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Lord Avery's Legacy
Penelope Wingrave was extraordinary--from her flaming red hair to her scheme for raising ostriches. Alas, she was also on the shelf, too highborn to marry down, too poor to marry nobility. Her sister, on the other hand, was being courted by the late Lord Avery's haughty son--a matter that worried Penelope mightily. Especially when the speeding curricle driven by another member of that arrogant clan landed her in a ditch. Not only did he blame her for the mishap, he impetuously took her into his arms!
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1998
About the author
Allison Lane
40 books36 followersAllison Lane is the author of 20 Regency novels and 6 novellas. She is a Holt Medallion Winner and the 2005 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award Winner, as well as National Readers' Choice Awards Finalist for three books.
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 3, 2024
Not bad, but probably not everyone's cup of tea. It has ostriches so that's unique.
Summary: MMC (MMC's friend from The Earl's Revenge) has been in charge of his family since he was 15 and has an inflated sense of responsibility and self-importance. He's wealthy and titled. FMC has been in charge of HER family partly since she was 12, entirely since she was 15-16. She is poor and not titled although of good birth. FMC's neighbors, the Averys, have been harassing and tormenting her and trying to take over her brother's home/property, the Winter House, for several years for unknown reasons.
After the man of the house dudeface Avery dies, MMC, head of family, comes to take charge and sort things out for the Averys; he has a negative view of women, especially red-headed women, and is prejudiced against FMC by that and rumors from the widow of dudeface Avery who hates her. She is naturally not too fond of him because he's an ass to her every single time they meet, when he's not outright sexually assaulting her. Don't worry, he gets attacked by ostriches so it evens out.
Pros: the way some characters do have character growth, how FMC & fam handle their financial and life struggles with dignity, the satisfying way the MMC finally comes around and starts getting his head on straight in general about women, etc.
Cons: A LOT to be honest. The portrayal of MMC's lust especially is WAAAAAAY over the top and unbelievable. And his lapses where he kisses, grabs, and fantasizes about grabbing, kissing, groping, and sexing her (with or without her approval) are inexcusable. No grown adult is that far gone over someone they don't even particularly like that much. It's kind of insulting toward men imo.
Both FMC and MMC really come across as rage-spewing, ID-controlled, impulsive, violent idjits when around each other at first. And while they do learn to begin apologizing after they hurl insults and personal attacks at each other, they're still just... deeply flawed, esp. the MMC.
On the other hand, the ostriches are awesome, and so are the younger characters w/ the exception of Millicent, but she gets some growth so that's good.
Hmm I think I talked myself down to 3 stars lol.
Summary: MMC (MMC's friend from The Earl's Revenge) has been in charge of his family since he was 15 and has an inflated sense of responsibility and self-importance. He's wealthy and titled. FMC has been in charge of HER family partly since she was 12, entirely since she was 15-16. She is poor and not titled although of good birth. FMC's neighbors, the Averys, have been harassing and tormenting her and trying to take over her brother's home/property, the Winter House, for several years for unknown reasons.
After the man of the house dudeface Avery dies, MMC, head of family, comes to take charge and sort things out for the Averys; he has a negative view of women, especially red-headed women, and is prejudiced against FMC by that and rumors from the widow of dudeface Avery who hates her. She is naturally not too fond of him because he's an ass to her every single time they meet, when he's not outright sexually assaulting her. Don't worry, he gets attacked by ostriches so it evens out.
Pros: the way some characters do have character growth, how FMC & fam handle their financial and life struggles with dignity, the satisfying way the MMC finally comes around and starts getting his head on straight in general about women, etc.
Cons: A LOT to be honest. The portrayal of MMC's lust especially is WAAAAAAY over the top and unbelievable. And his lapses where he kisses, grabs, and fantasizes about grabbing, kissing, groping, and sexing her (with or without her approval) are inexcusable. No grown adult is that far gone over someone they don't even particularly like that much. It's kind of insulting toward men imo.
Both FMC and MMC really come across as rage-spewing, ID-controlled, impulsive, violent idjits when around each other at first. And while they do learn to begin apologizing after they hurl insults and personal attacks at each other, they're still just... deeply flawed, esp. the MMC.
On the other hand, the ostriches are awesome, and so are the younger characters w/ the exception of Millicent, but she gets some growth so that's good.
Hmm I think I talked myself down to 3 stars lol.
June 5, 2022
This only got two stars because of the ostriches. They were the only interesting part of the book.
September 25, 2009
Regency
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews