Lady Fortescue Steps Out by M.C. Beaton

So, my amazon prime borrowed book of the month was:



It is short, and sort of expensive for the length at $5.59, but I've heard good things about M.C. Beaton (she writes the Agatha Raisin series) so I thought I would give it a go.

So glad I didn't buy it. So, so glad.

So, really, I don't have a lot to say about this book. The premise behind the book is that a whole bunch of "poor relations" get together in Regency London and start a sort of a hotel so they can make some money and live more comfortably. The premise was cute, and had promise.

Overall, though, the book really didn't work for me. I couldn't make up my mind if it was intended to be satire (not biting enough), comedy (not funny enough) or romance (not romantic enough). The characters, who should've been sympathetic, were mostly extremely unlikeable.

The central romance between the Duke and the character whose name I can't even remember (not a good thing in a romance novel) was pretty cute. Overall, though, I won't be checking any more of these out. Thanks, Prime, for giving me a free chance to decide that they aren't for me.

2 stars -- only because it is reasonably well-written. I expected better.

Playing Catch-Up: The Lost Duke of Wyndham

REVIEW:

I love Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series -- at least the first 5. I have enjoyed some of her other books, as well. This book is definitely not her best work. If you are considering buying your first Julia Quinn, do yourself, and Ms. Quinn, a favor. Purchase The Duke and I instead, and read the Bridgerton series from there. You will find much more to enjoy.

Ms. Quinn's strength, in my opinion, is in her dialogue. She has an unerring ear for convincing, fluid and witty conversation between her characters. I also always enjoy her characterizations. In this book, as in her others, her Hero and heroine are interesting, flawed, well-drawn individuals.

It is true, as well, that Julia Quinn's mediocre effort is better than the best work of many romance writers. The Two Dukes of Wyndham was perfectly acceptable. The Hero is charming, rakish and handsome. The heroine is beautiful, genuine and likeable. Nonetheless, this book simply falls short given the author's capabilities. I found myself more interested in the anti-hero, Thomas who is apparently the hero of the second book of the duology, Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. I also found the villain, the Duchess, simply too unlikeable, too over-the-top unpleasant, and too unredeemably mean-spirited. No one is that terrible to everyone all of the time.

I would give this one a pass. If I had spent more than the $1.99 on it than I did, I would have been annoyed.

Edited: upon further reflection, I feel that two stars is too harsh for this book. I am changing it to three-stars. While Ms. Quinn is capable of better, as an objective measure, this book equals 3-stars in comparison to the efforts of other authors.