This is a reissue of an earlier work by Mary Jo Putney with revisions. The romance between the two main characters Christa and Alex is complicated by her status as French emigre' who has fled the Revolution and his status as a wounded naval officer who has inherited a title and wealth. Although the plots and characters are complex and well-developed, this is a simpler and less violent tale than some of Putney's more recent works. This tale does an excellent job of illustrating the rigidity of the class system with all the problems that creates. It is also very timely in showing the difficulty and struggles of immigrants. And it was fun to read a story where everyone ends up with who they deserve. This is a lovely read and highly recommended.

Thank you, Kensington Publishing and Netgalley, for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn't know this was a re-issue when I requested the ARC. This book is one of Ms Putney's earliest works (it was originally published in 1988). The writing isn't as polished and engaging as some of her other later works. The plot is good, though. The romance between Alex and Christa is sweet. This book is very much a character-driven story. Two things kept them apart; the social divide (Christa is a countess in France but fled to England during the French terror and is currently working as a lady's maid to Alex's sister, Annabelle) and a misunderstanding on Alex's side. Annabelle's storyline is engaging and doesn't detract from the main couple.

Everything feels too contrived for my tastes. Everyone finds their perfect partner; everyone's a little too nice and a little too perfect. I liked some flaws in the characters as it gives a sense of realism.

This book is perfect if you're in the mood for something with low angst. I enjoyed it despite the quibbles. 3.5 stars.

Firstly let me say I really enjoyed this. It’s a long time since I last read a simple (not an insult) romance. And I think that’s partly why I enjoyed it so much.

Christa (Comtesse Marie-Christine D'Estelle) finds herself alone and penniless after fleeing France. Realising she has to work she looks for a position as governess. After a fruitless search she becomes an abigail.
Christa is well educated, intelligent and engaging and fits into the position easier than imagined.

Captain Lord Alexander Kingsley has been at sea for fifteen years. Injured in battle he finds himself back in England. Facing a brother and sister that are almost strangers to him.

Circumstances put Christa and Alex together. The awareness and interest is instant. But he’s a Lord and she’s a servant. Still the attraction simmers and they do their best to fight it.

Like I said I really enjoyed this one. I’m giving 4* which is generous for me since normally this would be a 3* read. But I found myself absorbed in their world and I was up reading until 3am.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

Originally published in 1998, this has been given a new cover and (I assume) brought more up-to-date, if one can say that about an historical romance.

Marie-Christine ('Christa'), Comtesse D'Estelle, flees France in the wake of the French Revolution believing her beloved mother Marie-Claire and English step-brother Charles. have been killed by revolutionaries as they tried to escape. She spends the first year in England with Charles' uncle Lewis who has inherited Charles' estate, but when Lewis reveals that she in penniless and offers his hand in marriage, Christa feels compelled to run away and seek employment as a governess. Unfortunately, at the height of the French Revolution London is awash with french emigres seeking employment and Christa is reduced to seeking employment as a lady's maid.

Captain Lord Alexander ('Alex') Kingsley receives word from England that his vicious, narcissistic mother has died, unable to command a naval ship after receiving shrapnel wounds in battle, Alex realises it is time to return to England and face his responsibilities as head of the house and older brother to his sister Annabelle and brother Jonathan. To his surprise, he is greeted with joy by his siblings, but he is horrified at the damage that his mother's spite has wreaked on them, both Annabelle and Jonathan are hesitant and prone to self-doubt, no doubt Annabelle's shyness and insecurity has been fanned by her mother's lady's maid who she has inherited, and who loved no-one but her mistress. His first job must be to find Annabelle a new maid to help her make the most of her features.

When Alex quite literally catches Christa as she is being forcibly ejected from her previous employment for spurning the advances of the master of the house, he is immediately struck by Christa's beauty, but also her quick wit and charm. He has rescued a lady's maid and his sister has need of one - how serendipitous!

Being a sophisticated and resourceful woman, despite being only twenty-four, Christa is soon able to dress Annabelle in clothes more becoming and fashionable than those chosen by her mother, with her knowledge of beauty treatments and the like she soon has the shy heiress looking exquisite. Christa also weaves her magic over Alex and Jonathan, helping the two of them learn to dance in anticipation of Annabelle's coming-out ball.

While Alex and Christa fight their growing attraction, little do they realise that a wealthy titled young aristocrat and his innocent heiress sister will be the target of fortune-hunters.

Well this has everything, missing heirs, wounded sea captains, fortune-hunters, elopements, compromising positions, daring rescues, and all's well that ends well. If I were being picky, Christa is a bit of a Mary Sue character, able to act as a lady's maid perfectly able to teach young men to dance, able to sew her own gowns beautifully, able to make herbal remedies and beauty potions, able to perform first aid, etc, etc. Also, there is a frankly ridiculous thing that happens on Stornaway, not once but twice, which stretches incredulity to breaking point. Nevertheless, this was a hugely enjoyable historical romance, which avoided some of the biggest cliches of the genre and tied everything up very neatly - maybe I need to read more historical fiction written in the late 1990s?

Recommended if you like a resourceful FMC and an honourable MMC, beset by trials and tribulations.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I'm not sure how I missed this Mary Jo Putney story, but it was a great read. I finished it in two days! The story between Christa and Alex was poignant, and I loved how the author weaved her intellect and wit throughout the story. Definitely recommend! 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I loved the idea of using the French Revolution in a fiction book. It was what I was hoping for and really glad I was able to go through this book with the characters. It was a wonderfully done adventure and it worked in this historical period. It had a great romance going on and I am glad I was able to read this.

"His remark drew no response, and Lord Kingsley’s expression did not invite further comment. The admiral stoked up his pipe and said, “If you are interested, the yard in Plymouth has almost finished a sister ship to your old Antagonist. She’s going to be named Invicta, and she has a few new tricks we hope will let her out sail anything the French have. Of course, the Invicta is another frigate, not a ship of the line.”

It was a pleasure to read #LadyofFortune, an updated version of an early book by Mary Jo Putney. It tells the story of a young French émigré, Comtesse Marie-Christine D'Estelle (Christa) who ends up in London after escaping the excesses of the French Revolution. Although her half-brother, Charles, the Earl of Radcliffe, and her mother {Marie-Claire) had attempted to escape with her, only Christa made it across the English Channel that night.

She spends the next year in mourning for her mother and brother, living with Charles’ uncle, Lewis, who is the new Earl (with Charles presumed dead). After an unexpected marriage proposal from Lewis that leaves Christa feeling bullied and frightened, she feels compelled to runs away to London, where she has some friends and relatives in the emigre community. She becomes a ladies’ maid, by chance ending up as an abigail to Annabelle, the sister of Alexander, Lord Kingsley. Alex is a naval captain who has recently returned home, recuperating from a serious injury, which has left him with a piece of shrapnel embedded in his torso. He also bears a burden of guilt for being away from Annabelle and his younger brother, Jon, for many years, leaving them to the mercy of their beautiful but narcissistic and bad-tempered late mother.

All the Kingsleys find reasons to appreciate Christa’s warmth and intelligence. She helps Alex save Annabelle from a disastrous elopement, plans Annabelle’s debut ball, nurses both Annabelle and Alex back to health and generally makes herself indispensable. Despite the unusual range of skills and knowledge that she possesses, neither of them think to question her position as a ladies' maid.

Of course, despite the supposed difference in their social rank, Christa and Alex fall in love. And since this was written in the 80s, miscommunication on both their parts, keeps them apart for much of the story. However by the end, MJP has managed to bring not only Christa and Alex together for a happy ending, but almost all of the secondary characters as well!

While not her best work, the story is very enjoyable, turning a carousel of relationships into four happy endings.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Kensington for the ARC!

I love a good Mary Jo Putney. Especially her earlier books. So I couldn't wait to dive into this one.

We start with French émigré and former countess Christa and former navel captain Alex (( now Viscount) ALex who are attracted to each other. But she is his sister's maid and he doesn't know she is a countess so they try to stay away from each other.

It's a sweet love story, full of longing and love and want. A misunderstanding of course as these things go. but all was well in the end.

This was not her best, but it was still good.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I've always loved classic Mary Jo Putney (not as enamored of the more recent stuff), so I was happy to have the opportunity to read an ARC of this rereleased title from the 80s. And it was okay.

Here we have French émigré and former countess Christa and current viscount cum naval captain Alex who like each other very much. However, as she is his sister's maid and he knows nothing of her titled history, they mostly keep it clean. I won't get into how Christa became a member of the servant class; you can read the book for that.

The book is a fairly slow burn until it isn't for a few wildly "huh, not sure about that" pages, and then it returns back to fairly chaste. The characters are lovely though, so I didn't find myself missing the steam. Where it's weird is that Christa, who fled a revolution that took the lives of people she loved and who has found herself in seriously reduced circumstances never once falls into what would have been very reasonable despair. Instead, she's a French Mary Poppins, always composed and cheerful and able to do pretty much anything. I love a strong, competent heroine, so I wasn't NOT okay with it. It was just a little bit of a stretch.

Alex is lovely if a bit naive. He and his sister are nice if a little class oriented (normal for the time), though they acknowledge it. The "bad" guys in this novel are more vain and stupid than evil, so the story conflict is more just the passage of time than anything else.

Overall, it's a good book that read smoothly, but it's not precisely unforgettable.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

Well, this story is definitely a book I would recommend to everyone looking for an easy afternoon fun. It is very enticing and straight to the point. I could not put it down.

Lady of Fortune is a delightful regency romance by Mary Jo Putney. The story follows Christa, a former French countess who is a refugee from the French Revolution. She escapes to England alone, but unharmed. When there, her Uncle makes her an offer she must refuse and she feels his protection and strikes out on her own in need of a profession. She becomes a Lady's maid and finds herself in the employ of Lord Kingsley, a Naval officer and viscount.

Tropes:
Friends to Lovers
Riches to rags
Lack of Communication

What I loved:
- Both of the Main Characters are strong and likable. They feel well matched and their romance feels earned.
- Multiple points of view
- Messaging about women supporting women!

What I questioned:
- Lack of Communication trope!!!
- Christa's uncle as a character and his resolution in the story

Overall, this was an absolute treat that I couldn't put down. Highly recommend to fans of the genre!