless to the whole deception or to continue to be engaged like a wimp.
May 28, 2016
While Georgette Heyer may provide a more sophisticated storyline and narration, Marion Chesney gives you light, almost silly, romances filled with humor, mostly because of how frequently the narration points out the outrageous societal customs of the age, as well as some pretty silly, and pretty witty, characters. I know, going into a Marion Chesney novel, that I am unlikely to find deep themes or sophisticated plotlines -- which is why I read them! Now, this is not to say that the romance itself feels flat and uninteresting. I enjoy how she allows the readers to bear witness to the private thoughts of both the hero and heroine. I also enjoy that the "intimate scenes" are, while often described as "passionate", are more often kisses and embraces, and are there to enhance the story, instead of the other way around as with other contemporary regency romances.
Now - the Paper Princess. I gave this 3.5 stars. For some reason this book had a slightly different feel than some of the others. Perhaps because Felicity's initial life situation seemed so bleak and I worried she would safely "get out". But once she was back in society as a "princess" (a fact that should have seemed ridiculous but Ms. Chesney made it work very easily), the book lit up and I found myself laughing out loud at times, especially to Lord Bellamy, who made up the most hilarious facts about Brasnia. I think, honestly, what enhanced my enjoyment of this story was that I listened to the book, which was narrated by Justine Eyre. She does a fantastic job and her voice added to the enjoyment.
Now - the Paper Princess. I gave this 3.5 stars. For some reason this book had a slightly different feel than some of the others. Perhaps because Felicity's initial life situation seemed so bleak and I worried she would safely "get out". But once she was back in society as a "princess" (a fact that should have seemed ridiculous but Ms. Chesney made it work very easily), the book lit up and I found myself laughing out loud at times, especially to Lord Bellamy, who made up the most hilarious facts about Brasnia. I think, honestly, what enhanced my enjoyment of this story was that I listened to the book, which was narrated by Justine Eyre. She does a fantastic job and her voice added to the enjoyment.
November 6, 2016
Note it did not take me almost 2 months to read this lovely book, I got distracted by something shiny and finished it this evening.
This is a Marion Chesney formulaic Regency with a guaranteed HEA. But poor Miss Felicity Channing has had a difficult life, first her father died and left her poor mother with a castle and 4 daughters. he mother remarried a horrid man and soon fell ill. AS her daughter grew she declined and at last there was only Felicity - her Step-father having married the other off. Felicity can be a bit of a hoyden with her nurse Miss Chase. They occasionally disguise themselves as men and take a glass of wine at the local inn.
As felicity's mother leaves this earth she reveals to her daughter the location of the Channing jewels and writes a codicil to her will leaving them to Felicity. Soon her step-father learns of this and hies the codicil and its owner off to the Americas as an indentured servant. Felicity and her companion plan to flee Cornwall and they do it is the disguise of Princess Felicity of Brasnia [Imaginary country]. And Felicity is presumed dead from falling into the sea. Luckily Lord Arthur Bessamy sees through the ruse, although no one else does and is quickly off to London to win the Princess's er the young lady's hand.
I love these books because good always over comes evil and you will have a big smile at the end
This is a Marion Chesney formulaic Regency with a guaranteed HEA. But poor Miss Felicity Channing has had a difficult life, first her father died and left her poor mother with a castle and 4 daughters. he mother remarried a horrid man and soon fell ill. AS her daughter grew she declined and at last there was only Felicity - her Step-father having married the other off. Felicity can be a bit of a hoyden with her nurse Miss Chase. They occasionally disguise themselves as men and take a glass of wine at the local inn.
As felicity's mother leaves this earth she reveals to her daughter the location of the Channing jewels and writes a codicil to her will leaving them to Felicity. Soon her step-father learns of this and hies the codicil and its owner off to the Americas as an indentured servant. Felicity and her companion plan to flee Cornwall and they do it is the disguise of Princess Felicity of Brasnia [Imaginary country]. And Felicity is presumed dead from falling into the sea. Luckily Lord Arthur Bessamy sees through the ruse, although no one else does and is quickly off to London to win the Princess's er the young lady's hand.
I love these books because good always over comes evil and you will have a big smile at the end
Did Not Finish
June 17, 2025DNF at 21%
Didn’t realize when I checked it out that this is from the 80s.
The stepdad is just so evil.
Haven’t gotten to the basic premise of the book yet. Hero’s introduction not even on the horizon.
6.17.25
Didn’t realize when I checked it out that this is from the 80s.
The stepdad is just so evil.
Haven’t gotten to the basic premise of the book yet. Hero’s introduction not even on the horizon.
6.17.25
August 29, 2021
M.C. Beaton’s flair for humor returns in the laugh-out-loud funny The Paper Princess. I love it when she creates an unusual cast of characters to support her main protagonist. In this story the protagonist, ridiculously posing as a princess from the even more ridiculous country of Brasnia, hires criminals as her staff and includes a Bible quoting butler. Things get out of hand as the ill educated members of the ton believe the hilarious details of the non-existing country. The romp continues as the “Princess of Brasnia” meets Queen Charlotte as her haters try to take her down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2021
I only gave this two stars because of Marion Chesney wrote it. This is by far the worst book by her I have ever read. Just stupid. From the hero to the villain the characters were ludicrous.
November 18, 2018
Review - I was a little disappointed in this book - having read quite a few of Chesney's / Beaton's Regency romances before I expected more from this one. I didn't particularly warm to either Felicity or Arthur Bessamy, though the descriptions of Brasnia (a made-up country where 'Princess Felicity' supposedly came from) were hilarious. I did really like Miss Chubb as she seemed to attempt to rein Felicity in as her duty, but she also seemed to enjoy joining Felicity in her exploits.
Genre? - Historical / Romance
Characters? - Felicity Channing / Arthur Bessamy / Charles Godolphin / Miss Chubb / Mr Palfrey / Spinks / Bessie
Setting? - London & Tregarthan (England)
Series? - Regency Royal #13
Recommend? – Maybe
Rating - 15/20
Genre? - Historical / Romance
Characters? - Felicity Channing / Arthur Bessamy / Charles Godolphin / Miss Chubb / Mr Palfrey / Spinks / Bessie
Setting? - London & Tregarthan (England)
Series? - Regency Royal #13
Recommend? – Maybe
Rating - 15/20
August 23, 2018
Marion Chesney (MC Becton) constantly astounds me with her unique plots. Yes, we all know that it will end well, but the journey is definitely part of this book's (and author's) charm. What is one to do when the mother dies (and tells you about the family jewels) and the wicked step-father wants to marry you off to a decaying, lecherous man living in ruin? You take the jewels and become the princess of a distant land, of course. Quite a fun lark this story way.
January 19, 2026
Disappointed
I have read rd over 30 M.C. Beaton's books and novels, and was enjoying this one as well until the last pages, when to my shock and disappointment she referred to Queen Charlotte's * little monkey face." I will not support racism in any form, and not buy or read any more of this authors books. It's for the same reason I stopped reading Steven King.
I have read rd over 30 M.C. Beaton's books and novels, and was enjoying this one as well until the last pages, when to my shock and disappointment she referred to Queen Charlotte's * little monkey face." I will not support racism in any form, and not buy or read any more of this authors books. It's for the same reason I stopped reading Steven King.
September 26, 2023
This was a slightly quirky Regency romance with the very spirited heroine masquerading as a male and as a foreign princess. Jane Austen would have been amused, but unsurprised that society had no geographical clue where the faux princess was from and didn't care. This was a delightful romp.
August 16, 2018
I think this one might be my favorite of the bind up
December 30, 2019
Not the best of the Chesney regency romances, but still a fun listen. More far-fetched than usual plotting (faking deaths and imposters etc).
January 2, 2020
The new covers have me questioning if I read these as a teen? oh well, nostalgia inducing in any case.
January 5, 2020
4.5 stars
February 12, 2021
Not a fan.
May 2, 2021
Love a nice Regency romance. Quick read with expected happy ending.
July 4, 2021
Very enjoyable. As always Marion Chesney writes with wit and sense of fun.
January 30, 2022
I enjoyed this traditional Regency. The writing is charming, the descriptions were witty, and the dialog made me laugh. It was an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours.
March 23, 2023
Felicity masquerade as a Princess from Brasnia and also as a boy. Her greedy stepfather is the villain. Lord Arthur Bessamy sees through her ruses.
October 31, 2023
Maybe not quite a 4 star read but it was really cute and did make me laugh a bit. Though it was a little annoying that the villains basically got away with everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2023
Humorous. Villians and heroes galore. Amusing servants. There is even a balloon ride. It all works out in the end.
April 2, 2024
It’s giving pride and prejudice…
December 27, 2025
Redeemed
This is a fun one and has Beaton back in all her storytelling glory. It's funny and clever, and you'll enjoy learning of Brasnia.
This is a fun one and has Beaton back in all her storytelling glory. It's funny and clever, and you'll enjoy learning of Brasnia.
June 8, 2026
This book was decently good, another regency book about a girl who pretends to be a princess.
October 9, 2013
This is a light romance read set in Regency England. If you like Regency romances and really like your detail (say that you find in a Georgette Heyer) then this might not be the book for you.
Our heroine (Felicity) escapes her evil step father and an arranged marriage to a hideous older man by faking her own death and stealing (although they were left to her along with everything else) her mother's jewels. We then take a trip to fantasy land when our heroine sets herself up to be the Princess of Brasnia and it is universally believed and accepted. (The very few nay-sayers about such a country's existence are over-ridden and dismissed.) Our hero aids the heroine in the charade.
I enjoyed this book, as being familiar with the author, I didn't expect it to be anymore than it was. I quite liked our hero and his playing with the world over Brasnia (giving a different answer and level of detail to each person who asks). The ruse of being a Princess was cute but stretches believability. It does however, suit such a lighthearted tale.
It was an easy read.
Our heroine (Felicity) escapes her evil step father and an arranged marriage to a hideous older man by faking her own death and stealing (although they were left to her along with everything else) her mother's jewels. We then take a trip to fantasy land when our heroine sets herself up to be the Princess of Brasnia and it is universally believed and accepted. (The very few nay-sayers about such a country's existence are over-ridden and dismissed.) Our hero aids the heroine in the charade.
I enjoyed this book, as being familiar with the author, I didn't expect it to be anymore than it was. I quite liked our hero and his playing with the world over Brasnia (giving a different answer and level of detail to each person who asks). The ruse of being a Princess was cute but stretches believability. It does however, suit such a lighthearted tale.
It was an easy read.
November 25, 2013
This is a run-of-the-mill Regency romance which has its moments of humour and involves some interesting characters. I did like Felicity herself – the heroine – though she actually seemed less resourceful than her companion, the redoubtable Miss Chubb.
Both women enjoy dressing up as men and deceiving the local population (who are probably not deceived at all) and it is this skill which allows them to escape the clutches of Mr Palfrey, Felicity’s parsimonious step-father. Taking a faithful retainer with them they assume the disguises of a foreign princess and her entourage.
There was something that didn’t quite gel for me in this story and I found it a bit of a chore to finish. It did entertain me but I found myself skimming as I got to the later stage of the book. Some of the best scenes involve Miss Chubb – a far from conventional companion – and I felt she really came to life and was the prime mover of all the action. An average read but no more than that in my opinion.
Both women enjoy dressing up as men and deceiving the local population (who are probably not deceived at all) and it is this skill which allows them to escape the clutches of Mr Palfrey, Felicity’s parsimonious step-father. Taking a faithful retainer with them they assume the disguises of a foreign princess and her entourage.
There was something that didn’t quite gel for me in this story and I found it a bit of a chore to finish. It did entertain me but I found myself skimming as I got to the later stage of the book. Some of the best scenes involve Miss Chubb – a far from conventional companion – and I felt she really came to life and was the prime mover of all the action. An average read but no more than that in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews