Carla Kelly
The Lady’s Companion (1996)
Author: Carla Kelly
Genre: Regency Romance
Plot Summary:
Susan Hampton came from a well-to-do family but her father’s gaming addiction catches the better of him and he looses the estate, they are forced to move in with her aunt. Before long, Susan discovers that she will become her aunt’s unpaid servant if she stays. She gathers her courage and applies to be a lady’s companion to the Lady Bushnell. Lady Bushnell does not wish to have a companion so Susan must convince her otherwise to keep her job. She must also convince Lady Bushnell’s bailiff that she can be useful. He falls in love with her and she is convinced that his social status and ungentlemanly behavior is unsuitable for her. Near the end of the subtle romance, Susan decided she is in love with him too and that social class should have nothing to do with matters of the heart.
Geographical Setting: England, London and Quilling
Time Period: 1820
Series: Signet Regency Romance
Appeal Characteristics:
One of the main appeals of this 1997 RITA award winner may be that it is a regency romance. It has all the qualities of 1800s England. However, the biggest appeal would be the characters. Throughout the book the reader becomes very familiar with the 3 main characters: Susan, David the bailiff, and Lady Bushnell. Susan is strong and Lady Bushnell is strong and proud, however, in the end she admits that she is to proud. David has overcome a thieving past thanks to Lady Bushnell. Even the secondary characters are rich and well described. Another appeal may be that it is a fairly calm romance. It is definitely for those who don’t like it hot. Finally, the humor is also appealing. It is not slapstick but the Susan and some of the minor character’s whit creates a light atmosphere.
Read-alikes: For those who like Regency romances, Red Red Rose by Majorie Farrell might be a good read. This is set mainly in Portugal during the Napoleonic Wars. Valentino does not think he is worth much until he saves Elspeth from danger and they become good friends. Those looking for some more humor will enjoy Anne Gracie’s The Perfect Rake. Readers will enjoy the mistaken identities and fake betrothals in this Regency farce. If you are looking for something more character driven, then Lisa kleypas’ The Devil in Winter might be of interest. It is more of a story about a man’s redemption from his awful ways than a love story although it is a woman who helps him. Another good character book is Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. To Wed a Stranger by Edith Layton is a story of two people falling in love after marriage.
Red Flags: mild sexual references
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