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Marstone #2.5
Molly's Tale
Molly Simons can’t wait to see the world beyond Marstone Park, hoping for excitement and even romance. But is she ready for what she will find?
As maid to Lady Isabella, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Marstone, a trip to London feels like an adventure to Molly. Footman Jem Langton will be going too. He’s a favourite of hers, but unfortunately he doesn’t seem to return her feelings.
Molly and Jem have to work together to help Lady Isabella find a husband she truly desires, rather than be forced into a match of her father’s choosing. A misunderstanding spoils Molly’s pleasure in being with Jem, and Lady Isabella’s kind heart leads them all into trouble. Soon, Molly and Jem find their positions and future at risk.
Amongst the chaos, is there a chance for the two to finally understand each other and find love?
Molly’s Tale can be read as a standalone romance. However it is a parallel story to A Suitable Match (Book 2 of the Marstone Series) and is probably more enjoyable if you have already read that book. Expect to see a few familiar faces and get a further glimpse into the happenings during and just after A Suitable Match.
As maid to Lady Isabella, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Marstone, a trip to London feels like an adventure to Molly. Footman Jem Langton will be going too. He’s a favourite of hers, but unfortunately he doesn’t seem to return her feelings.
Molly and Jem have to work together to help Lady Isabella find a husband she truly desires, rather than be forced into a match of her father’s choosing. A misunderstanding spoils Molly’s pleasure in being with Jem, and Lady Isabella’s kind heart leads them all into trouble. Soon, Molly and Jem find their positions and future at risk.
Amongst the chaos, is there a chance for the two to finally understand each other and find love?
Molly’s Tale can be read as a standalone romance. However it is a parallel story to A Suitable Match (Book 2 of the Marstone Series) and is probably more enjoyable if you have already read that book. Expect to see a few familiar faces and get a further glimpse into the happenings during and just after A Suitable Match.
- GenresHistoricalRomance
221 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2021
47 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Davis
20 books123 followersI was born in England, near the Welsh border, and lived in several places while I was growing up, including a spell in Singapore and in Malta. Malta was where I got hooked on historical romances - my parents rented a furnished house, and the owners had left most of their books there, including a whole set of Georgette Heyer novels.
Loving Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, I longed to write similar novels myself. I toyed with the idea several times over the years, but real life intervened and I've had several careers, including as a non-fiction author under another name. That wasn’t quite the writing career I had in mind…
So here I am, finally publishing my stories. I hope you enjoy them!
Loving Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, I longed to write similar novels myself. I toyed with the idea several times over the years, but real life intervened and I've had several careers, including as a non-fiction author under another name. That wasn’t quite the writing career I had in mind…
So here I am, finally publishing my stories. I hope you enjoy them!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 1, 2022
The story is told in the first person from the perspective of Molly, the lady's maid of the heroine in the previous book in the series, A Suitable Match. The events from Molly's POV happen contemporaneously with the events in A Suitable Match, so it definitely helps to read that book first. Since most of the Regency (and in this case Georgian) romances usually focus on stories about the aristocracy and gentry (and sometimes the merchant class), we rarely learn anything about those who serve these people - and make their lives of ease possible. For those who may want to know a little more about what their lives were like - like me - this is a welcome addition. I have just discovered Jayne Davis, and she's become a favorite author. This book is a wonderful glimpse into the life of a servant (albeit an upper servant), and the author - fine writer that she is - makes it just as interesting as the romances of the aristocracy.
December 31, 2021
2 1/2 Stars, Rounded Up
I am hesitant to rate this. I believe I have read all the books in the Marstone series. I enjoyed Sauce for the Gander the best. Some of the other books in the series I wasn't as excited about but enjoyed (if not loved) most of them. I wasn't sure about this one; however, I thought it might be interesting to read the story from a servant's perspective. M. C. Beaton has a series of books (The House for the Season series) that are told from this perspective, and I enjoyed them all very much. So, I went into this very hopeful.
I want to say good things...but I found the story to be-for me-quite boring. The heroine, Molly-I liked her. She had natural smarts. Several times it helped very much in a bad or tricky situation. Or her sharing her thoughts/observance helped. She also had courage. She stood up for herself, when appropriate (and especially with Barlow). She was restricted in what she could do (of course) but did what she could.
The hero(?) Jem I did not care for much throughout most of the story. In the last few chapters, he stops being a jerk but...will I just wished it had happened sooner. We did not get his POV, but I don't think that would have helped or made much difference. Molly was the star of this story, and the romance was very much on the back burner for most of the book. I actually did not really see what she saw in him. And she had to correct his...um...erroneous views. Although late in the story, we're finally given insight as to why he had them. Anyway, the romance only really picked up in the last chapter or so with some time finally being spent together taking walks and going out on dates-but it was just lacking for me. Like, oh yeah, I have to get these two people together before the end of this book. It was rushed. To help supplement or make up for the lack of romance, the epilogue gives us the HEA.
This is Jayne Davis so it's going to be a clean book (which I prefer). They kiss a time or two late in the book, not much passion. Sexual harassment/assault themes.
I am hesitant to rate this. I believe I have read all the books in the Marstone series. I enjoyed Sauce for the Gander the best. Some of the other books in the series I wasn't as excited about but enjoyed (if not loved) most of them. I wasn't sure about this one; however, I thought it might be interesting to read the story from a servant's perspective. M. C. Beaton has a series of books (The House for the Season series) that are told from this perspective, and I enjoyed them all very much. So, I went into this very hopeful.
I want to say good things...but I found the story to be-for me-quite boring. The heroine, Molly-I liked her. She had natural smarts. Several times it helped very much in a bad or tricky situation. Or her sharing her thoughts/observance helped. She also had courage. She stood up for herself, when appropriate (and especially with Barlow). She was restricted in what she could do (of course) but did what she could.
The hero(?) Jem I did not care for much throughout most of the story. In the last few chapters, he stops being a jerk but...will I just wished it had happened sooner. We did not get his POV, but I don't think that would have helped or made much difference. Molly was the star of this story, and the romance was very much on the back burner for most of the book. I actually did not really see what she saw in him. And she had to correct his...um...erroneous views. Although late in the story, we're finally given insight as to why he had them. Anyway, the romance only really picked up in the last chapter or so with some time finally being spent together taking walks and going out on dates-but it was just lacking for me. Like, oh yeah, I have to get these two people together before the end of this book. It was rushed. To help supplement or make up for the lack of romance, the epilogue gives us the HEA.
This is Jayne Davis so it's going to be a clean book (which I prefer). They kiss a time or two late in the book, not much passion. Sexual harassment/assault themes.
December 12, 2021
Georgian historical romance from an alternate POV
Molly Simons is barely literate, has never been beyond the village where she was born, or the adjacent manor where she is a chambermaid. But she is intelligent, observant, and willing to speak up on her own behalf. All this gets her a position as lady’s maid and she accompanies her mistress to London, along with Langton, a footman she secretly favors, and another whose unwanted advances she repels. Gentle humor, adept detailing, and perfect characterization make Jayne Davis’ story a delight to read. This companion novel to the Marstone series is easily read as a stand alone, but gains depth when read with those novels.
Molly Simons is barely literate, has never been beyond the village where she was born, or the adjacent manor where she is a chambermaid. But she is intelligent, observant, and willing to speak up on her own behalf. All this gets her a position as lady’s maid and she accompanies her mistress to London, along with Langton, a footman she secretly favors, and another whose unwanted advances she repels. Gentle humor, adept detailing, and perfect characterization make Jayne Davis’ story a delight to read. This companion novel to the Marstone series is easily read as a stand alone, but gains depth when read with those novels.
January 28, 2022
Historically believable
There are those who write historical fiction without really understanding historical behaviors and then there are those that are spot on. Ms. Davis' writing reveals her love and respect for history in such natural writing style that only hard work and research can create. To put a cherry on top, the characters are charming and the plot entertaining. Bravo.
There are those who write historical fiction without really understanding historical behaviors and then there are those that are spot on. Ms. Davis' writing reveals her love and respect for history in such natural writing style that only hard work and research can create. To put a cherry on top, the characters are charming and the plot entertaining. Bravo.
December 5, 2021
something different and still wonderful
I was lucky enough to have received Molly’s Tale as a beta reader, and I was very pleasantly surprised. I admit I didn’t like Jen at first, but I loved him at the end. Molly, of course, was the perfect amount of smart and spunky. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual regency romances of lords and ladies.
I was lucky enough to have received Molly’s Tale as a beta reader, and I was very pleasantly surprised. I admit I didn’t like Jen at first, but I loved him at the end. Molly, of course, was the perfect amount of smart and spunky. It’s a nice change of pace from the usual regency romances of lords and ladies.
June 22, 2022
clean read
Sweet and clean and written from,the views of upper servants to the peerage. This dovetails with the story about Isabelle and how she ends up with her hea and is a new link between how Isabelle estranged brother takes the reins after his nasty father dies
Sweet and clean and written from,the views of upper servants to the peerage. This dovetails with the story about Isabelle and how she ends up with her hea and is a new link between how Isabelle estranged brother takes the reins after his nasty father dies
December 2, 2021
It was fun to see the previous book in the series from a different character's perspective. I enjoyed Molly's intelligence, integrity, and spunk.
March 30, 2023
This wasn’t as intense as the others in the series, it was more of just the happenings behind the scenes a bit, with Molly the focal point of it. It was nice to read about the life of a maid, I’m glad I had read about Isabella first though, and I could fill in the blanks about what was happening with her- and see how it connected with Molly.. as this book doesn’t go into any of that detail. I wasn’t too impressed with Jem from this book- he ends up changing his views a bit, and I can see how real life this book followed, but It would have been nice to have a bit more connection I think from the two.
Over all like a 3.5- but worth the read as it fits into the series
Over all like a 3.5- but worth the read as it fits into the series
December 26, 2025
Unusual Angle
It is still quite rare to find a book in this genre told from the POV of a servant. It made for an original and engaging read. Servants in this novel are not subservient, grateful but faceless objects but have their own hinterlands, hopes and dreams. Davis also helpfully sets out the historical sources for this book. More like this please!
It is still quite rare to find a book in this genre told from the POV of a servant. It made for an original and engaging read. Servants in this novel are not subservient, grateful but faceless objects but have their own hinterlands, hopes and dreams. Davis also helpfully sets out the historical sources for this book. More like this please!
September 20, 2024
brilliant
Yet another brilliant book by Jayne Davis - even though you already know lady Isabella’s back story, having it written from molly’s viewpoint adds so much and results in another great read
Yet another brilliant book by Jayne Davis - even though you already know lady Isabella’s back story, having it written from molly’s viewpoint adds so much and results in another great read
October 27, 2024
A. ICE background take from the main maid in the series tale.
July 31, 2025
This is a parallel book to A Suitable Match. It is good, but there isn't enough unique content to make it great.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews