I really like the premise and the fact that this book felt like a step back into the past. I enjoyed the main character and her journey. I loved the setting as well and it was well written. X

Set in the Gilded Age in America and England, The Last Dollar Princess is about marriage of convenience (and sometimes...gasp...love), classes (especially aristocracy but also "the help"), reputation, appearances, the 400, women's independence, loyalty and love. Not only that but there are scandals, deception, secrets and snippets of true history of this fascinating era.

India Ledbetter is a debutante who comes from new American wealth. However, she finds aristocratic circles to be stiff and arrogant, much preferring her rugged beautiful Appalachian mountains. As the heiress born into fortune, she has no choice but to marry a titled man from England, preferably from an old family lineage. Charles Westmorland (Charlie) is the fifteenth Lord Kilnsey who is bored with aristocracy and would like nothing more than to help others. His beloved family castle needs repairing and he needs money. The two inevitably meet and adventures begin. Their mothers are adept at falsities whilst maintaining appearances. We also see sorrow, angst and a plethora of wonderful historical descriptions and vernacular.

Historical Fictions readers, this is unmissable if you are keen to immerse yourself in the Gilded Age and the enjoyment of antics, shrouds of secrets and romance.

My sincere thank you to Black Rose Writing and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this delightfully captivating book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the author and publisher for a chance to read and review this book that is set in the 20th Century New York City and London during the Gilded Age. I love that the main character India grew up in the Appalachaian mountains and stood up for her beliefs instead of worrying about her position in society. Her relationship with Charles sometimes flopped in keeping my interest but at the end it all worked out.

This novel was a surprise, not at all what I was expecting from the book cover. It’s an endearing story of two people in the early 1900s America, deemed a good ‘match’ by domineering mothers. One looking to secure a marriage to support a floundering English estate, the other an escape from a domineering mother. When initially introduced neither party was enamoured by the other, but as the story progressed they called a truce and formed an alliance to support each other in any number of situations. Easy, relaxing and entertaining with hints of humour between the couple. One reference caught my attention: a confrontation between the two mother-in-laws being a dreadnought about to collide sticks in my mind. Naturally this was inevitably a love story, so all ends well.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Black Rose Writing for this advance copy.

This book was mostly about one’s emotions, passions and ways to keep them inside or... not being able to do so. Because of that, you could quickly find yourself reading on. When you read about an emotion for 100 pages or so, you’re bound to do just that, but trust me when I say - stick around for the ending. It was perfect..

18 year old heiress India Elisabeth Petra De Vries Ledbetter is about to be thrust into the Gilded Age marriage market by her mother and grandmother, determined to marry her off to the highest nobility title offer to secure their positions in society. However, India has bucked societal norms and family expectations in order to find true love.

After her youth in Appalachia, with only visits to her grandmother in New York, she's a bit unprepared but soon discovers her voice and her way. Traveling to make her debut in England, her trip is cut short after her father's illness and she determines what is important in her life. There is a mystery about her paternal grandmother's life and death, or non-death? That part got muddy and not fully resolved. But it was an interesting story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I love a book that transports me back in time and this book did not disappoint in that regard. I enjoy reading fiction or nonfiction from any time in our history and in this story the writing style helped immerse me as the reader into the era with vocabulary used in that time period, like “pernicious” and “perambulation” and references to things like ships such as the Lusitania and (vaguely) the Titanic. I found myself frequently reminded of a drama serious I recently streamed that depicted this time period and the decline of the Gilded Age, as there were so many similarities in the two stories. This story sucked me in early and I was eager to get back to it whenever I had a few minutes to read.

I thought the main characters India and Charlie were likable, moderately complex, and early on found myself hoping things would work out for them. The writer weaves a path that keeps you guessing about their destiny right up until the very last chapter. Along the way there are descriptions of the locales where the story takes place that make you feel you are there, smelling all the smells and seeing the beautiful sights of the mountains, the moors, and the cities.

With several of the characters, like India’s mother, grandmother and mother-in-law, I found myself hoping their personalities would soften as the book progressed as they were so negative, sometimes spiteful and malicious. While I know there were society women like this with similar agendas in this era, I like to feel there had to have been some redeeming qualities and true love for their children. However, proof of that was absent here and somehow made me uncomfortable whenever they were part of the story. I wanted to race past these scenes and move on. This kept me from enjoying this book as much as I might have.

Overall definitely worth the time.

'The Last Dollar Princess' brings to life the Gilded Age phenomena of American wealth purchasing prestige and respectability from British aristocracy by way of marriage. Linda Pennell's evocative language illuminates the turn of the century New York societal echelons where their sparkle simply reflects the machinations of social climbing.

India Ledbetter is the sole heir to a fortune. Having been raised away from the societal spotlight, her mother and grandmother feel that now's the time for her debut both into New York society and the marriage market. Further, India's mother hopes to regain her family's respectability through her daughter marrying advantageously, 'you are no more and no less than the man you marry'. However, this is a new century and India intends to find her own way and become her own woman. Contrary to her mother and grandmother's social jockeying, India realises that 'maybe honesty is more important than appearances'.

'The Last Dollar Princess' is well worth a read, not only as a romance but as a work of historical fiction. Linda Pennell captures the nuances of the age but enlightens us about a time when a place in society could seemingly be bought and wealthy American heiresses were 'sold' into what some have deemed as a type of slavery.

I love books about the British aristocracy and this book didn’t disappoint. The story is about a 19 year old American heiress whose mother is determined to get her married to someone with a title. So she starts to “campaign” her daughter to aristocrats who are down on their luck and need an infusion of cash so go looking for rich heiresses to marry. Sort of reminded me of Downton Abbey. I would definitely recommend this book.

I loved this story, especially the main character, India. I thought the author created a believable storyline. Her characters ' descriptions, actions and settings made the story enjoyable.

A very good page turner with a strong female protagonist. The story started a little slow but soon picked up and I found myself eager to get back to it. I struggled a bit with India's and Charles relationship but ended up accepting it for what it was presented to be. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed getting to know India Elisabeth Petra De Vries Ledbetter, it was what I was hoping for from the description. It was a beautifully done time-period and each character works for the period, I loved the way Linda Bennett Pennell writes both characters and the plot of the book. I was invested in what was going on with India and enjoyed every minute. I can't wait to read more from Ms. Pennell.

"There was disquiet growing within India, an unwillingness to be pushed and prodded by other people’s expectations and desires. This trip and all the trappings associated with a London season were beginning to feel like a colossal mistake. She wasn’t ready to get married."