Elisabeth Hobbes

“American Heiresses” was quite the trend beginning in the late 1800s. Rich young American women travelled to England to marry British nobility. A win-win for everyone: many of the English estates were run-down and desperately in need of cash, an abundance of American families had that cash. The money was “made” and not inherited, usually by businessmen and merchants, so the addition of a title to their family brought them prestige and respectability that their new money did not in the United States. So win-win all around, right? Well, maybe except for the young women that were forced by their fathers into marriages to anyone they could capture who had a big enough title. Florence Wakefield is one of those young women. Her father is obsessed with British aristocracy, in part because his late wife was part of it and shunned by her family, but mostly because he loves now being rich and wants to buy acceptability into the upper crust in America. Florence finds it cruel and humiliating and wonders why her father would put her through that, but he’s already managed to marry her sister off to a nobleman and nothing can stop him. He is a despicable man who only becomes more despicable as the story moves along.

Ned Blake is . . . let’s leave him a man of mystery for now. Seems a little shady, his job is a little odd, he seems very capable but at just what? He has regrets, resentments, secrets, is he hiding or running from something? Not sure, but there’s something about him – besides that devastatingly handsome face – that makes us want to find out.

Ned and Florence’s first meet is a hilarious scene that sets the stage for the rest of this excellent story. Serious undertones, maybe a smidge of attraction, a lot of questions and assumptions.

After their encounter Florence comes up with what she believes is a brilliant plan and the perfect answer to her predicament. She’ll hire Ned to pretend to be a nobleman, a viscount maybe. How hard can it be? Her brother-in-law is a Lord and she’ll just ask him if she has questions. After she’s fooled her father she’ll confess the deception and her father will immediately see that a title is meaningless. Probably most Englishmen, noble or not, including Ned, realize there is more to being a part of the aristocracy than a young American heiress can teach in a few weeks, and after witnessing more of her father’s shameless, fawning behavior it’s doubtful he’ll ever give up. But Florence is very determined and more than a little desperate, so the lessons begin.

And this wonderful story just takes off. Florence is solid in her certainty that she’ll pull this off. Ned is a very fast learner, at times even pointing things out to Florence that she hadn’t thought of. Their encounters are funny, tender, touching, infuriating. Is that little smidge of attraction between them growing? It can’t be. She knows nothing about him really; he knows more about . . . whatever it is he knows and we don’t know – yet.

It was so much fun watching this story unwind and unfold that more detail in a review would spoil the pleasure of reading it for yourself. It’s set in a time when rules and social mores were everything, for young women, married and unmarried, for first sons and not-first sons. It’s well-plotted with perfect pacing and interesting, intriguing, well-developed characters who make you smile, laugh or want to strangle them.

Thanks to author Elisabeth Hobbes and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for providing an advance copy of My Fair Lord. I had previously read Hobbes’ work; it was very different but equally engaging and satisfying. I guess a great writer is a great writer is a great writer. Just look up ‘Elisabeth Hobbes’ and start reading. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.… (mere)

Colette and Fleur grew up together in Paris in the 1930s. They were friends and treated each other like sisters until they got older and began to realize the difference between their lives - Colette is the daughter of a rich family and Fleur is the housekeeper's niece. Collette's life plan is to become the wife of a rich man. Fleur wants to get education and travel. When the Nazis invade Paris, the difference between the two young women become even more visible - Colette likes to party and dance and doesn't care that many of the people she is partying with are Germans. Fleur becomes involved with the resistance and keeps her life a secret from her once best friend. As the war continues, Colette begins to see the error of her ways and wants to work with the resistance. Will their friendship survive the ultimate betrayal?

This was a well written novel about friendship and betrayal and forgiveness. I enjoyed the friendship between the two women but had trouble connecting with Colette because she was such a snob which made her change of heart a bit more difficult to believe. Overall, it was a very good story and a quick read.… (mere)