≫ [PDF] Lady Fortescue Steps Out The Poor Relation Marion Chesney 9780312082314 Books

Lady Fortescue Steps Out The Poor Relation Marion Chesney 9780312082314 Books

Download As PDF : Lady Fortescue Steps Out The Poor Relation Marion Chesney 9780312082314 Books

Lady Fortescue Steps Out The Poor Relation Marion Chesney 9780312082314 Books

I have wanted to read a book by MC Beaton (aka Marion Chesney, etc) for some time and finally, due to an Audible Deal of the Day, snatch up my first one. Rather than one of her mysteries, I picked up one of her light Regency Romantic Comedies and it was a gem of a story that left me not only eager for the rest of the series, but for more of her books.

Lady Fortescue Steps Out is the first book in the Poor Relations series. The series title says it all as this is the story of a group of people, starting with Lady Fortescue, who come together out of necessity. They are the poor relations of various high society families and they are sadly left to shift for themselves while their family and friends carry on. They struggle to maintain their gentility and rank with no income to support it.

At first, the story focused on the the overall series set up with the introduction of each 'Poor Relation' to the story, but then it became a dual focus of a reunion romance and how the Poor Relations open a hotel to help ends meet.

It is gently paced and the characters and setting well described so that I saw it all so well in my mind and enjoyed the company of this group. Sir Phillip persuades the others into the hotel venture and helps finances it by cunning and a relaxing of morals on his part though they all go right along with it. It was a unique set up in a Regency story and I was captivated by the hijinks going on. I enjoyed the humor throughout and the mild adventures of the Poor Relations group. The story was left open-ended for further adventures that will likely focus on each member of the group.

There is a romance that is surrounded by the greater story involving one of the Poor Relations and Lady Fortescue's ducal relation. Its a reunion romance of sorts since the pair met and danced once with neither forgetting the occasion. It becomes a class difference romance because Rachel is now in trade and her suitor is a duke, no less. Others connive to part them or put them together in a series of circumstances. I enjoyed the pair and thought their romance was handled well.

The audio narration was handled by the incomparable Davina Porter. She did well with the large cast of characters and voices. I've enjoyed her narration in other historical settings and she has a voice suited to these stories so well.

All in all, it was a splendid outing for my first book with the author. Happily my local library is well stocked. I would recommend this one to those who enjoy light and fun historical romance set in a wider story of a circle of friends.


Tags : Lady Fortescue Steps Out (The Poor Relation) [Marion Chesney] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Tired of being a poor relation to England's upper crust, Lady Fortescue persuades the equally down-and-out Colonel Sandhurst to help her open a posh hotel.,Marion Chesney,Lady Fortescue Steps Out (The Poor Relation),St Martins Pr,0312082312,bk1-qgkc,General,Hotels;Fiction.,London (England);Fiction.,Poor Relation Hotel (London, England : Imaginary place);Fiction.,ENGLISH LIGHT ROMANTIC FICTION,FICTION General,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,General Adult,Great BritainBritish Isles,Historical,Hotels,Poor Relation Hotel (London, England : Imaginary place),Romance - Historical,Sets, 1st only,London (England),Poor Relation Hotel (London, E,Regency fiction

Lady Fortescue Steps Out The Poor Relation Marion Chesney 9780312082314 Books Reviews

This book is a treasure and happily, the start of a series. The writing is excellent with witty and descriptive turns of phrase that allow the reader to picture the scene or person exactly in their mind's eye. The characters are all those who have been shunted off into the category of the genteel poor. They have barely enough to subsist on, but not enough to buy new clothing or adequately heat their homes or feed themselves. Their families have preferred to forget them, assuming that they are alright.

At the beginning of the story Lady Fortescue, meets a gentleman in Hyde Park when he faints at her feet from hunger. She and Colonel Sandhurst come to the conclusion that by pooling their resources, they would both be better off. Pretty soon, they're trolling through the park again, loking for other poor relations who might want to live with them. They end up with a core group of six. The group decides that they don't really have enough money to keep up with the bills and heating and food, but what if they turned the house into a hotel and then they'd either make enough money or shame one of their rich relatives enough into buying them out.

The characters are interesting and well rounded. The lovely Miss James who became the cook because she was trained by her parent's French cook becomes the heroine of sorts for the romance in this story. The hero is the Duke of Rowcester, the nephew of Lady Fortescue, (and it turns out also related to Sir Philip, another of the poor relations). He had met and liked Miss James when she was first presented on the Marriage Mart, but after her first ball, she disappeared. It turns out that her father had an apoplexy and died during her first week in London and after that, her mother never returned and died within a short time also. The Duke is furious that his aunt is opening a hotel and Miss James shames him by explaining why they are all there and how his aunt was starving.

The plot is interesting, the insights into the foibles and pride of people are priceless and the writing is excellent with beautiful prose. The witty and insightful descriptions remind me of the writing of Jane Austen, gently poking fun, and yet so true. I like having to think about the genteel poor, to us, the lower middle class, who used to be upper middle class but kept sliding down and couldn't stop it. There's a lot of that still going around these days. There is a sexual scene at the very end, not graphic, but this is a clean read. I will look forward to reading the rest of the series about this little family.

Heat factor mild.
I have wanted to read a book by MC Beaton (aka Marion Chesney, etc) for some time and finally, due to an Audible Deal of the Day, snatch up my first one. Rather than one of her mysteries, I picked up one of her light Regency Romantic Comedies and it was a gem of a story that left me not only eager for the rest of the series, but for more of her books.

Lady Fortescue Steps Out is the first book in the Poor Relations series. The series title says it all as this is the story of a group of people, starting with Lady Fortescue, who come together out of necessity. They are the poor relations of various high society families and they are sadly left to shift for themselves while their family and friends carry on. They struggle to maintain their gentility and rank with no income to support it.

At first, the story focused on the the overall series set up with the introduction of each 'Poor Relation' to the story, but then it became a dual focus of a reunion romance and how the Poor Relations open a hotel to help ends meet.

It is gently paced and the characters and setting well described so that I saw it all so well in my mind and enjoyed the company of this group. Sir Phillip persuades the others into the hotel venture and helps finances it by cunning and a relaxing of morals on his part though they all go right along with it. It was a unique set up in a Regency story and I was captivated by the hijinks going on. I enjoyed the humor throughout and the mild adventures of the Poor Relations group. The story was left open-ended for further adventures that will likely focus on each member of the group.

There is a romance that is surrounded by the greater story involving one of the Poor Relations and Lady Fortescue's ducal relation. Its a reunion romance of sorts since the pair met and danced once with neither forgetting the occasion. It becomes a class difference romance because Rachel is now in trade and her suitor is a duke, no less. Others connive to part them or put them together in a series of circumstances. I enjoyed the pair and thought their romance was handled well.

The audio narration was handled by the incomparable Davina Porter. She did well with the large cast of characters and voices. I've enjoyed her narration in other historical settings and she has a voice suited to these stories so well.

All in all, it was a splendid outing for my first book with the author. Happily my local library is well stocked. I would recommend this one to those who enjoy light and fun historical romance set in a wider story of a circle of friends.