Member Reviews
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!
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.
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.
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?
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!
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.
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.