Cover Image: A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting

A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting

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A charming enemies to lovers Regency romance with plenty of wit, fun and intrigue.  As the oldest of 5 orphaned daughters, Kitty feels she must marry a wealthy man and quickly, before the creditors left by her father’s many debts foreclose on their meager house.  She a very resourceful and determined young woman, so she contrives to have a London season, become accepted by the ton and snag a husband to pay off the family debts….regardless if she loves the man of not.  She set her sights on the younger brother of a Duke but the Duke had other ideas.
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Let me start by saying this book was a delight! I would definitely put this in the same veins as classic romance novels like Pride and Prejudice. However, if you're expecting something a little more sexy or scandalous like Bridgerton you may be disappointed. Don't get me wrong the tension between some of the characters is very swoon worthy and there are moments where you'll gasp, but there aren't any like sex scenes.

I really enjoyed Kitty and how she fought for her family. She was willing to give up so much of herself in order to save her sisters from total ruin. I did like the additional twist of her family's scandalous background, I thought that added a nice added layer to Kitty navigating the season. I do feel that her younger sister that attends with her (Cecily) could have been fleshed out a little better. Her storyline seems rushed compared to how well developed other secondary characters storylines are.  

For any fan of classic or regency based romances this story is a little predictable, but still very delightful and a fun read. I hope that Sophie Irwin continues writing about the Talbot family, I am excited to follow this author.
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It's 1818 and Kitty Talbot finds herself as the head of a family of 4 girls and inherited debt that will lead them split up and without a home, so Kitty decides she needs a husband--a rich one. After being jilted by the man she has been engaged to for some time, she goes to London with her sister Cecily (who absolutely rather be reading a book) to prepare for the upcoming season. With the help of their "Aunt," Kitty plans to go fortune-hunting and sets her sights on some of the London elite, but she has no idea what she's doing or how to get her foot in the door.

Full transparency: I binged season 2 of Bridgerton in the last week and needed more historical romance in my life when I stumbled upon this absolute gem of a book. Let me just say, if you liked the Feathering subplot included in the show this season, then you will love this book. I would compare Kitty to a Lady Featherington in her prime, but with a bit more of a heart. She will do literally anything for her family and to get the money that she needs and she will absolutely not apologize for it, which I appreciate. She did not even "learn a lesson" or "change her ways" in the end--she accepted a proposal and was transparent about her needs.

The story itself reminded me of reading a modern Jane Austen novel. The settings were mentioned but the descriptions were loose and short; we would seamlessly jump from one persons thoughts to another as the action was happening; and it was mostly dialogue with quick cuts of action. I am starting to realize I really enjoy these types of books and want to see more of them.

It was a fun, light read with no spice involved. Saying that, this book was not at all boring. The chemistry between to love interests were there from the beginning and very palpable. Very Darcy and Elizabeth with all of the hand grazing and looking in to one's eyes.

Sophie Irwin drops you in to the "action" quickly and you're immediately sucked in to Kitty's world. I essentially read this in one sitting; once I started I could not put it down.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for providing me with an eARC of this book! I will not be suggesting it to everyone!
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A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting is a clean, story-driven regency romance. From the first page, Irwin deftly crafts a three-dimensional heroine. The book begins with Kitty Talbot being jilted by her long time suitor. Left with five sisters, mountains of debt from her dead parents, and no prospects, Kitty heads to London to find a wealthy husband. She proves a talented social climber, as she put her emotional intelligence to good use with a wide variety of characters from High Society. Along the way she meets Radcliffe, and their enemies to lovers story feels authentic and earned. Irwin manages to make these two characters equals in a situation with no semblance of true equity.
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I. LOVED. This book! This is such a cliché, but I really am very stingy with my five star reviews and I had no hesitation whatsoever in slapping one on this lovely narrative. Sophie Irwin will be an auto-buy author for me from now on!

This is also likely not a hot take on romantic fiction set in Victorian England, but it very much gave me modernized Jane Austen vibes. The wit! The sass! The inevitability of enemies-to-lovers! Just glorious. I stayed up far past by bedtime on a weekday to finish it the same day I started it. 

The characters really make this story, and some are them are hilarious. I laughed aloud several times. I truly don’t want to give away any details in this review, so if you have ever had even a passing interest in Pride and Prejudice, the Bridgerton series, or fiction in general, I highly recommend this book. 

Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books, Sophie Irwin, and NetGalley for this ARC!
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Thank you to Penguin Books and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest opinion. 

Kitty Talbot needs to marry for money and has only twelve weeks to do it. What is a girl to do but go to London and find a rich man? Her quest hits a slight snag when she encounters Lord Radcliffe, brother to one of her suitors. 

This book was one of the most enjoyable romance novels I have read in years. There was banter, a smart heroine, and a swoony male love interest. I could not have asked for a more likable pairing. From start to end, I was 100% Team Kitty. Watching her bowl over society with her single-mindedness was absolute perfection.
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I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for making this available for review. Any time I see an author who normally writes contemp. romance try their hand at historical I get nervous. Especially when they relate it to Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer. I absolutely love Georgette Heyer's characters and situations and to me, its high praise. 

So, diving into A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting and finishing it in one sitting? I have to say, bravo to Sophie. This book was absolutely a blast! 

I enjoyed the main character and it was fun reading a story about a female who was a fortune hunter - it's normally the gentleman. And, the gentleman is usually a brute of a person. I rather liked Kitty. She was determined to marry for convenience / fortune to save her family. But being that their family history causes a bit of a dismay to the ton if discovered makes it a little difficult to actually gain any sort of marriage. So what's with a few unspoken truths and a skirt of a lie or two? 

Enter our very interesting and very determined James. He is downright against his younger brother Archie marrying Kitty for he is certain she is after their money. Which leads to some fun moments of him trying to circumvent their love. While he is successful, the real fun happens when he agrees (after a blackmail of one another) to assist her in winning the hearts of the ton and securing herself a man of fortune. ... Which leads to their slow burn into a friendship and more.

The only reason I rate this down a star is how modern the dialogue was at times and the writing, but otherwise, it was so good! I really hope others who enjoy clean historical romances give this book a try!
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Thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was an easy ready with likeable characters. I predicted the ending quite fast but enjoyed the character development and escapades getting there. I would recommend it for fans of pride and prejudice and bridgerton.


<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58675067-a-lady-s-guide-to-fortune-hunting" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1643918141l/58675067._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58675067-a-lady-s-guide-to-fortune-hunting">A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21698259.Sophie_Irwin">Sophie Irwin</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4638891699">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was an easy ready with likeable characters. I predicted the ending quite fast but enjoyed the character development and escapades getting there. I would recommend it for fans of pride and prejudice and bridgerton. <br /><br />from netgalley for an honest review. 
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/58275821-alisha-noelle">View all my reviews</a>
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A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting allows us to follow the exploits of Kitty Talbot, a young woman who ventures into London high society. Kitty is determined to land herself a wealthy husband before the end of the social season - and she will do whatever she has to do. If she is unsuccessful, she will lose her family's home and be unable to care for her younger sisters following the death of her parents. Kitty crosses paths with Lord Radcliffe, who is determined to foil her plans. He sees her gold digging aspirations exactly for what they are. Who will be successful?

I feel like this book was full of missed opportunities. The story flew by at a breakneck pace and I often felt like I was missing parts of the story, but on second look, they were just not there. I also felt that there was a real lack of descriptions and scene building. I often found myself picturing faceless mannequins wearing regency clothing conversing in white boxes for spaces. Or picturing characters from other stories, The story was quite enjoyable, though, and I do feel that the book can be recovered with more editing and more vivid descriptions and world-building. 

Thank you to Penguin/Viking Publishing and NetGalley for providing me a free copy of the book to review, The opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect those of the author or publisher,
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A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting was a delightful historical romance with an enemies to lovers troupe.  This book had wonderful descriptions of the London season with all of its balls, events and courting rules.  I didn’t like Kitty much a first, but really grew to understand her as the book progressed.  Thanks so much for sharing with me.
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I liked this one … definitely not a favorite as I felt it dragged a bit but will definitely check out books in the future!
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Ok, this book had me reading way too late past my bedtime but I absolutely couldn't put it down. I'm a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope because I love the wittiness of conversation that it entails and this book did not disappoint!
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Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for access to the eARC of A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting. I was looking for a light, fun read, and this certainly filled that need.

A fun, well-written Regency romance. Kitty Talbot finds herself and her sisters on the brink of disaster when her father's death reveals they have a mountain of debt. Kitty's supposed fiance abandons her for another young woman, and she determines that her only hope is to go to London and find herself a rich husband during the Season.

Although fortune hunting is far from rare, Kitty is an outlier...she's not part of the "ton," the in-group, so she's at a disadvantage. She needs an introduction to the "right" people. She parlays her sister's acquaintance with a school friend into a chance of a suitor with the acquaintance's brother... Of course, this being a romance, Kitty's life won't be that simple!
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A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting was a lighthearted and entertaining read. The dialogue was great and was overall pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I think it's a great recommendation for anyone looking for a straightforward regency romance.
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A witty, fast-paced Regency-era romance that fans of Mary Balogh will enjoy! Kitty, the oldest of five sisters, is a resourceful young woman who has grown up in genteel poverty in the English countryside. After the death of their parents, creditors close in to take over their cottage. Kitty know she has four short months before she and her sisters are homeless, so she concocts a plan to travel to London for the Season, hoping to snare a wealthy husband who can save their home and provide her sisters with a lifetime of security. She meets her match in Lord Radcliffe, one of London's wealthiest bachelors. He sees through her scheme, but agrees to help her. There are many obstacles between Kitty and her goal, but she is up to the challenge. There are no bedroom scenes here, but there is plenty of romance. I look forward to recommending this title.
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Kitty Talbot needs to marry a wealthy man to save her family home - and her four sisters who still live there - from debt collectors. When she finds a suitable prospect, she does not bargain for the interference of his family. But she's clever, and manages to keep her beau nearby. Until his brother bestirs himself and gets involved in her plans. Will it all come to naught? Or will she find sparring with the dashing older brother is more enjoyable than smiling at the younger son?
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Kitty Talbot is not your everyday Regency heroine, and neither is this fantastic addition to the Regency romance genre. When she's thrown over by her longtime suitor, Kitty has to find a way to pay her parent's debts to save her home and provide for her sisters. Since there are few options open to women in this era, Kitty enlists the help of her "Aunt" Dorothy (her mother's best friend, and possessor of a somewhat dubious past- but also a London townhouse), and goes to join the London Season in search of a wealthy husband. Sophie Irwin's writing is clever and engaging, and Kitty makes a capable, interesting heroine beyond the usual tropes of this genre. I was cheering for her to find her happy ending, and wishing for a sequel! Well done!
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A good debut novel, yet the interactions between the two “enemies” lacked the wit and sparkle I was hoping for.

Even though I understood why Kitty had to be so ruthless, I still was a bit unsympathetic to her character for most of the book. The book got better as it went along but was a bit stilted at the beginning. The big finish at the end was entertaining as Kitty and James raced to help the sibling of the other.

Omniscient point of view jumped around too much for me as it seemed at times every paragraph was from a different POV.

I would try another book by this author as A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting showed promise.

Thank you NetGalley and Viking for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting was a fun, easy to read Regency Romance with a clear-eyed female character and surprising funny dialog. After the death of her parents young Kitty Talbot is left with a mountain of debt and four younger sisters to support. For a woman of that time there was only one way out, marriage to a man of means. With one of her sisters in tow she takes off for the London Season to find that man. One of the things I liked best about the book was her frank expectations and determination to save her family. There were no real plot surprises as Kitty evaluates and pursues several possible matches. I look forward to reading more books by Ms Irwin.
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