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A Lady's Guide #1
A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting
"I have four sisters that depend on me, and the professions open to a woman such as I—governess, seamstress perhaps—will not keep even half of them fed and clothed. What else am I to do but to seek a rich husband?"
A whip-smart historical rom-com debut that follows an entirely unconventional heroine who throws herself into the London Season in hopes of finding a wealthy husband to save her family from ruin. But the last thing she expects is to find love...
When Kitty Talbot is jilted by her fiancé three months before their wedding, the future looks dark. Without his fortune to pay off her late father's gambling debts, she and her four sisters face certain ruin.
But Kitty has never backed down from a challenge, so she leaves the countryside and heads toward the most dangerous battleground in all of Regency England: The London Season.
The aim is simplee: find a wealthy bachelor to wed in order save the Talbot family from destitution.
Kitty is neither accomplished nor all that genteel, but she is utterly single-minded; imbued with her father's gambling spirit, Kitty knows that risk is just part of the game. What she doesn't anticipate is Lord Radcliffe, elder brother of the deliciously wealthy Archibald de Lacy. Radcliffe sees Kitty for the fortune-hunter that she really is, and is determined to scotch her plans at all costs...
A scintillating mano-a-mano between Kitty and Lord Radcliffe will turn into the romance of the year, one whose brilliant repartee and enticing wit make A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting a pure delight.
A whip-smart historical rom-com debut that follows an entirely unconventional heroine who throws herself into the London Season in hopes of finding a wealthy husband to save her family from ruin. But the last thing she expects is to find love...
When Kitty Talbot is jilted by her fiancé three months before their wedding, the future looks dark. Without his fortune to pay off her late father's gambling debts, she and her four sisters face certain ruin.
But Kitty has never backed down from a challenge, so she leaves the countryside and heads toward the most dangerous battleground in all of Regency England: The London Season.
The aim is simplee: find a wealthy bachelor to wed in order save the Talbot family from destitution.
Kitty is neither accomplished nor all that genteel, but she is utterly single-minded; imbued with her father's gambling spirit, Kitty knows that risk is just part of the game. What she doesn't anticipate is Lord Radcliffe, elder brother of the deliciously wealthy Archibald de Lacy. Radcliffe sees Kitty for the fortune-hunter that she really is, and is determined to scotch her plans at all costs...
A scintillating mano-a-mano between Kitty and Lord Radcliffe will turn into the romance of the year, one whose brilliant repartee and enticing wit make A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting a pure delight.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2022
1562 people are currently reading
75868 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Irwin
4 books1,469 followersSophie Irwin grew up in Dorset before moving to south London after university. She has spent years immersed in the study of historical fiction, from a dissertation on how Georgette Heyer helped win World War Two, to time spent in dusty stacks and old tomes losing herself in Regency London while researching this book. Her love and passion for historical fiction bring a breath of fresh air and a contemporary energy to the genre, and Sophie hopes to transport readers to a time when ballrooms were more like battlegrounds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,151 reviews
October 14, 2022
i feel like no one does humor the way regency era novels do it because this book delivered!! it was funny, witty, and cute af.
our fmc Kitty is a bad bitch that will do anything to save her family from all their debts. she’s super relatable and so refreshing.
radcliffe…if there’s one thing i love it’s absurdly rich men full of banter.
the slow burn, the tension, the long looks…all these little things were honestly the best part. the pacing was a bit off to my liking but other than that i recommend 100%
our fmc Kitty is a bad bitch that will do anything to save her family from all their debts. she’s super relatable and so refreshing.
radcliffe…if there’s one thing i love it’s absurdly rich men full of banter.
the slow burn, the tension, the long looks…all these little things were honestly the best part. the pacing was a bit off to my liking but other than that i recommend 100%
July 15, 2022
In a Nutshell: Want a good old Regency Romance with lots of fun banter and chuckle-inducing scenes and also some serious topics? Check this out. No major surprises to be found here. It is what you would expect from this genre, and does a great job at it. Doffs a nice hat to Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’.
Story Synopsis:
Where the book worked for me:
❤ I am a huge fan of Jane Austen. So to see a nod to her most famous work, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, was a wonderful surprise. There are many elements in common – five sisters, the need to marry rich, a proud titled gentleman who can’t stand the leading lady. Even the name of two of the sisters – Kitty and Jane – were the same, though it struck me as hilarious that the Kitty in this book was the responsible go-getter and Jane was the youngest. The book also begins with a quote from Pride and Prejudice. It was fun to see the Easter eggs from P&P sprinkled in this story.
❤ Twenty year old Kitty is the heart and soul of the story. While she is a Regency heroine, her behaviour doesn’t match up to the typical leads of this genre. She is unabashedly in the market for a rich groom and doesn’t stop at anything to ensure that she achieves her plan within the deadline. Her vivacity and her cunning are extremely well-balanced. At the same time, Kitty was a character who could have been so easy to hate because of her mercenary tendencies. But the way she is written shows her emotional and vulnerable side too. I loved her character.
❤ The male lead usually gets ignored in this genre, but Lord Radcliffe holds his own very well. I liked the author’s decision to present scenes from his perspective also. It broke the monotony and also revealed the pressures that the men of the ton faced. Radcliffe’s banter with Kitty is charming and their strong love-hate connection is what elevates the story further.
❤ While most of the book is quite typical of the genre, there are some serious topics too highlighted such as the inherent sexism that is always in favour of men, the pressures faced by the eldest child (whether male or female), and the bias & prejudices of the upper classes.
❤ I am not sure how much of the historical portrayal is accurate, but whatever was present in the book was delightful to read. (I don’t look for historical accuracy in this genre, so even a lack of it doesn’t matter to me.) I’ll never understand how English high society could remember all those customs. The book takes a tongue-in-cheek jab at the silly rigidities and the gossipy matrons.
❤ That cover is so cool! I adore the bright hues.
❤ No steam, squeaky clean. Plus point for me, might be a minus for others.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
💔 There are a couple of incidents towards the end that went a little OTT.
💔 Some of the secondary characters were too stereotypical.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 40 minutes, is narrated by Eleanor Tomlinson. I found her narration decent, not exceptional. (It is a credit to the story that I still enjoyed the book so much.) I would have assumed Kitty’s character to have a very perky voice but the narration made her sound very muted. Some of the other characters were not voiced well. The narration of Cecily, Kitty’s younger sister, was the worst with an irritating nasal drone. Some of the words were pronounced incorrectly.
Overall, this is a nice story with some serious themes thrown in. The lead characters are awesome, the writing entertaining. For a debut work, this took me by surprise and I am going to keep an eye out for future works by this author. Definitely recommended for fans of Regency romances. This is like Bridgerton with tons more fun and none of the smut.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
Dorchester & London, 1818. Kitty Talbot is a woman on a mission. She needs a RICH husband within the next four months if she has to save her family home and ensure the future of her four younger sisters. The problem is not just the time constraint. With no title, no parents, and no fortune, Kitty has to use all her cunning to push her way in the top echelons of London society. However, there’s a huge obstacle standing in her way and his name is Lord Radcliffe. Will Kitty overpower Radcliffe’s hurdles and be successful in her mission to save her family?
The story comes to us in a limited third person perspective of Kitty and Radcliffe.
Where the book worked for me:
❤ I am a huge fan of Jane Austen. So to see a nod to her most famous work, ‘Pride and Prejudice’, was a wonderful surprise. There are many elements in common – five sisters, the need to marry rich, a proud titled gentleman who can’t stand the leading lady. Even the name of two of the sisters – Kitty and Jane – were the same, though it struck me as hilarious that the Kitty in this book was the responsible go-getter and Jane was the youngest. The book also begins with a quote from Pride and Prejudice. It was fun to see the Easter eggs from P&P sprinkled in this story.
❤ Twenty year old Kitty is the heart and soul of the story. While she is a Regency heroine, her behaviour doesn’t match up to the typical leads of this genre. She is unabashedly in the market for a rich groom and doesn’t stop at anything to ensure that she achieves her plan within the deadline. Her vivacity and her cunning are extremely well-balanced. At the same time, Kitty was a character who could have been so easy to hate because of her mercenary tendencies. But the way she is written shows her emotional and vulnerable side too. I loved her character.
❤ The male lead usually gets ignored in this genre, but Lord Radcliffe holds his own very well. I liked the author’s decision to present scenes from his perspective also. It broke the monotony and also revealed the pressures that the men of the ton faced. Radcliffe’s banter with Kitty is charming and their strong love-hate connection is what elevates the story further.
❤ While most of the book is quite typical of the genre, there are some serious topics too highlighted such as the inherent sexism that is always in favour of men, the pressures faced by the eldest child (whether male or female), and the bias & prejudices of the upper classes.
❤ I am not sure how much of the historical portrayal is accurate, but whatever was present in the book was delightful to read. (I don’t look for historical accuracy in this genre, so even a lack of it doesn’t matter to me.) I’ll never understand how English high society could remember all those customs. The book takes a tongue-in-cheek jab at the silly rigidities and the gossipy matrons.
❤ That cover is so cool! I adore the bright hues.
❤ No steam, squeaky clean. Plus point for me, might be a minus for others.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
💔 There are a couple of incidents towards the end that went a little OTT.
💔 Some of the secondary characters were too stereotypical.
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 40 minutes, is narrated by Eleanor Tomlinson. I found her narration decent, not exceptional. (It is a credit to the story that I still enjoyed the book so much.) I would have assumed Kitty’s character to have a very perky voice but the narration made her sound very muted. Some of the other characters were not voiced well. The narration of Cecily, Kitty’s younger sister, was the worst with an irritating nasal drone. Some of the words were pronounced incorrectly.
Overall, this is a nice story with some serious themes thrown in. The lead characters are awesome, the writing entertaining. For a debut work, this took me by surprise and I am going to keep an eye out for future works by this author. Definitely recommended for fans of Regency romances. This is like Bridgerton with tons more fun and none of the smut.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Facebook | Twitter
Read
August 1, 2022To save her family from ruin, Kitty Talbot needs a fortune and quick. Viewing no challenge as too big, she leaves home to take on London and find a suitably rich husband. Unfortunately, Lord Radcliffe sees Kitty for the cunning and sharp fortune-hunter she is and is determined to stop her. Fun, swoony, but with some real bite, this is one of my favorite reads this year.
January 4, 2023
Reread on January 3, 2023: My favorite thing about this book: when the heroine realizes that the hero *sees* her in a way no one else ever has. Read via library/audio (narrated by Eleanor Tomlinson).
First read on February 8, 2022: I went in with zero expectations and was pleasantly surprised. The structure is more akin to traditional regency and Heyer-style romances: 1) no sex, only a few kisses at the end, 2) no active relationship or confession of love until the end, 3) battle of wits dialogue that reluctantly turns into mutual admiration, and 4) the antics of headache-inducing relatives. Unlike Heyer, there is no on-page bigotry, thankfully (though the world is very white and straight, like most trad pub historical romances).
Basically: this doesn't reinvent the wheel for Regency Romance nor does it want to. I had a fun time, it was well-written, and I'll read Irwin again. What I liked most was the constant emphasis on money and the heroine refusing to be apologetic about fortune-hunting. Kitty is fantastic and unrepentant and manipulative — more heroines like that, please.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
First read on February 8, 2022: I went in with zero expectations and was pleasantly surprised. The structure is more akin to traditional regency and Heyer-style romances: 1) no sex, only a few kisses at the end, 2) no active relationship or confession of love until the end, 3) battle of wits dialogue that reluctantly turns into mutual admiration, and 4) the antics of headache-inducing relatives. Unlike Heyer, there is no on-page bigotry, thankfully (though the world is very white and straight, like most trad pub historical romances).
Basically: this doesn't reinvent the wheel for Regency Romance nor does it want to. I had a fun time, it was well-written, and I'll read Irwin again. What I liked most was the constant emphasis on money and the heroine refusing to be apologetic about fortune-hunting. Kitty is fantastic and unrepentant and manipulative — more heroines like that, please.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2022
When is the next book due out as I really enjoyed this one! Great story about a young lady who needs to marry money in order to save her family. It is nice to read a book about how to reach for your dreams (needs) in a time when the only ways available for young lady to keep her family together was to marry money. It starts out a bit slow but the plotting and enlisting of Lord Radcliffe is a lot of fun. This is a clean read that has enemies to friends and may a bit of How to Marry a Millionaire thrown in.
May 20, 2024
I feel I must inform you that I come with four sisters, a badly leaking roof, and a veritable ocean of debt.
Mark my words: this has the potential for a series at least as good as The Bridgertons.
I used to read a lot of historical romances. In truth, I devoured them by meters, and the fact that they only ever tell one story under different names was never a factor strong enough to dissuade me. The chief reason why I stopped adding to my romance shelf (aside from living the best of possible romances live with Mr de Vries for the past ten years) was the fact that all those historical romances stopped being historical, so to speak.
Oh, don't get me wrong, there was still London, and the haut ton, and the season and the lot of it, but outside of those historical props and settings, the people in there were thoroughly and utterly modern. Women in most of these stories could be transplanted to Sophie Kinsella's novels without breaking a sweat and without suffering a culture shock.
And so, while it is nice to have a relatable heroine, and undoubtedly, me - a modern woman should find it easy to bond with someone who thinks and feels along similar lines - I don't want a modern woman ravaging all things regency. Changing historical romance into some sort of modern sex in the historical city killed the genre for me.
And so, I stopped indulging myself, and it was with aslight generous dose of hesitation that I started A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting.
What a book! What a debut! I want more! I want to see all the Talbot sisters married!
Not only is Sophie Irvin best friends with the historical elements, but her light as a feather and sharp as a naked stiletto wit and imagination created the most delicious pair I have had the pleasure to accompany in a romance novel. A principled yet ruthless Miss Kitty Talbot determined to do everything to save her home and her sisters by snaring a landed gentleman and cynical yet fiercely protective of his own family Lord Radcliffe who alone sees through her schemes. You think sparks are flying? It's comets!
Thus, when Miss Talbot arrived at the Salisbury ball that evening, she was approached almost immediately by a stormy-faced Radcliffe who bowed perfunctorily before informing her, quite politely, that she was a harpy.
I squealed in delight on every other page. The frisson between these two is stupendous, but the best thing is that it is achieved solely through non-sensual encounters. Ms Irvin doesn't need them to consummate anything because she is quite skillfully fanning the flames through other means, and the repertoire is ample. In our over-sexualised era, it is perhaps inconceivable to fall in love with anyone without even touching them, but it is enough to read this book to see that this is entirely possible. And that it can also be scintillating.
I really do hope this is the first but by no means the last book in the Talbot Sisters series. Miss Irvin, you must, I do beg you, tell us what happened to Cecy and Montagu, how life has treated sweet Beatrice and romantic Jane. I simply need to know!
Until then, I guess, I will just keep re-reading the gem of the book you gave us. Chapeau bas!
Also in the series:
2. A Lady's Guide to Scandal ★☆☆☆☆
Mark my words: this has the potential for a series at least as good as The Bridgertons.
I used to read a lot of historical romances. In truth, I devoured them by meters, and the fact that they only ever tell one story under different names was never a factor strong enough to dissuade me. The chief reason why I stopped adding to my romance shelf (aside from living the best of possible romances live with Mr de Vries for the past ten years) was the fact that all those historical romances stopped being historical, so to speak.
Oh, don't get me wrong, there was still London, and the haut ton, and the season and the lot of it, but outside of those historical props and settings, the people in there were thoroughly and utterly modern. Women in most of these stories could be transplanted to Sophie Kinsella's novels without breaking a sweat and without suffering a culture shock.
And so, while it is nice to have a relatable heroine, and undoubtedly, me - a modern woman should find it easy to bond with someone who thinks and feels along similar lines - I don't want a modern woman ravaging all things regency. Changing historical romance into some sort of modern sex in the historical city killed the genre for me.
And so, I stopped indulging myself, and it was with a
What a book! What a debut! I want more! I want to see all the Talbot sisters married!
Not only is Sophie Irvin best friends with the historical elements, but her light as a feather and sharp as a naked stiletto wit and imagination created the most delicious pair I have had the pleasure to accompany in a romance novel. A principled yet ruthless Miss Kitty Talbot determined to do everything to save her home and her sisters by snaring a landed gentleman and cynical yet fiercely protective of his own family Lord Radcliffe who alone sees through her schemes. You think sparks are flying? It's comets!
Thus, when Miss Talbot arrived at the Salisbury ball that evening, she was approached almost immediately by a stormy-faced Radcliffe who bowed perfunctorily before informing her, quite politely, that she was a harpy.
I squealed in delight on every other page. The frisson between these two is stupendous, but the best thing is that it is achieved solely through non-sensual encounters. Ms Irvin doesn't need them to consummate anything because she is quite skillfully fanning the flames through other means, and the repertoire is ample. In our over-sexualised era, it is perhaps inconceivable to fall in love with anyone without even touching them, but it is enough to read this book to see that this is entirely possible. And that it can also be scintillating.
I really do hope this is the first but by no means the last book in the Talbot Sisters series. Miss Irvin, you must, I do beg you, tell us what happened to Cecy and Montagu, how life has treated sweet Beatrice and romantic Jane. I simply need to know!
Until then, I guess, I will just keep re-reading the gem of the book you gave us. Chapeau bas!
Also in the series:
2. A Lady's Guide to Scandal ★☆☆☆☆
June 25, 2024
This was very refreshing. It surprised me that this was the authors debut!
Kitty is the eldest daughter of 5 who was left in a world of debts by her parents. She has to secure a wealthy love match in order to save her estate and make sure her sisters have some place to live.
Regency era, slow burn, lots of banter, sarcasm… all things you can expect from this!
Kitty is the eldest daughter of 5 who was left in a world of debts by her parents. She has to secure a wealthy love match in order to save her estate and make sure her sisters have some place to live.
Regency era, slow burn, lots of banter, sarcasm… all things you can expect from this!
August 2, 2022
I won't mince words here: this was a very, very bland book, not a single shred of personality to be found anywhere. The characters' personalities and motivations are painfully simple: Kitty is the Scheming One Who Needs to Find a Husband, Lord Radcliffe is the Uptight One Who Wants to Foil Her Plans, Archie is the Lovable Idiot Who Feels Abandoned by His Brother. And I would've forgiven it its simplistic characters if it maybe had some interesting character interactions or dynamics, but no, that's nowhere to be found either. The plot is just kind of...there, moving us from one scene to the next, with little tension or excitement or literally anything that would make you invested in what's going on.
A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting tries to be a historical fiction and a romance, and succeeds at neither. It's nowhere near immersive or detailed or atmospheric enough to really evoke its historical setting (Regency London), and its romance is so lackluster and poorly developed that it can barely even be called a romance. (The extent of the romantic development we get here is like two scenes where the characters talk about Deep Stuff and then next thing you know, they're in love!) Altogether, my fundamental problem here is that this book lacks any kind of depth; it's a very paint-by-the-numbers Regency "historical fiction" with a romance thrown in, and you can really feel that reading it. It feels very perfunctory, like it's just going through the motions of its already very conventional plot. And I don't mind "predictable" stories, but this one just gave me nothing to work with; no life, no layers.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK for providing me with an e-ARC of this via NetGalley.
A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting tries to be a historical fiction and a romance, and succeeds at neither. It's nowhere near immersive or detailed or atmospheric enough to really evoke its historical setting (Regency London), and its romance is so lackluster and poorly developed that it can barely even be called a romance. (The extent of the romantic development we get here is like two scenes where the characters talk about Deep Stuff and then next thing you know, they're in love!) Altogether, my fundamental problem here is that this book lacks any kind of depth; it's a very paint-by-the-numbers Regency "historical fiction" with a romance thrown in, and you can really feel that reading it. It feels very perfunctory, like it's just going through the motions of its already very conventional plot. And I don't mind "predictable" stories, but this one just gave me nothing to work with; no life, no layers.
Thanks to HarperCollins UK for providing me with an e-ARC of this via NetGalley.
September 3, 2024
[4.5⭐] 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 es una novela romántica escrita por Sophie Irwin en el año 2022. La historia se centra en Kitty Talbot, una joven que se encuentra en una desesperada situación financiera tras la muerte de sus padres. Para poder mantener a sus hermanas y conservar su hogar, se embarca en la misión de encontrar a un marido adinerado que las salve de la ruina.
No seguí el orden de publicación de las novelas de Irwin, ya que leí primero 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨 (son historias independientes) y, a decir verdad, ambas me parecen igual de buenas; no tengo una favorita.
En 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 no solo nos encontramos con una simple comedia romántica, sino con una obra que desafía las convenciones sociales de su época, con una protagonista que no teme tomar las riendas de su propio destino.
En este libro, vuelvo a percibir el ingenio, humor y encanto irresistible de la autora. La historia está ambientada en la vibrante sociedad inglesa del siglo XIX; gracias a la brillante narrativa de Irwin, el lector puede transportarse sin problema a aquellos años. Encontramos bellos trajes de la época, las normas sociales de la alta sociedad londinense, encantadores paisajes y minuciosos detalles de mansiones opulentas. Cada escena está impregnada de detalles que hacen que la sociedad de la época cobre vida.
La historia está llena de giros inesperados, diálogos agudos y una protagonista que es tanto pragmática como profundamente humana. El tono humorístico de la novela es uno de sus puntos más fuertes. La escritora maneja un equilibrio perfecto entre la crítica social y el entretenimiento, ofreciendo reflexiones sobre el rol de la mujer, las expectativas matrimoniales y la lucha por la supervivencia en una sociedad regida por las apariencias. Kitty es una protagonista fuerte, audaz y determinada, lo que la convierte en una heroína moderna atrapada en un contexto histórico, haciéndola increíblemente relatable y fácil de admirar; en sí, estaba adelantada a su época.
Además, los personajes secundarios están muy bien desarrollados, cada uno con su propio conjunto de motivaciones y desafíos, lo que enriquece la trama y añade capas de complejidad a la historia. Claramente, lord Radcliffe es el otro personaje más importante; su astucia e inteligencia, al nivel de Kitty, hace que la trama sea mucho más interesante, atrapante e intrigante. De hecho, el inicio del libro se me hizo algo lento, pero, desde la aparición de este lord, no pude parar de leer.
Finalmente, 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 es una excelente opción para los amantes de las novelas históricas y de romance, especialmente para quienes disfrutan de protagonistas fuertes, astutas y decididas. Sophie Irwin ha logrado crear un relato que, además de entretener, invita a reflexionar sobre la posición de la mujer en aquellos años. Es una novela que leerás con una sonrisa en los labios y que, al terminar, te dejará con el corazón calentito.
No seguí el orden de publicación de las novelas de Irwin, ya que leí primero 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨 (son historias independientes) y, a decir verdad, ambas me parecen igual de buenas; no tengo una favorita.
En 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 no solo nos encontramos con una simple comedia romántica, sino con una obra que desafía las convenciones sociales de su época, con una protagonista que no teme tomar las riendas de su propio destino.
En este libro, vuelvo a percibir el ingenio, humor y encanto irresistible de la autora. La historia está ambientada en la vibrante sociedad inglesa del siglo XIX; gracias a la brillante narrativa de Irwin, el lector puede transportarse sin problema a aquellos años. Encontramos bellos trajes de la época, las normas sociales de la alta sociedad londinense, encantadores paisajes y minuciosos detalles de mansiones opulentas. Cada escena está impregnada de detalles que hacen que la sociedad de la época cobre vida.
La historia está llena de giros inesperados, diálogos agudos y una protagonista que es tanto pragmática como profundamente humana. El tono humorístico de la novela es uno de sus puntos más fuertes. La escritora maneja un equilibrio perfecto entre la crítica social y el entretenimiento, ofreciendo reflexiones sobre el rol de la mujer, las expectativas matrimoniales y la lucha por la supervivencia en una sociedad regida por las apariencias. Kitty es una protagonista fuerte, audaz y determinada, lo que la convierte en una heroína moderna atrapada en un contexto histórico, haciéndola increíblemente relatable y fácil de admirar; en sí, estaba adelantada a su época.
Además, los personajes secundarios están muy bien desarrollados, cada uno con su propio conjunto de motivaciones y desafíos, lo que enriquece la trama y añade capas de complejidad a la historia. Claramente, lord Radcliffe es el otro personaje más importante; su astucia e inteligencia, al nivel de Kitty, hace que la trama sea mucho más interesante, atrapante e intrigante. De hecho, el inicio del libro se me hizo algo lento, pero, desde la aparición de este lord, no pude parar de leer.
Finalmente, 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙯𝙖𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙨 es una excelente opción para los amantes de las novelas históricas y de romance, especialmente para quienes disfrutan de protagonistas fuertes, astutas y decididas. Sophie Irwin ha logrado crear un relato que, además de entretener, invita a reflexionar sobre la posición de la mujer en aquellos años. Es una novela que leerás con una sonrisa en los labios y que, al terminar, te dejará con el corazón calentito.
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October 23, 2023so fucking boring i'm so sad to say
June 25, 2022
Very much a YA Bridgerton. Think sassy female lead with shocking lack of social etiquette without the sex. To be honest, I think some sex would have made this more interesting.
That isn't to say I didn't enjoy this. I did, and Kitty isn't the worst character in the world. She's incredibly family orientated, determined and intelligent. Her quest for a rich husband is driven by her desire to provide a stable home for her sisters, and that's admirable. I just thought that there wasn't really much depth to her character beyond this, and at times her desperation leads to some pretty mean interactions. And although overall I really liked the various conversations between Kitty and Radcliffe, to me there was always something a little off about their relationship. Like it didnt ever feel genuine for whatever reason. Adding some spice would definitely have helped. All of Kitty's potential suitors also blended into one, as did her sisters (not that we see any of them except Cecily). By having her sisters out of sight, out of mind, the reader never forms an emotional attachment to Kitty's situation, which then meant I didn't actually care about saving them.
The plot is also pretty self explanatory and I could see every step of the story long before it came to fruition, which meant I wasn't surprised by anything that happened. While that's OK, I mean you don't always need to have a plot twist or be on tender hooks for every book you read, I wouldn't have minded something a little unpredictable.
Quite the cosy young adult historical romance - which in itself is quite the rarity. However I think I've been spoilt by adult counterparts that offer just that little bit more. And by 'more' I mean smut.
That isn't to say I didn't enjoy this. I did, and Kitty isn't the worst character in the world. She's incredibly family orientated, determined and intelligent. Her quest for a rich husband is driven by her desire to provide a stable home for her sisters, and that's admirable. I just thought that there wasn't really much depth to her character beyond this, and at times her desperation leads to some pretty mean interactions. And although overall I really liked the various conversations between Kitty and Radcliffe, to me there was always something a little off about their relationship. Like it didnt ever feel genuine for whatever reason. Adding some spice would definitely have helped. All of Kitty's potential suitors also blended into one, as did her sisters (not that we see any of them except Cecily). By having her sisters out of sight, out of mind, the reader never forms an emotional attachment to Kitty's situation, which then meant I didn't actually care about saving them.
The plot is also pretty self explanatory and I could see every step of the story long before it came to fruition, which meant I wasn't surprised by anything that happened. While that's OK, I mean you don't always need to have a plot twist or be on tender hooks for every book you read, I wouldn't have minded something a little unpredictable.
Quite the cosy young adult historical romance - which in itself is quite the rarity. However I think I've been spoilt by adult counterparts that offer just that little bit more. And by 'more' I mean smut.
July 6, 2022
Kitty Talbot is in dire need of a fortune in order to save her family from falling into squalor. The only remedy it seems is to find herself a rich husband, and it is with such intent that she sets off to London for the Season to ensnare herself a fine catch. Only Kitty doesn't reckon for Lord Radcliffe, who is determined to thwart her from entrapping his brother. Still as the Season plays out, these two enemies begin to see each other in a new light.
I had heard much praise for Sophie Irwin's debut novel, and whilst I wouldn't rank her among Heyer or Austen, this was certainly a delightfully fun read. It did follow more of a traditional regency formula than offerings by other more current day authors such as Julia Quinn for instance, and I liked that it was a clean cut romance. As with many modern authors writing Regency romances, however, I did feel that historical accuracy was not the novel's strength, and the manner of writing and characters' speech did not fit the era. However, I was able to overlook these matters and simply enjoy the story for what it was.
The story starts in Dorset, but fairly quickly moves to London, where most of the story then plays out. It does take a little while for the story to get going, however, once it does, I found myself easily turning the pages and getting into the spirit of the book.
Kitty herself is a delightful heroine, full of ingenuity and vivacity. With her cunning ways and eagerness to make a mercenary match, it could have been quite easy to dislike her, however, that was never the case. Irwin from the very off makes it perfectly clear why Kitty is pursuing a rich suitor, and throughout the course of the book, Kitty's devotion to her sisters never waivers, even at the potential sacrifice of her own happiness. I loved her boldness and the fact that she never backs down; truly she was a force of nature, and it was inevitable that Radcliffe, who initially despises her for what he perceives as heartlessness, soon begins to fall for her himself even as he attempts to thwart her plans to make a catch of his brother.
Radcliffe too is a well fleshed out character, and I enjoyed the insight we get into his backstory, his fighting at Waterloo and his relationship with his deceased father. I also really enjoyed the different family dynamics within the story, be it relating to Kitty and her sisters or the De Lacey family.
The book was filled with humour and of course romance, but also genuine warmth and heart. The central blossoming relationship between Kitty and Radcliffe was a joy to watch unfold. I also liked how Irwin showcased the snobbery at play within high society, and also how few options women in the era had to ensure their own security.
Overall, this book was just a great light-hearted and fun read with a vibrancy to it that I really enjoyed. I'll certainly be on the look out for more from Irwin in the future.
I had heard much praise for Sophie Irwin's debut novel, and whilst I wouldn't rank her among Heyer or Austen, this was certainly a delightfully fun read. It did follow more of a traditional regency formula than offerings by other more current day authors such as Julia Quinn for instance, and I liked that it was a clean cut romance. As with many modern authors writing Regency romances, however, I did feel that historical accuracy was not the novel's strength, and the manner of writing and characters' speech did not fit the era. However, I was able to overlook these matters and simply enjoy the story for what it was.
The story starts in Dorset, but fairly quickly moves to London, where most of the story then plays out. It does take a little while for the story to get going, however, once it does, I found myself easily turning the pages and getting into the spirit of the book.
Kitty herself is a delightful heroine, full of ingenuity and vivacity. With her cunning ways and eagerness to make a mercenary match, it could have been quite easy to dislike her, however, that was never the case. Irwin from the very off makes it perfectly clear why Kitty is pursuing a rich suitor, and throughout the course of the book, Kitty's devotion to her sisters never waivers, even at the potential sacrifice of her own happiness. I loved her boldness and the fact that she never backs down; truly she was a force of nature, and it was inevitable that Radcliffe, who initially despises her for what he perceives as heartlessness, soon begins to fall for her himself even as he attempts to thwart her plans to make a catch of his brother.
Radcliffe too is a well fleshed out character, and I enjoyed the insight we get into his backstory, his fighting at Waterloo and his relationship with his deceased father. I also really enjoyed the different family dynamics within the story, be it relating to Kitty and her sisters or the De Lacey family.
The book was filled with humour and of course romance, but also genuine warmth and heart. The central blossoming relationship between Kitty and Radcliffe was a joy to watch unfold. I also liked how Irwin showcased the snobbery at play within high society, and also how few options women in the era had to ensure their own security.
Overall, this book was just a great light-hearted and fun read with a vibrancy to it that I really enjoyed. I'll certainly be on the look out for more from Irwin in the future.
April 19, 2023
What a fun, clean regency romance with all the witty dialogue I needed! 4 stars - Really gave me Pride and Prejudice vibes and I have heard its great for fans of Bridgerton - but thankfully, this is without the spice and totally clean! :)
This is all about Kitty (Katherine) Talbot who needs a rich husband to take care of her father's massive debts after he passed away - and help save her sisters from ruin. Kitty finds herself searching for a man with a fortune. With the help of Lord Radcliffe, she is introduced into high society to mingle and find herself a husband so she can help save her family. Lord Radcliffe saw her for the fortune hunter she is but will he end up being the one for her after all?
I really liked this story! It dragged some here and there but overall so much fun! I loved the back and forth between Lord Radcliffe and Kitty - their banter cracked me up. Very light hearted read and just want I needed!
This is all about Kitty (Katherine) Talbot who needs a rich husband to take care of her father's massive debts after he passed away - and help save her sisters from ruin. Kitty finds herself searching for a man with a fortune. With the help of Lord Radcliffe, she is introduced into high society to mingle and find herself a husband so she can help save her family. Lord Radcliffe saw her for the fortune hunter she is but will he end up being the one for her after all?
I really liked this story! It dragged some here and there but overall so much fun! I loved the back and forth between Lord Radcliffe and Kitty - their banter cracked me up. Very light hearted read and just want I needed!
August 1, 2022
Adorei! 5 stars! Sem hesitação.
Fofinho, espirituoso, traz o melhor de romance de época de volta.
Kitty Talbot encontra-se numa situação desesperada. Órfã e com quatro irmãs para tomar conta, tem de casar para salvar a casa de família e as suas irmãs.
Infelizmente, o seu noivo, cancela o casamento e Kitty vê-se obrigada a ir para a temporada londrina à procura de marido.
Com ela vai Cecily, a irmã mais bonita, a intelectual.
Quando passeiam pelo Hyde Park, Cecily reconhece uma antiga colega do colégio que frequentou, os De Lacy.
Archie De Lacy fica bastante entusiasmado com Kitty, então o seu irmão Jamie, lorde Radcliffe é chamado com urgência da residência de família, no campo, onde ele se refugiou desde que voltou da guerra e por morte do seu pai.
E é nesta altura que a história ganha realmente vida e se torna viciante.
A escrita é muito boa, os diálogos fantásticos, nunca diria que este é o primeiro de Sophie Irwin.
Kitty e Jamie são fantásticos juntos, apesar de demorar bastante e serem os últimos a se aperceberem disso.
Com provocações constantes, mas não se conseguem afastar um do outro.
Apesar de inimigos, confidências são trocadas.
É um romance clean, não há cenas de sexo, mas é muito divertido.
Para quem gosta de romance de época, não podem perder este.
July 22, 2022
Reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2022/...
Me ha gustado mucho, he disfrutado mucho de la relación de la pareja, aunque el tema del romance me ha dejado un poco descolocada.
La historia fluye, está bien escrita y bien ambientada (hay un par de cosas que me han sorprendido) pero, siendo la primera novela de la autora, creo que es todo un logro
Mucho me ha sonado a clásico, clásico del clásico, personajes, algunas situaciones, pero no es una queja.
Ella es increíblemente práctica y es un vehículo estupendo para plasmar tanto la hipocresía como la dureza de toda mujer de la época que no tenía independencia económica (la gran mayoría)
Él me ha parecido un personaje menos desarrollado (quizás porque ella lleva el peso de la historia). Temas que estamos tan acostumbradas a leer vistos desde otro punto de vista más real
Una lectura recomendable, mucho, aunque para llamarlo romántica, creo que le faltan algunas vueltas
Me ha encantado la ironía de los diálogos entre ambos
Me ha gustado mucho, he disfrutado mucho de la relación de la pareja, aunque el tema del romance me ha dejado un poco descolocada.
La historia fluye, está bien escrita y bien ambientada (hay un par de cosas que me han sorprendido) pero, siendo la primera novela de la autora, creo que es todo un logro
Mucho me ha sonado a clásico, clásico del clásico, personajes, algunas situaciones, pero no es una queja.
Ella es increíblemente práctica y es un vehículo estupendo para plasmar tanto la hipocresía como la dureza de toda mujer de la época que no tenía independencia económica (la gran mayoría)
Él me ha parecido un personaje menos desarrollado (quizás porque ella lleva el peso de la historia). Temas que estamos tan acostumbradas a leer vistos desde otro punto de vista más real
Una lectura recomendable, mucho, aunque para llamarlo romántica, creo que le faltan algunas vueltas
Me ha encantado la ironía de los diálogos entre ambos
December 3, 2023
This was fun but a little too PG 13 for me. My 13 year old self would have probably given it five stars.
Kitty has four sisters, no parents and no income. The only way to survive is to marry rich so she travels to London to hunt. The first potential suitor seems an easy enough target, but his brother, Lord Radcliffe, sees through Kitty’s schemes and won’t consent to the match. Kitty agrees to let Archie go but in return she asks Radcliffe to help her find someone else.
Jane Austen taught me that fortune-hunters are ruthless villains but I’m glad that Sophie Irwin proved her wrong. Some are just in desperate need of funds, nothing wrong with that!
Kitty was very pragmatic about her predicament and incredibly goal-oriented. She needed Radcliffe’s help and was not afraid to ask for it, society rules notwithstanding. The way she pushed his buttons was the funniest part of the book.
I liked how he was gradually warming up to her but it took them too much time to get together. There was not nearly enough chemistry and romance, it really felt like reading a kids’ book at times…
Having said that, I enjoyed the story and the writing and I might still pick up the second book!
Kitty has four sisters, no parents and no income. The only way to survive is to marry rich so she travels to London to hunt. The first potential suitor seems an easy enough target, but his brother, Lord Radcliffe, sees through Kitty’s schemes and won’t consent to the match. Kitty agrees to let Archie go but in return she asks Radcliffe to help her find someone else.
Jane Austen taught me that fortune-hunters are ruthless villains but I’m glad that Sophie Irwin proved her wrong. Some are just in desperate need of funds, nothing wrong with that!
Kitty was very pragmatic about her predicament and incredibly goal-oriented. She needed Radcliffe’s help and was not afraid to ask for it, society rules notwithstanding. The way she pushed his buttons was the funniest part of the book.
I liked how he was gradually warming up to her but it took them too much time to get together. There was not nearly enough chemistry and romance, it really felt like reading a kids’ book at times…
Having said that, I enjoyed the story and the writing and I might still pick up the second book!
July 9, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
A Regency Romance where the eldest daughter of a family of five girls must marry for money or she and her sisters will be homeless. All things seem to be going her way until a veteran of Waterloo catches wind of what she might be plotting. For all the bystanders, the London Season might just be interesting after all.
It was a cute romance even if I sniffed the ending from the moment the male protagonist was mentioned in conversation. Although Kitty did manage to get herself into a few London society mishaps that made 21st century me blush, I was definitely cheering for her all the way. Though I think that it didn't have to be quite so drawn out to get Kitty and her male antagonist(🤣) on the same side.
A good debut that has me anticipating if we shall see this become a series since there are still 4 sisters to be married.
Expected Publication Date 12/07/22
Goodreads review published 09/07/22
A Regency Romance where the eldest daughter of a family of five girls must marry for money or she and her sisters will be homeless. All things seem to be going her way until a veteran of Waterloo catches wind of what she might be plotting. For all the bystanders, the London Season might just be interesting after all.
It was a cute romance even if I sniffed the ending from the moment the male protagonist was mentioned in conversation. Although Kitty did manage to get herself into a few London society mishaps that made 21st century me blush, I was definitely cheering for her all the way. Though I think that it didn't have to be quite so drawn out to get Kitty and her male antagonist(🤣) on the same side.
A good debut that has me anticipating if we shall see this become a series since there are still 4 sisters to be married.
Expected Publication Date 12/07/22
Goodreads review published 09/07/22
November 13, 2022
✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ BLACKMAILING AND PINING ARE WHAT AWAIT YOU IN THIS FASCINATING HISTORICAL ROMANCE!
kittyjames are my heart. the way that he smiles only WITH HER. the way that the first time you read about him laughing is because she has surprised him. no one ever surprises him. he is so different with her????? he's usually stoic, bored, and grumpy when he's out and about, at balls, in society. but whenever he ends up near her, he can't help but reply sarcastically, joke, or EVEN WINK AT HER DIRECTION. they're meant to be!!! both the oldest siblings they have this feeling of responsibility, they have to take care of their family in any way possible. for kitty, she has to get them out of debt and keep their family house so she has to marry rich. it's the only way!
for james, he feels that he needs to be away from the family. after his father's death and his time at waterloo, he doesn't feel like he can coexist with them any longer. it's too painful for him. but that's the only way he feels they can be okay. yet he cant see how much it hurts them, for him not to be there with them. james' family is so cuteeee every single one of them. i love how they easily welcomed the talbott sisters and their aunt??? kitty is a mastermind ngl. she can manipulate anyone at anytimeeee. JAMES IS SO ENAMORED AND IMPRESSES INSTANTLY LMAO he can't stop thinking about her as he should.
ps. there is one kiss scene and no sex scenes! i wish there was more because im used to that in historical romances but also in romances in general. im not mad tho! i like the way this story is written and how everything came about. but i love getting kissing, hugs, and every little touch. i do love how easily they can talk with each other, which is important, and how easy is to be together and A TEAM!!! i can only imagine how their lives will be after marrying<333 their families will fit perfectly together.
kittyjames are my heart. the way that he smiles only WITH HER. the way that the first time you read about him laughing is because she has surprised him. no one ever surprises him. he is so different with her????? he's usually stoic, bored, and grumpy when he's out and about, at balls, in society. but whenever he ends up near her, he can't help but reply sarcastically, joke, or EVEN WINK AT HER DIRECTION. they're meant to be!!! both the oldest siblings they have this feeling of responsibility, they have to take care of their family in any way possible. for kitty, she has to get them out of debt and keep their family house so she has to marry rich. it's the only way!
for james, he feels that he needs to be away from the family. after his father's death and his time at waterloo, he doesn't feel like he can coexist with them any longer. it's too painful for him. but that's the only way he feels they can be okay. yet he cant see how much it hurts them, for him not to be there with them. james' family is so cuteeee every single one of them. i love how they easily welcomed the talbott sisters and their aunt??? kitty is a mastermind ngl. she can manipulate anyone at anytimeeee. JAMES IS SO ENAMORED AND IMPRESSES INSTANTLY LMAO he can't stop thinking about her as he should.
ps. there is one kiss scene and no sex scenes! i wish there was more because im used to that in historical romances but also in romances in general. im not mad tho! i like the way this story is written and how everything came about. but i love getting kissing, hugs, and every little touch. i do love how easily they can talk with each other, which is important, and how easy is to be together and A TEAM!!! i can only imagine how their lives will be after marrying<333 their families will fit perfectly together.
July 12, 2022
Well this was an absolute delight that exceeded all my expectations! I’m always here to celebrate debut authors and especially those who write historical romance right in my wheelhouse.
If you like Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer this one is for you. If you like sweet romance with characters who are charming, full of humor and wit this is also for you.
Kitty is such a vibrant young woman who has fallen victim to the circumstances of her time. Desperate to save what’s left of her family she spends the season in London in search of a wealthy husband…and the task might be more than she bargained for!
I found this incredibly engaging and just simply lovely. It feels right in tune with the time period. It was immersive and heartfelt while also being comical and funny. I definitely enjoyed Eleanor Tomlinsons audio narrative and thought it added depth to the story.
I really enjoyed the characters and their development along with the conversations and shenanigans. I simply couldn’t put it down and immediately hoped after turning the last page that this author has more tricks up her sleeve because I am her newest fan!
The romance is a slow burn full of frustrations, pride and hesitant longing and I was here for it. A wonderful regency romantic comedy with heart that you need to add to your summer TBR.
Pick this one up if you tend to lean in favor of my recommendations and you will not regret it!
If you like Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer this one is for you. If you like sweet romance with characters who are charming, full of humor and wit this is also for you.
Kitty is such a vibrant young woman who has fallen victim to the circumstances of her time. Desperate to save what’s left of her family she spends the season in London in search of a wealthy husband…and the task might be more than she bargained for!
I found this incredibly engaging and just simply lovely. It feels right in tune with the time period. It was immersive and heartfelt while also being comical and funny. I definitely enjoyed Eleanor Tomlinsons audio narrative and thought it added depth to the story.
I really enjoyed the characters and their development along with the conversations and shenanigans. I simply couldn’t put it down and immediately hoped after turning the last page that this author has more tricks up her sleeve because I am her newest fan!
The romance is a slow burn full of frustrations, pride and hesitant longing and I was here for it. A wonderful regency romantic comedy with heart that you need to add to your summer TBR.
Pick this one up if you tend to lean in favor of my recommendations and you will not regret it!
September 13, 2022
3'75✨
Este libro me llegó de forma inesperada de parte de Plaza&Janés (¡de nuevo mil gracias!). Estaba pasando un momento de desconexión del mundo literario y este título me llamó la atención e hizo que me apeteciera ponerme a leer. Podría decirse fácilmente que me salvó o me rescató de un gran parón lector.
Kitty se propone cazar una fortuna, y nosotros seremos testigos de ello. La sinopsis del libro puede revelar parte de la trama y, dado que yo la leí, el principio se me hizo muy obvio (casi como el final). Pero no dejó de ser un libro entretenido e intrigante que, como he dicho, me dejaba con ganas de seguir leyendo.
Nos encontramos con un enemies to lovers con slow born. Son unos tropes muy jugosos y populares, y además están muy bien llevados en este libro. La tensión y la necesidad de que ocurra algo... ¡es que no lo podrás soltar!
Es cierto que hay personajes muy oportunos para la trama y que una vez hecho su papel y aporte, dejan de ser nombrados. Esto me pareció muy obvio y siempre suele ser algo molesto. Así como hay algunos clichés ya muy vistos en este género que nos hacen la historia algo predecible.
El final me pareció precioso y ardiente, como toda novela de este estilo debe ser. Aunque no sea una de las mejores (subjetivamente) de este género, sí que la he disfrutado mucho y la recordaré con cariño dado todo lo que he recuperado gracias a ella.
Este libro me llegó de forma inesperada de parte de Plaza&Janés (¡de nuevo mil gracias!). Estaba pasando un momento de desconexión del mundo literario y este título me llamó la atención e hizo que me apeteciera ponerme a leer. Podría decirse fácilmente que me salvó o me rescató de un gran parón lector.
Kitty se propone cazar una fortuna, y nosotros seremos testigos de ello. La sinopsis del libro puede revelar parte de la trama y, dado que yo la leí, el principio se me hizo muy obvio (casi como el final). Pero no dejó de ser un libro entretenido e intrigante que, como he dicho, me dejaba con ganas de seguir leyendo.
Nos encontramos con un enemies to lovers con slow born. Son unos tropes muy jugosos y populares, y además están muy bien llevados en este libro. La tensión y la necesidad de que ocurra algo... ¡es que no lo podrás soltar!
Es cierto que hay personajes muy oportunos para la trama y que una vez hecho su papel y aporte, dejan de ser nombrados. Esto me pareció muy obvio y siempre suele ser algo molesto. Así como hay algunos clichés ya muy vistos en este género que nos hacen la historia algo predecible.
El final me pareció precioso y ardiente, como toda novela de este estilo debe ser. Aunque no sea una de las mejores (subjetivamente) de este género, sí que la he disfrutado mucho y la recordaré con cariño dado todo lo que he recuperado gracias a ella.
December 8, 2022
4 Estrellitas. Si tuviera que definir en una palabra éste libro, sería Delicioso. Una auténtica delicia, no es una joyita ni lo mejor del mercado, pero su sencillez y cómo está contado hace las delicias de las lectoras.
Admito que estoy muy susceptible con las nuevas publicaciones de Regencia tras el boom Bridgerton, pero éste libro me ha parecido un acierto dentro del manido mundo del romance histórico.
"Manual para damas cazafortunas" no cuenta nada nuevo, al revés. Digamos que es la típica trama de chica pobre y desesperada necesita marido rico.
Kitty Talbot está hasta arriba de deudas, sus padres han fallecido y ella es la mayor de cinco hermanas. Criadas como señoritas de la baja nobleza no están acostumbradas a la vida de trabajo duro. Si las cinco quieren permanecer unidas en la casa familiar, una debe hacer un muy buen matrimonio, y siendo Kitty la mayor, ella es la que debe sacrificarse por el bien de su familia.
Con el poco dinero de que disponen, Kitty se va a Londres con su tercera hermana Cecily, para intentar encontrar un marido rico. Ambas se alojarán con la tía Dorothy, una amiga de juventud de su madre.
Gracias a Cecily, un día se toparán con la familia De Lacy, y ahí empezará el periplo de las Talbot para codearse con lo mejor de la sociedad. Kitty no busca cazar un noble o alguien socialmente superior a ella, se conforma con que su marido sea rico y pueda saldar sus deudas.
En seguida, Kitty comenzará una amistad con Archie De Lacy que espera que vaya a más, pero será la presencia de su hermano mayor, James, Lord Radcliffe, la que haga que Kitty ponga sus miras en otro lado.
Lord Radcliffe no se engaña con la señorita Talbot y sabe que va a la caza de un marido rico. También sabe que los afectos de su hermano menor no son correspondidos y no dejará que Archie se case con una cazafortunas.
Pronto, Kitty y James comenzarán una diatriba y habrá un choque de voluntades por ver quién consigue y quién no consigue sus objetivos. A cambio de que Kitty deje en paz a Archie, James ayudará a Kitty a entrar en sociedad y le presentará a posibles candidatos que puedan sacar a Kitty de la ruina.
En otras circunstancias un personaje tan mercenario como Kitty no me habría gustado, pero en el fondo es tan sincera y natural, y tan fiel lo que siente por su familia, que no puede caerte mal. Kitty no es egoísta, piensa con practicidad como una mujer de su época y sabe que las mujeres no pueden generar la misma riqueza que los hombres, lo único que les queda es un buen matrimonio.
No diría que el libro me recuerde a otros de Jane Austen, pero sí a muchos de otras escritoras contemporáneas como Julia Quinn, Mary Balogh o Gaelen Foley.
En el fondo, el romance o la falta de éste me ha gustado. No es un libro muy romántico, tal como lo vemos muchas fieles de éste tipo de novelas. De hecho se cuece a fuego muy lento lo que hay entre Kitty y lord Radcliffe, casi hasta el final y aviso de que es novela blanca. Si lo que buscas es pasión, aquí no lo verás.
Lo mejor, los diálogos y enfrentamientos de los protagonistas. Juntos o separados, me han encantado. Además el libro posee un ritmo que no decae en ningún momento, se lee fácil y rápidamente y engancha un montón.
Éste ha sido el debut de Sophie Irwin, pero a mí me ha ganado entera con ésta historia. Muy recomendable, si es lo que buscas o las expectativas que te crea.
Admito que estoy muy susceptible con las nuevas publicaciones de Regencia tras el boom Bridgerton, pero éste libro me ha parecido un acierto dentro del manido mundo del romance histórico.
"Manual para damas cazafortunas" no cuenta nada nuevo, al revés. Digamos que es la típica trama de chica pobre y desesperada necesita marido rico.
Kitty Talbot está hasta arriba de deudas, sus padres han fallecido y ella es la mayor de cinco hermanas. Criadas como señoritas de la baja nobleza no están acostumbradas a la vida de trabajo duro. Si las cinco quieren permanecer unidas en la casa familiar, una debe hacer un muy buen matrimonio, y siendo Kitty la mayor, ella es la que debe sacrificarse por el bien de su familia.
Con el poco dinero de que disponen, Kitty se va a Londres con su tercera hermana Cecily, para intentar encontrar un marido rico. Ambas se alojarán con la tía Dorothy, una amiga de juventud de su madre.
Gracias a Cecily, un día se toparán con la familia De Lacy, y ahí empezará el periplo de las Talbot para codearse con lo mejor de la sociedad. Kitty no busca cazar un noble o alguien socialmente superior a ella, se conforma con que su marido sea rico y pueda saldar sus deudas.
En seguida, Kitty comenzará una amistad con Archie De Lacy que espera que vaya a más, pero será la presencia de su hermano mayor, James, Lord Radcliffe, la que haga que Kitty ponga sus miras en otro lado.
Lord Radcliffe no se engaña con la señorita Talbot y sabe que va a la caza de un marido rico. También sabe que los afectos de su hermano menor no son correspondidos y no dejará que Archie se case con una cazafortunas.
Pronto, Kitty y James comenzarán una diatriba y habrá un choque de voluntades por ver quién consigue y quién no consigue sus objetivos. A cambio de que Kitty deje en paz a Archie, James ayudará a Kitty a entrar en sociedad y le presentará a posibles candidatos que puedan sacar a Kitty de la ruina.
En otras circunstancias un personaje tan mercenario como Kitty no me habría gustado, pero en el fondo es tan sincera y natural, y tan fiel lo que siente por su familia, que no puede caerte mal. Kitty no es egoísta, piensa con practicidad como una mujer de su época y sabe que las mujeres no pueden generar la misma riqueza que los hombres, lo único que les queda es un buen matrimonio.
No diría que el libro me recuerde a otros de Jane Austen, pero sí a muchos de otras escritoras contemporáneas como Julia Quinn, Mary Balogh o Gaelen Foley.
En el fondo, el romance o la falta de éste me ha gustado. No es un libro muy romántico, tal como lo vemos muchas fieles de éste tipo de novelas. De hecho se cuece a fuego muy lento lo que hay entre Kitty y lord Radcliffe, casi hasta el final y aviso de que es novela blanca. Si lo que buscas es pasión, aquí no lo verás.
Lo mejor, los diálogos y enfrentamientos de los protagonistas. Juntos o separados, me han encantado. Además el libro posee un ritmo que no decae en ningún momento, se lee fácil y rápidamente y engancha un montón.
Éste ha sido el debut de Sophie Irwin, pero a mí me ha ganado entera con ésta historia. Muy recomendable, si es lo que buscas o las expectativas que te crea.
September 19, 2024
twas a yawn fest……idk there was so much set-up with so little pay-off and so few moments of actual enjoyable interaction between the couple. ballroom setting got tired very quickly and the get-together felt incredibly random because of the sudden, non-subtle 180 flip-flop from enemies to lovers
June 9, 2023
An excellent portrayal of a period piece romance. This was a slow burn, clean romance that was so refreshing to read. Purchasing a physical copy to add to my at home collection.
December 6, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
So funny and charming, I hope many readers find their way to this lovely debut from Sophie Irwin. It is undoubtedly one of my favorite books of the year.
It's essentially a battle of wills between an upper-class eldest son hellbent on stopping a mercenary and impoverished young woman from marrying into his family. Sure, Kitty is beautiful, but according to Radcliffe, she's also a "scheming viper, "a demon," "an infection," the worst sort of villain," etc. His vocabulary is impressive as he searches for names to fully capture his ire, at least for the first half of the book. Kitty though never shies away from the mercenary charge and maybe more than any heroines I've encountered in romance, she makes a persuasive case for why women should be praised for their ambitions and why men and a classist society should be mocked openly for their hypocrisy.
This is a book that puts it all out in the open, especially in the many debates Kitty and Radcliffe exchange as they negotiate her place in his insular world. Kitty might come across as abrasive to some readers, but the author does such a nice job portraying her that I found her quite wonderful as the book progresses. Maybe most importantly, she is in the right in nearly all of their arguments. Though Kitty is center stage in most of the story, Radcliffe's transformation is nearly as fascinating. He's the moth to her flame and watching him become increasingly enmeshed in her antics is the best part of the book. For all of their early antagonism and conflict, Kitty and Radcliffe are more alike than not and the book offers very clever parallel moments to show how these two are the only suitable partners for each other.
This is a very "clean" romance, which ordinarily does not factor into my enjoyment of a book. Here though I found myself wanting a bit more heat toward the end for them, and so small deduction. It is, nevertheless, a wonderfully plotted and engaging book and I'm excited to read this author's next one soon.
So funny and charming, I hope many readers find their way to this lovely debut from Sophie Irwin. It is undoubtedly one of my favorite books of the year.
It's essentially a battle of wills between an upper-class eldest son hellbent on stopping a mercenary and impoverished young woman from marrying into his family. Sure, Kitty is beautiful, but according to Radcliffe, she's also a "scheming viper, "a demon," "an infection," the worst sort of villain," etc. His vocabulary is impressive as he searches for names to fully capture his ire, at least for the first half of the book. Kitty though never shies away from the mercenary charge and maybe more than any heroines I've encountered in romance, she makes a persuasive case for why women should be praised for their ambitions and why men and a classist society should be mocked openly for their hypocrisy.
This is a book that puts it all out in the open, especially in the many debates Kitty and Radcliffe exchange as they negotiate her place in his insular world. Kitty might come across as abrasive to some readers, but the author does such a nice job portraying her that I found her quite wonderful as the book progresses. Maybe most importantly, she is in the right in nearly all of their arguments. Though Kitty is center stage in most of the story, Radcliffe's transformation is nearly as fascinating. He's the moth to her flame and watching him become increasingly enmeshed in her antics is the best part of the book. For all of their early antagonism and conflict, Kitty and Radcliffe are more alike than not and the book offers very clever parallel moments to show how these two are the only suitable partners for each other.
This is a very "clean" romance, which ordinarily does not factor into my enjoyment of a book. Here though I found myself wanting a bit more heat toward the end for them, and so small deduction. It is, nevertheless, a wonderfully plotted and engaging book and I'm excited to read this author's next one soon.
September 12, 2022
"I am absurdly rich and I'll pay off your family's debt"
Words every woman wants to hear🧎🧎🧎
I ALMOST FORGOT THAT I LOVE HISTORICAL ROMANCES
This book was soo good, the aesthetic, the characters. I loved Kitty, I loved her determination and her plans to secure wealthy husband.
"If he's not wealthy I'm not having fun"
(Quote from tiktok ao3 tag filter)
I loved the slowburn, it was so good, the tension, the ballroom scenes, the dances, stolen glances ughhh, sooo good. The ending felt a little rushed tho. 4/5⭐
Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
Words every woman wants to hear🧎🧎🧎
I ALMOST FORGOT THAT I LOVE HISTORICAL ROMANCES
This book was soo good, the aesthetic, the characters. I loved Kitty, I loved her determination and her plans to secure wealthy husband.
"If he's not wealthy I'm not having fun"
(Quote from tiktok ao3 tag filter)
I loved the slowburn, it was so good, the tension, the ballroom scenes, the dances, stolen glances ughhh, sooo good. The ending felt a little rushed tho. 4/5⭐
Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.
July 11, 2024
Kitty Talbot is left to care and provide for her four sisters and clear the debts that have been incurred by their father. To do that Kitty needs to clear the clear the debts in twelve weeks. The only way she can see to do that is by finding a husband who has a fortune. With that in mind, Kitty leaves home and heads to London for the season. Kitty may not be rich, accomplished or genteel, but she is determined, ingenious and committed to saving her family from ruin, whatever the cost to herself.
To do this she needs the support of Aunt Dorothy, an old friend of her mother’s. Aunt Dorothy has a secret she wants to keep, and she is wary about being recognised for her past. But she Is still prepared to help Kitty with her marriage plans.
What Kitty hadn’t counted on was Lord James Radcliffe, who seems determined to thwart her plans as he recognises Kitty as a fortune hunter especially when one of her targets for a husband is his younger brother Archie.
This is an entertaining romp. Although Kitty is seeking a husband with a fortune, it is her motivation that tips the reader’s sympathy in her favour, despite some of her unorthodox methods of achieving her aim. James Radcliffe is also interesting as he tries to protect his family. He also needs to come to terms with his guilt for having disappointed his father before he died. As a result James usually stays away from London. But when his family needs him he makes the effort to do all he can to help.
This is a telling look at the society of the time, the attitudes held and the etiquette of the society and the times. Some fun banter adds touches of light relief.
Light, fun and a joy to read. Also a debut novel so it is a great start. Looking forward to the next book in the series. A pleasant way to pass some time.
To do this she needs the support of Aunt Dorothy, an old friend of her mother’s. Aunt Dorothy has a secret she wants to keep, and she is wary about being recognised for her past. But she Is still prepared to help Kitty with her marriage plans.
What Kitty hadn’t counted on was Lord James Radcliffe, who seems determined to thwart her plans as he recognises Kitty as a fortune hunter especially when one of her targets for a husband is his younger brother Archie.
This is an entertaining romp. Although Kitty is seeking a husband with a fortune, it is her motivation that tips the reader’s sympathy in her favour, despite some of her unorthodox methods of achieving her aim. James Radcliffe is also interesting as he tries to protect his family. He also needs to come to terms with his guilt for having disappointed his father before he died. As a result James usually stays away from London. But when his family needs him he makes the effort to do all he can to help.
This is a telling look at the society of the time, the attitudes held and the etiquette of the society and the times. Some fun banter adds touches of light relief.
Light, fun and a joy to read. Also a debut novel so it is a great start. Looking forward to the next book in the series. A pleasant way to pass some time.
August 18, 2023
4.5 stars
Jane Austen and Bridgerton fans - this one's for you! A delightful romp through Regency London with a plucky young woman desperate to save her family from the debt collectors. Kitty was a wonderfully engaging character, and I was rooting for her from the start. Loved her sass, her devotion to her sisters, her commentary on the powerlessness of women to create their own fate, the hypocritical "Ton," the dazzling balls, and the slow-burn romance with a wealthy Lord Radcliffe suffering from PTSD. I read this in a day and plan to read more from this author.
Jane Austen and Bridgerton fans - this one's for you! A delightful romp through Regency London with a plucky young woman desperate to save her family from the debt collectors. Kitty was a wonderfully engaging character, and I was rooting for her from the start. Loved her sass, her devotion to her sisters, her commentary on the powerlessness of women to create their own fate, the hypocritical "Ton," the dazzling balls, and the slow-burn romance with a wealthy Lord Radcliffe suffering from PTSD. I read this in a day and plan to read more from this author.
June 11, 2023
thank you to penguin books for gifting me a copy. this was sophie irwin’s debut novel and i absolutely loved it! i recommend to anyone who is looking for a clean historical romance with lots of charm. 💐✨
May 27, 2022
Headlines:
Enemies spatting
Mercenary ethics
Snobs and realists
I had an absolute blast reading this book. It engaged me, made me laugh throughout the book and really made me love the main characters over time. The writing was all ease to get into and I read it in two sittings.
Kitty was a young woman on a mission, head of her family with four sister dependents to secure a future for. The mission was her own marriage to someone of fortune and she was utterly blinkered and focused. She had some shady approaches, she was two-faced to her suitors and a great liar. She was such a likeable heroine.
She met her forthright match in Radcliffe, they did not like one another and he was soon 'onto her' and worked out her schemes. These two verbally sparred, coerced favours out of one another but very slowly, something happened.
'Dance with me,' she demanded, walking straight up to him. He eyed her warily.
'Thank you, but no,' he said. 'I should have mentioned that I also do not dance with persons who appear to want to murder me.'
I loved how this book shone light on the snobbery of the ton and the judgement passed on those of reduced circumstances and how the men perceived women and their role is society. I adored how Kitty smashed through those preconceptions but with subtlety. Kitty made Radcliffe and Radcliffe made Kitty.
This totally has a Bridgerton vibe but without the heat. For me, the heat wasn't missing, the plot was rich and chemistry bubbled. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and I want more.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Insta Book Tours for the review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
Enemies spatting
Mercenary ethics
Snobs and realists
I had an absolute blast reading this book. It engaged me, made me laugh throughout the book and really made me love the main characters over time. The writing was all ease to get into and I read it in two sittings.
Kitty was a young woman on a mission, head of her family with four sister dependents to secure a future for. The mission was her own marriage to someone of fortune and she was utterly blinkered and focused. She had some shady approaches, she was two-faced to her suitors and a great liar. She was such a likeable heroine.
She met her forthright match in Radcliffe, they did not like one another and he was soon 'onto her' and worked out her schemes. These two verbally sparred, coerced favours out of one another but very slowly, something happened.
'Dance with me,' she demanded, walking straight up to him. He eyed her warily.
'Thank you, but no,' he said. 'I should have mentioned that I also do not dance with persons who appear to want to murder me.'
I loved how this book shone light on the snobbery of the ton and the judgement passed on those of reduced circumstances and how the men perceived women and their role is society. I adored how Kitty smashed through those preconceptions but with subtlety. Kitty made Radcliffe and Radcliffe made Kitty.
This totally has a Bridgerton vibe but without the heat. For me, the heat wasn't missing, the plot was rich and chemistry bubbled. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this book and I want more.
Thank you to Harper Collins and Insta Book Tours for the review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
December 27, 2022
I am going to have to politely ask historical romance authors and their marketing teams to stop titling books with “A Lady’s Guide…” It’s certainly more palatable than the slew of “The [Profession]’s Daughter/Wife/Sister-in-Law/Female Second Cousin Once Removed” in literary and historical fiction but it’s still confusing.
Anyway, this was a lot of fun! I immensely enjoyed Kitty as a heroine. The dutiful eldest sister shouldering her family’s burdens is an archetype that crops up frequently in Regency romances and I loved it here in combination with Kitty’s unrepentant, quick-thinking scheming.
Her character was well-drawn, I just wish Sophie Irwin had done more in terms of rendering the blooming feelings between her and Radcliffe. I understand that Irwin approached this from a more… reserved perspective i.e., this was not intended to be a novel of high passion. However, the romance was too understated for me. The setup was perfect—I love friction to reluctant allyship to love. And there were many things to enjoy in terms of the execution. The banter between Kitty and Radcliffe was delightful. I loved how they were always drawn to each other on the edges of the room and approached each other with full honesty. ("For a moment, it felt as though they were the only two real people in the whole world, sitting there looking at each other, while the rest of London carried on.") But I just wanted more. More frisson of awareness. More tension. More yearning. It wasn’t until, like, the 70% mark that it felt like things were really moving on the romance front, and even then, it was with a very light touch.
I think some of this has to do with Irwin’s narrative style. Her third-person omniscient narration gives an air of detachment. She’s clearly going for something Austen-esque but her observational approach doesn’t quite have Austen’s warmth, intimacy, and insights. Austen always brings the reader into her confidence like a friend. This book felt more like the casual observations of a tour guide. Irwin flits back and forth between musing on different character perspectives and it was sometimes jarring—it would be like “Person A observed…” then immediately “Person B thought that…” followed by “Person C wondered…” etc. I would have enjoyed the book more if it had been a bit more focused and had a greater depth of feeling. The ending had the kind of heart-fluttery tenderness that made me want to pause and immediately re-read! More of that please!
That said, it was still a spritely read. I kept wanting to pick it up again, which is more than I can say for a lot of the books I read this year. It’s a credit to the book’s charm that I still felt like giving it four stars even if the romance wasn’t as fulfilling as I’d hoped. I will definitely check out future novels from this author.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Anyway, this was a lot of fun! I immensely enjoyed Kitty as a heroine. The dutiful eldest sister shouldering her family’s burdens is an archetype that crops up frequently in Regency romances and I loved it here in combination with Kitty’s unrepentant, quick-thinking scheming.
Her character was well-drawn, I just wish Sophie Irwin had done more in terms of rendering the blooming feelings between her and Radcliffe. I understand that Irwin approached this from a more… reserved perspective i.e., this was not intended to be a novel of high passion. However, the romance was too understated for me. The setup was perfect—I love friction to reluctant allyship to love. And there were many things to enjoy in terms of the execution. The banter between Kitty and Radcliffe was delightful. I loved how they were always drawn to each other on the edges of the room and approached each other with full honesty. ("For a moment, it felt as though they were the only two real people in the whole world, sitting there looking at each other, while the rest of London carried on.") But I just wanted more. More frisson of awareness. More tension. More yearning. It wasn’t until, like, the 70% mark that it felt like things were really moving on the romance front, and even then, it was with a very light touch.
I think some of this has to do with Irwin’s narrative style. Her third-person omniscient narration gives an air of detachment. She’s clearly going for something Austen-esque but her observational approach doesn’t quite have Austen’s warmth, intimacy, and insights. Austen always brings the reader into her confidence like a friend. This book felt more like the casual observations of a tour guide. Irwin flits back and forth between musing on different character perspectives and it was sometimes jarring—it would be like “Person A observed…” then immediately “Person B thought that…” followed by “Person C wondered…” etc. I would have enjoyed the book more if it had been a bit more focused and had a greater depth of feeling. The ending had the kind of heart-fluttery tenderness that made me want to pause and immediately re-read! More of that please!
That said, it was still a spritely read. I kept wanting to pick it up again, which is more than I can say for a lot of the books I read this year. It’s a credit to the book’s charm that I still felt like giving it four stars even if the romance wasn’t as fulfilling as I’d hoped. I will definitely check out future novels from this author.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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