Pros: Deserves the comparisons w Georgette Heyer. Yet I would say falls somewhere between Heyer and Austen on writing quality. The dialogue between Mr. Milner and Miss Fortune was very sarcastic and funny. Another reviewer aptly called it 'sharp wordplay'. I liked the fact that the author captured the settings without being overly descriptive. He also gave you the essence of secondary characters through their own words and only secondly by light-handed description.
Strong female protagonist: Caroline Fortune
You'll love to hate: Mrs. Catling and Mr. Leabrook
You will not trust: Mr. and Miss Downey, Mr. Charles Carraway
Will amuse and exasperate you: Captain Fortune (father), Uncle John Langland and Fanny Milner.
Lovable: Aunt Selina Langland (I loved Uncle John too)
Very good substance to this writing; not fluff. Highly inspired by characters from Jane Austen's writing, you will recognize the archetypes from her work: the rake, the innocent, the rebel, the villain, the trickster, the hero (albeit very flawed).
Cons: Some noticeable contemporary language creeped in at a few occasions.
Frustrating at the end, how plots are wrapped up quite quickly after such a building up of anticipation. These regency HF authors need to do better, it's not just this author who has not spent enough time on a well constructed ending.
!However! I still gave this book 5 stars for standing above the pack in quality of writing throughout, and I am extremely eager to read more of his works. ( )

1) I'm not sure why I hadn't read this before. 2) I'm not sure why this isn't a classic of the genre. IS IT AND I JUST MISSED IT??? I'M JUST?

SUCH CHARM. SUCH WIT. *clutches Caro to bosom* ( )

Caroline Fortune is at an age where she must "do" something to assist in her and her father's living situation. Her father sort of gets her a job as a rich lady's companion, Mrs. Sophia Catling.
In Brighton, Caroline meets her companion's nieced and nephew, Maria and Mathew Downey and a friend Richard Leabrook.
After an indiscreet proposal from Leabrook and is turned down, he leaves and Caroline receives a letter from her mother's sister. (her mother's family disowned her mother)
The sister, Mrs. Selina Langland writes Caroline that her father has died and to come to the funeral. Mrs. Catling refuses Caroline's request and says if she leaves she'll be terminated.
On and on it goes, twists and turns in Caroline's life.
It was a good story, well written and I enjoyed the writing style. ( )

Caroline Fortune is a woman of good sense and good humor, both of which she's needed in order to survive. Her father lost what little wealth he had years ago, and now the debt collectors have grown quite severe. Although Caro has better experience with gambling hells than genteel parlors, her father nevertheless manages to secure her a place with a cantankerous old lady. Despite years of experience fending for herself, Caro is still young, and she finds that shifting into the quieter mode of Society rather difficult. Moreover, people keep taking her into their confidence, quite against her protests. When scandals start popping up, how will she protect her reputation?

I really enjoyed this novel. First and foremost, Caroline and the love interest (who I won't name, for fear of spoiling the pleasure of discovering who he is) are unique, well-thought-out characters. Their virtues and their foibles both make complete sense, and their conversations are very entertaining. The secondary characters have distinct voices and personalities, and neither they nor the plot is cribbed from Austen (unlike the majority of Regencies written today).

But like Austen, this is a book that uses a great deal of satire. It's a true pleasure to read an author with both wit and something to say with it. I'm really looking forward to reading more books by Morgan. ( )

A Regency romance featuring Caroline, who is forced by poverty to go and work as companion to the domineering Mrs Catling. She is turned off when she insists on time off to go to her father's funeral and is rescued by her previously estranged uncle and aunt. There is a lot more plot - in fact far too much plot. People get propositioned, people run off together a la Lydia Bennet, people get jilted, people cut each other out of inheritances, people suffer unrequited love etc etc. I have to admit to skimming the last third.

It is (as the cover claims) a bit like Georgette Heyer, although not as funny. It is, on the other hand, much better written than any of the other "in the tradition of Georgette Heyer" novels I have tried over the years. The ending was unsatisfactory to me: Fanny's romance troubled me and Caroline's, although we could see it coming, was a bit abrupt. ( )