Regency Proper Romance series book #1
by Nancy Campbell Allen
GENRE: Regency clean romance
My rating: ★★★★★
I loved it !
Engaging read from start to finish.
Not suitable for readers who prefer romance novels with passionate kisses and strong sexual tension.
This is a sweet and funny novel set in the Regency era, with a plot different from the usual (already read a thousand times) and far from the clichés of frivolous Regency romances.
____ PLOT IN SHORT ____
Set in England during the Regency era, the story follows Jack, the grandson of the Earl of Stansworth. However, Jack was raised in poverty because his father was disinherited for marrying a commoner.
His father died from the hardships of working in the port, leaving behind a wife and two children. Jack began working at just twelve years old to support his mother and sister, and now that he has a stable job, he's on the verge of being promoted to captain.
However, when the Earl is dying, and wishes to avoid leaving his inheritance to an inept nephew, he sends for Jack.
Jack is uninterested in the world of the aristocracy and despises it, just as he despises his grandfather. However, for the sake of his mother, whose health is precarious, and his sister, who is a mistreated maid in the homes of nobles, he accepts becoming the heir. To do this, he must be educated in the ways of high society.
Ivy Carlisle, the granddaughter of a lady friend of Jack's grandmother, is hired as a tutor to help transform Jack into a gentleman.
This might seem like a daunting but doable task, if Jack weren't prejudiced against the aristocracy, sometimes letting his rebellious nature get the better of him... However, Ivy also suffers from a secret and is aware of the injustices to which the noble world inevitably condemns others.
Spending so much time with a handsome, passionate, and heartfelt man can only transport her into a world of feeling, one she previously considered improbable and foolish.
_________ ********** _______
The title and Goodreads introduction to the general plot, may suggest something like "My Fair Lady" musical comedy drama (based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 stage play Pygmalion), but it's misleading.
Here, we don't have a rude boy, and there are no strange or extreme teaching methods.
It's a clean romance where the plot focuses more on substantive content that solidifies the story, rather than on explicit kisses and physical sensations.
I won't deny that I would have liked a longer and warmer description of the kisses (only two or three in the book), but the mix of drama, light-heartedness, and fun was so well-balanced, and the plot was so compelling that I have no choice but to give it a full five stars.
___ THE CHARACTERS ___
The characters are wonderful and emotionally well-developed.
Except for the hateful grandfather and the cousin eager to inherit (equally hateful and slimy, as is his wife), the two main characters, their family, and new friends have all won my affection and sympathy.
JACK: He is a young man, confident but with a raw wound from witnessing his family's rejection and abandonment by his cold grandfather.
He grew up working hard, yet his tenderness for his mother and sister is unmatched. While he initially judges Ivy as a snob, his sensitivity allows him to understand her fears and encourages her to find the courage to live that great love.
What I appreciated in Jack is that he didn't take his newfound fortune for granted. He generously worked to provide well-paid jobs to a new friend and to the staff, improving the well-being of those who suffered because of others' greed.
IVY: If at first glance she seems a little presumptuous, even to the reader, that feeling quickly disappears.
Ivy takes her commitment seriously, and despite educating three people who have lived in squalor (Jack, his mother, and his sister), she never judges from a pedestal. Her innate goodness allows her, through getting to know these people deeply, to view her own fortunes and misfortunes differently and to accept certain parts of her life with serenity and without shame.
Ivy's GRANDMOTHER is sweet and loving, but also intelligent and modern.
Jack's MOTHER is sweet and was strong enough to raise two children alone after being widowed and abandoned. Now, however, she is fragile, both in health and when faced with this new world of rich and haughty people. Luckily, Ivy and her grandmother know how to help her.
Jack's SISTER, Sophia, suffered not only from hunger but also from the vulgar advances of her employers and the envy and wickedness of the wives and other women in the houses where she worked due to her great beauty. Sophia is proud, intelligent, and ready to fight anyone who challenges her, but she also has a big heart, like her brother, and she finds fantastic ideas for using her new wealth, also involving her new best friend.
DYLAN: A noble, charming man about to inherit great wealth, he detests convention and acts according to his heart and mind. He is a true friend to Jack and the protagonist of the next book in the series, along with the beautiful Sophia.
CLARENCE FUDDLESTON: The old Earl's solicitor, then Jack's right-hand man and new good friend. I loved him too!
___ LOVE STORY ___
It's a slow-burn romance, well-developed through lively and plausible dialogues.
There's never a dull moment; on the contrary, the reader can fully enjoy the unfolding romance of Jack and Ivy.
They didn't know each other before, and despite Jack's aversion to society and its habits, he respects Ivy, so it's not an enemies-to-lovers story.
They simply confront the fears that every lover has when they realize how immense a feeling of love can be and how equally immense the pain can be in losing that person.
Despite the absence of explicit love scenes and in-depth descriptions of kisses, I felt the passion and the desire to live that feeling to the fullest by the two main characters.
There is no shortage of moments of suspense and twists that keep the pages turning. A little mystery and good deeds enrich the overall plot.
The writing style is fluid, making the reading light, fun, and full of deep emotion.
It was a satisfying read from start to finish!
I remember when I was at work, I would often stop to think: "I can't wait to finish so I can get back to reading that story!"
READABLE AS A STANDALONE: No unresolved plot points and a happy ending guaranteed.
This is my first time reading something by Nancy Campbell Allen, and I loved her ability to write a story, going into great detail without ever being boring.
I am ready to read book 2 of the series, featuring two supporting characters from this story! 😃
Thanks for stopping by and reading my review.
Read also my review about BOOK #2 inthe series: just click down below:
BOOK #2 "The Secret of the India Orchid"
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