Patricia Burns (1) (1927–1984)

A Regency romance set in the background of a coaching company in Norwich, rather than the more usual high-society setting. Stacey Brown, the daughter of Barty Brown, owner of a successful coaching business leaves her finishing school and returns to her family home. Expecting to become part of the business (she's Barty's only child), she is disgusted to find her father has appointed a general manager. Brown's is engaged in a trade war with a rival firm, and dirty tricks abound. I liked this for the unusual setting; it's sort of a prototype family saga.… (mehr)

A Regency romance, which I've owned for years. Sadly none of Bishop's Regencies are available in a Kindle edition; only her later novels.

Catherine Melmonte is earning her living as a governess; her father having died at a low ebb of his fortunes. His widow and children are living in reduced circumstances. After being dismissed from her post, Catherine returns home, where the local Squire (a man twice her age) pays clumsy court to her, desiring a wife. Catherine is not taken with him, even though it would solve her family's problems, and her mother discloses a letter from some relations, the Priors offering a visit to Catherine as companion to their younger daughter, Lydia. The Priors are in trade, and have acquired an estate in Norfolk and are seeking to establish themselves in the local gentry.

The story is about the visit and what comes of it; Catherine must decide whether to follow her heart and marry a penniless younger son, or accept the hand of the stuffy Walter Prior or the local Squire.

Light, but fun.… (mehr)

A Regency romance set around 1818.

Mrs Sophy Franklin leaves London after the death of her gamester husband in a duel and settles in coastal Essex with her little girl. Here she fits into local society - Sir Harry and Lady Isobel Nugent, and their twins, George and Anna-Marie, the Reverend and Mrs Hanson, and their brood, and her landlord, Captain Philip Ellard and his shrewish sister who is staying while her husband is travelling in Greece. Sophy becomes attracted to Philip, and the book charts their romance over a few months.

As is usual, love does not run smoothly, and the eventual outcome depends on a successful harvest and a smuggling run. Captain Ellard is deeply in debt and won't declare himself until he clears the debts on the estate. He's been leading a gang of local smugglers to keep his head above water, and involving himself in radical politics.

There's a bit of an anachronism - 'Rule Britannia!' was not set to music until 1840, and Captain Ellard attends a meeting in Nottingham addressed by Henry Hunt, who died in 1835. Apart from this, it's an old favourite of mine. I hope at some point it will be released as an ebook.

Light, but recommended.… (mehr)