The Orphan

Mayfair Square #4

by Stella Cameron

An English historical romance staged in London

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Fiction

395 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Stella Cameron is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author. With over fourteen million copies of her books in print, Cameron is now turning her pen to mysteries and independently publishing COLD, Introducing Alex Duggins. She draws on her English background for this new, already critically acclaimed mystery series. Atmospheric, deeply character and relationship driven, COLD reveals the power of old secrets to twist the present. Cameron’s reputation for using her backgrounds to add tension and allure to her stories is heightened again.

Cameron is the recipient of the Pacific Northwest Achievement Award for distinguished professional achievement and for enhancing the stature of the Northwest Literary community. She lives in Washington with her husband Jerry, her Papillon Millie, black cat Zipper, and a cheeky little tabby named Jack.

Reviews

[rameau · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ridiculous. And not the good kind. Humour - I guess I could add the modifier like this but I won't - doesn't translate well. That's the only conclusion I can make after skimming several reviews complementing this book for its hilarity.

For myself, I found the foreword unnecessary, the inserted comments from the afterlife distracting and made in poor taste. It was a clear case of the writer falling in love with her character and letting it impede her judgement.

The only good parts were the sensual moments just as the blurb promised. Cameron knows how to build up unresolved sexual tension but that's about it. If the string that's supposed to connect plot points was made into a pearl necklace, it wouldn't carry its own weight.

As I said, ridiculous.

[Lucimar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei sim! Apesar do fantasma de Sir Septimus Spivey, um renomado arquiteto que queria manter seu lugar e que se desfazia de Shakespeare (kkkkkkk)... Amei Latimer More que persegue com afinco a ingênua e generosa órfã Jenny que tinha mais orgulho que a uma rainha... e também dos inúmeros personagens que aparecem, do senso de humor da autora e dos toques sensuais ou devo dizer hot?!?! deste romance????
Único porém, era a relação de Morgan Bucket (nome pra nós sugestivo!!!) e de Persimmon, que não gostei mas que contribuíram para dar um toque macabro??? ao vilanismo da história...

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, I have a question. Can a book be written in monotone? Seriously....can it? Because that is what this book was. I never knew the tone of people. No exclamation marks. Nothing. This was one of the most boring books I've ever encountered. I hated the heroine. She definitely ranks at the top of my "most stupid" characters in a book list. And God, her language! I have no problem with accents and I love when authors make a book feel genuine by their use of language but this was horrendous! You could never take her character seriously. Ugh and her insecurities were annoying!

The writing was horrid. The characters sucked. The character names were ridiculous! Morely Bucket? Larch Lumpit? Sybil Smiles? Phyllis Smart? Latimer More? Persimmon Jolly??? Really?!?! I just want to slap the publisher for this one. How in the world do these people get published anyway????? Do the publishers have eyeballs? Can they even read???? Man, can I have the last few hours of my life back?

Just loved the go all 69 on a virgin in regency England. She sure had no problem putting his "proud pinnacle" in her mouth. Or that ridiculous sex scene with bucket and jolly. Ha! Bucket and Jolly.

The top of the cake was the use of the word "boyfriend". Oh there were a hundred other issues but now I'm bored.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is pretty standard fare of historical romances of its time. Damsel in distress rescued by handsome gentleman above her socio-economic "class" but I think before criticism it should merely be appreciated and enjoyed for the romance and storyline of its time. Historical romances today have much fuller and more unpredictable storylines but I'll just say that although I wouldn't read more of the series it was a brief "Take me away to another time and place" reading experience. It reminded me of historical romances that I read years ago by Barbara Cartland.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

WARNING: I didn't realize that Stella Cameron wrote with very explicit sex scenes! I quit reading about half-way through. The characters and plot were all quite interesting and well-done, but geesh! couldn't believe the "other stuff" she had in it. Too bad.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Överdriven och klyschig. Inte värd att läsa klart.

[Janet M Larsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like the format of this book. I skipped the italicized writing and found the book easier to read.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth book in Cameron's Mayfair Square series picks up a bit, at least in terms of plot. Jenny McBride is the titular orphan, working as a milliner's assistant. She is introduced to Latimer More of Mayfair Square by her inclusion in a club Sybil Lloyd (nee' Smiles) had formed in order to inform themselves of the particulars involved in romantic interludes. Latimer has decided to woo and marry Jenny, and she pridefully resists. The intrigue comes at the hands of Morley Bucket, Jenny's former landlord who plans to sell her as a mistress/slave to a very rich Client. The ghost of Sir Spivey is still interfering and causing trouble, but is in the process of a reformation, and his machinations are less disruptive than they've been in past volumes.
I had a little trouble understanding why, exactly, Latimer had set his cap for Jenny, but she proves to be a worthy match. However, I hate, Hate HATE the device of phonetically spelling the words uttered by someone with a Scottish accent, and thus found myself skimming everything uttered by Jenny. "Och." "Dinna" "Ye." Blech.
As I said, though, the intrigue in this novel was much better plotted than the last two novels in the series, and the villain was actually a surprise to me.
Hopefully the next and final book will continue on this trend.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this book was going to be good within reading the first few pages. The narration of the ghost, Sir Septimus Spivey is lighthearted and funny, and I love the way the author inserts his opinions every once in a while. The relationship between Jenny and Latimer is very sweet and you can't help but cheer them on. Although Latimer can be very overbearing at times (men!), I love the fact that he is gentle with Jenny and tries to take it slow, rather than panting after her like a dog in heat.

[Tolly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted this to work, but it was too slow and wordy. In all honesty, I skim read a lot of it, just waiting for anything of interest to happen. So much potential, but failed to launch into a good story.

[Mical · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series

[Hege · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read on a rainy day :) The ghost, Sir Septimus Spivey, was great!

[Veronica Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, romantic, historical...good one.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regency