Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, 269 pages

The most popular novel by one of the most popular novelists in history, Pride and Prejudice has been imitated, adapted, mashed-up, reimagined, and "continued" seemingly innumerable times.  Yet the original remains untarnished in its indisputable greatness.  Partially, this is due to the high quality of Austen's prose and the keenness of her observations, partially due to the indispensable historical social setting, and partially due to the timeless themes of the difference between reality and appearance and the foundation of true happiness in the cultivation of virtue.

The Miser of Mayfair

The Miser of Mayfair by M.C. Beaton Audiobook 5 hours Book 167 pages

Hooray another series by my favorite British author! This go around we find ourselves at the address 67 Clarges Street, which rumored to be unlucky, due to the many tragedies that seem to happen to its inhabitants. This home is a home for the London season where young ladies are presented to find husbands.The rent is quite reasonable and appeals to those who are cheap but do not want to appear so. Be that as it may, the servants of this home are hoping and praying (literally) for someone generous to be the tenant that will treat them well as they are tired of the tyrannous ways of the manager, Mr. Palmer. Roderick Sinclair's brother has died and instead of leaving him his fortune he left him his ward, a beautiful girl named Fiona. The book is a tale of the exploits of this pair as they try to get Fiona married to a rich member of the gentry, with the help of the servants of 67 Clarges Street.

Back to Society

Back to Society by M.C. Beaton Audiobook 4 hours Book 152 pages

"Life is finally looking up for the poor relations. The Prince of Wales's coat of arms gleams over the hotel entrance. All but one of the rooms are filled by the open-handed Prince Hugo and his entourage. The owners have taken on a new partner, Mr. Jason Davy, a popular actor. Even curmudgeonly Sir Philip hasn't uttered anything loathsome for days. They have finally reached a position comfortable enough to allow them to consider offers to buy the hotel. The poor relations' hard-earned success, however, is in stark contrast to the plight of their latest guest, Lady Jane Fremney. The slight, beautiful woman is the youngest daughter of the Earl of Durby and has been cast out of her family for refusing to marry the man her father has chosen. Lonely and bankrupt, Lady Jane has decided to commit suicide. But when Miss Tonks uncovers her plans, the poor relations go into action again to try and rescue Lady Jane from suicide, her father, and her intended husband." - Hoopla

I enjoyed this last book of the Poor Relation series as I did all the others. I recommend it and any other writings by M.C. Beaton. Her books are definitely some of the most devourable (is that a word?) that I have ever listened to or read.

Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue

Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue by M.C. Beaton Audio book 4 hours Book 152 pages

The poor relations are back in this fifth addition to the series. It is typical among the gentry to stay in a hotel and to leave without paying. Colonel Sandhurst has volunteered to retrieve the amount owed to the hotel from the latest cheapskates. While attempting to do so, he encounters, Frederica, the lovely daughter of the family (who did not stay in the hotel) and he comes up with an idea. Frederica wants to run away from home because her father is going to make her marry a beast of a man. So the Colonel figures she can take shelter at the hotel and he can get money out of her father in order to secure her safe return to him. Once again the poor relations find themselves in a difficult situation. Can they help themselves and Frederica or will her wants and desires play second fiddle to their financial troubles? Read it, listen to it, either way you won't regret it.

Sir Philip's Folly

Sir Philip's Folly by M.C. Beaton Audio book 4 hours Book 152 pages


Sir Philip's folly is actually his decision to bring in a course widow named Mary Budge whom he has taken as a lover. She is lazy, rude and has an appetite that threatens to eat the hoteliers out of house and home. And to top it off she wants to be a partner in the Poor Relation Hotel. Naturally hilarity ensues as the poor relations scheme and plot to get rid of Mrs. Budge. The solution actually comes from a young woman named Arabella Carruthers whose mother is trying to pass her daughter off as a child and herself as a young widow in order to remarry. Arabella who knows nothing of the world quickly learns a lot about life dealing with the poor relations. Will she find love or will she be forever condemned to a life of pretense with her delusional mother? The 4th book of the Poor Relation Series does not disappoint.

Mrs. Budley Falls from Grace

Mrs. Budley Falls from Grace by M.C. Beaton Audio book 4 hours Book 152 pages 

Book 3 of the Poor Relation Series was just as engaging as the last two. I suspect all these reviews are getting repetitive so I’ll try to mix things up. Having run into money troubles yet again, the poor relations must come up with money fast and turn to thievery yet again. Poor Mrs. Budley has drawn the short straw so it is her turn to rob a rich relation. Sir Phillip comes up with the idea for her to pretend to be the relative of an elderly, rich Marquess. But as it turns out the older Marquess has died and his younger, more handsome relative now resides at Warwickshire Castle. Well when a man meets a woman feelings are going to be caught. Does she get the money? Does she get the man? Read the book to find out or get the audio book read by the ever talented Davina Porter. 

Miss Tonks Turns to Crime

Miss Tonks Turns to Crime by M.C. Beaton Audiobook 4 hours Book 152 pages 

This is the second book in the Poor Relation Series and M.C. Beaton did not disappoint. The crazy antics of the poor relations were just an entertaining in this book as the last. The plot was quick and to the point with no dragging. Spinster Miss Tonks has been chosen to steal something from a rich relative so the Poor Relation Hotel may have the funds it desperately needed. Hilarity ensues. Being short, these stories pack a comedic punch and one might even say they end abruptly. As a reader I am grateful when there is another book in the series so I know I’ll be disappointed when I get to the last one. The only thing that really needs to be said about this book is that it is recommended. If you enjoy British humor (or humor period) you will enjoy this series. I definitely recommend listening to them as Davina Porter does an excellent job bringing the story to life. Thumbs up!