What is your favorite late summer / fall flower? I love sunflowers. They are blooming in fields around Kewaunee County.
Corinna Ormsby is an
illegitimate child. After the death of
her mother, she has lived with her mother’s difficult cousin through her
teenage years. Soon to be forced into a
marriage she doesn’t want, at nineteen, Corinna decides it is time she travel
to London in search of her unknown father.
With the help of her platonic friend William, she dresses as a boy, Cory,
and sets off on an adventure with her small dog, Piro, in her pocket. She soon finds herself in a fight and is
rescued by three society men, Alick, Ferdy, and Rav. They bring her to town and help her on her
quest to find her father and to support herself through portrait painting. Will she find her father, and will she find
true love?
This is my first novel by
author Jane Dunn. I was quickly brought
into the story by the engaging writing style, and I found myself unable to put
it down. It reminded me of a light
Georgette Heyer story with the adventure, Regency setting, and fun Regency
slang. I enjoyed the humor in the story,
but also the look at the hardships for those not born on the right side of the
blanket or to a wealthy family. I also
like in a novel when a girl dresses up as a boy and discovers the mysteries of
what is going on in the world of men. It
always makes for moments of hilarity. The big reveal came about halfway through
the story and Cory easily became Corinna, which I thought was surprising. I was expecting fireworks at the big reveal!
I loved how Corinna stood
up for what is right in the world and was pure at heart. I liked the romance
between Alick and Corinna as it developed although I was worried for awhile
that it was going to be with his brother, Darius, who is the Byronic hero of
the story. I just really liked all of
the characters and how Corinna found new friends wherever she went. I would love
to read more about this cast of characters in the future.
The steam level on this novel was low. It was a clean read.
Book Source: Review Copy
from NetGalley. Thank-you! I received a
complimentary copy of this book as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Opinions expressed in this review are
completely 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, & 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 & 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
AMAZON | BARNES
& NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP
| BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
AUTHOR BIO
Jane
Dunn is an historian and biographer and the author of seven acclaimed
biographies, including Daphne du Maurier and her Sisters, and the Sunday
Times and NYT bestseller, Elizabeth & 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.
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X
(formerly known as Twitter)
| BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
Sounds very Georgette Heyerdahl a favourite of mine. Couldn’t find on Netgalley though
ReplyDeleteLaura, this is such a fabulous review. I think I've thanked you when you posted it on Twitter but what a lovely blog you have and I am so grateful for your time and generosity. Delighted you enjoyed my book as much as I loved writing it. THANK YOU!
ReplyDelete