By Jane Dunn
This was an unknown author to me, so I was interested to see how she compared to my personal favorites. The premise seems fairly straightforward - a young woman with an unknown father is taken in by a cousin who views her as a burden. And the time has come to marry off the said burden. Young cousin, now grown, wants to find the father she hasn't seen in twelve years. So Corianna does what any young woman would do in a similar position (well, not really). She cuts her hair, dones a neighbor's old clothing, and sets off to London with a poodle small enough to travel in her pocket. Along the way, she gets into a tussle with a local and is rescued by three young gentlemen.
Sounds intriguing, yes? And, even better, her long-absent father has recently begun looking for his young daughter.
One has to wonder if Corinna's father would have even bothered to look for her if he hadn't just lost his beloved son and heir, which seemed to be a wake-up call to all he had squandered. I'm also a little more than amazed that the activities Corinna, when masquerading as Cory, took part in didn't raise more of a scandal. Yes, I realize her most excellent friends, whom she'd known only for mere days, swore to protect her secret, but no matter the threats, servants would and could talk. It is, after all, human nature. I'm also surprised that Corinna wasn't more upset at the education/entertainment she was subjected to when it was suspected that she was a young lady dressed as a young man. It would have been interesting, say 10 or so years later when asked how and when they all first met to hear what story came out. Just saying there may have been some fabrication of their early histories where Corinna was concerned.
For the most part, the story was good. The setting and descriptions of people, places, settings, and clothing were excellent. My main issue was that certain things happened too fast and too easily. I also find it incredibly sad that her father didn't see her after she was five years old. So much wasted time and needless heartbreak. I also have to say that Darius Wolfe's behavior was worse than awful. And his behavior towards Corinna's father was a little much - demanding bully that he was. And I'm sorry that he had a rough upbringing with a difficult, nigh-on impossible father, but really having a major hissy fit about an inheritance you weren't even expecting is just a little over the top.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.
QUICK FACTS
Title: An Unsuitable Heiress
Author: Jane Dunn
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Publisher: Boldwood Books (May 22, 2023)
Length: (350) pages
Format: Trade Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook
ISBN: 978-1804835364
Tour Dates: September 4 – October 2, 2023
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Following the death of her mother, Corinna Ormesby has lived a quiet life in the
countryside with her cantankerous Cousin Agnes. Her father's identity has been a
tantalizing mystery, but now at nineteen Corinna knows that finding him may be her only
way to avoid marriage to the odious Mr. Beech.
Deciding to head to London, Corinna dons a male disguise. Travelling alone as a young
woman risks scandal and danger, but when, masquerading as a youth, she is
befriended by three dashing blades, handsome and capable Alick Wolfe, dandy
Ferdinand Shilton and the incorrigible Lord Purfoy, Corinna now has access to the
male-only world of Regency England. And when she meets Alick's turbulent brother
Darius, a betrayal of trust leads to deadly combat which only one of the brothers may
survive.
From gambling in gentleman’s clubs to meeting the courtesans of Covent Garden,
Corinna’s country naivety soon falls away. But when she finds her father at last, learns
the truth about her parentage and discovers her fortunes transformed, she must quickly
decide how to reveal her true identity, while hoping that one young man in particular can
see her for the beauty and Lady she really is.
❤️ A must read for Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, and historical romance fans.
❤️ A spunky, adventurous heroine on a quest in London to find her estranged father.
❤️ An adorable dog and an endearing horse!
❤️ Three dashing blades who will make you laugh, and swoon.
❤️ A bestselling and highly rated new release.
PRAISE FOR AN UNSUITABLE HEIRESS
5 STARS “…a compelling and enthralling story of a determined young woman’s
journey to find her father and her own place in the world.”— Jo Shaw,
BookMadJo.com
5 STARS “…you should allow yourself to be carried away by it as if by a tall dark
stranger in a carriage and four. I enjoyed it even more than The Marriage
Season, and that's quite a lot.”— Paul Feldwick, Goodreads
5 STARS “…a fun-filled romp through Regency England, with a smattering of
romance, a sense of adventure and a wonderful heroine at its core. What's not to
like?!”— Jo, Jaffa Reads Too
PURCHASE LINKS:
AUTHOR BIO
Jane Dunn is a historian and biographer and the author of seven acclaimedbiographies, including Daphne du Maurier and her Sisters, and the Sunday Times and
NYT bestseller, Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens. She comes to Boldwood
with her first fiction outing – a trilogy of novels set in the Regency period, the first of
which, The Marriage Season, is to be published in January 2023. She lives in Berkshire
with her husband, the linguist Nicholas Ostler.
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