Lord Huntingdon's Legacy

Rating:
Summary: a few plot flaws but still an enjoyable read
Review: After reading the many differing reviews about "Lord Huntingdon's Legacy," I couldn't resist picking this Regency when I came across it at the library. And I'm glad I did as I'll have to admit, flaws and all, this novel did provide me with a couple of hours of pleasurably reading. I loved Emily Hendrickson's rich and lush descriptions of all the clothes that Charis (the eldest Huntingdon daughter) was provided with for her Season -- reading about the fashions of the Regency period is one addiction I'm always happy to indulge in, and I really do enjoy it when an authour goes into some detail about the dress patterns and colours and fabrics. Another thing I liked about this novel was the very close relationship that the sisters, Charis and Harriet, share. We don't see very much of this, but what little there is speaks of a deep and affectionate bond between the two. And the manner in which Hendrickson portrayed the villainess of this comedy of manners, the conniving Lady Alicia, was absolutely brilliant (esp as this allows us to see Charis at her interfering, yet well intentioned best). The reviewer at Huntress Books is quite right in her assessment of this character: here is someone that it would be an absolute pleasure to dislike immensely!

However this novel is not without flaws. The biggest one of which lies with the storyline where the dead Lord Huntington has cut out his wife and two daughters from his will, and left all his money to his nephew, Marcus, instead. I kept waiting for revelations as to why he did this, but this plot-line was just never developed at all. There were hints here and there that because his wife had only borne him daughters, he had transferred all his care and affection to Marcus. But I found it hard to credit that a father, esp one (who we can assume) did not hate his wife and daughters immensely, could leave things so very, very badly for his own daughters, mainly because they were not sons (esp given that things were not quite so rosy for women in the early 19th century anyway). Also, how did it come about that the appropriate marriage settlements had not been drawn up for the Dowager Lady Huntingdon when she married Lord Huntingdon? Surely her father would have seen that things were done properly when she married Lord Huntingdon?

And while I rather enjoyed all the tantalising tension between Charis and Marcus -- I enjoyed the sly tone that Hendrickson employed whenever she was commenting on how Charis keeps refusing to face her attraction for Marcus until it is almost too late -- I found Marcus's behaviour odd to say the least. Here, I think I'm at odds with a few of the other reviewers. I understood Charis's poking her nose into Marcus's affairs -- she is still in love with him, even if she refuses to admit it! And love, coupled with confusion and a healthy dollop of resentment, can make any young woman behave quite foolishly. Usually I dislike heroines who behave like nitwits, but I found myself feeling quite sorry for Charis, and wishing that Marcus would stop playing this strange manipulative game and woo her properly. For if you come down to it, the reason why these two have to play games is completely Marcus's fault. He's the one who withdraws from Charis when she probably needed him most, and that together with the shock of not being her father's heir, is what propels her to decide to hunt for a rich husband. And anyway, if he's truly been in love with her all this while, what on earth was he doing in London, flirting with the likes of Lady Alicia? And here we come to my next criticism of the novel: the manner in which Emily Hendrickson ties things together by having Marcus play a rather cruel joke on both his good friend and Charis. This, of course propels a grateful-to-be-rescued Charis into Marcus's arms, and allows for the pair to confess their love for each other. But I would love to be a fly on the wall when Charis finally discovers the merry dance that Marcus had led her through!

Flaws and all however, "Lord Huntingdon's Legacy" is still an enjoyable and entertaining read, and one that I would recommend if you're looking for a couple of hours of escapist fun.

Rating:
Summary: Well researched and excellently written
Review: Although the situations in this book seem unusual to many readers, the author also published the highly respected _Regency_Reference_Book_, and every situation is based on fact.

Recommended for those who enjoy factual history with their romances!

Rating:
Summary: The Catchpenny Countess catches a reader
Review: Emily hendrickson is one of my favorite Regency authors. I appreciate the lack of jarring contemporary references, and her books are well-researched and written. *Lord Huntingdon's Legacy* was loads of fun to read, though I would have enjoyed hearnig more about her sister and her delightfully dim Mother.

Rating:
Summary: Hendrickson at her best
Review: Emily Henridckson is one of the finest Regency authors around, and her descriptions of gowns, etc. are mouth-watering. Her characters are always superbly drawn and sympathetic, except for the vilains and villainesses, of course, and they we LOVE to loathe. This book gives hours of enjoyment, and a completely satisfying ending. I'm now ready and eager for Hendrickson's next. May it not be long in coming.

Rating:
Summary: Slow moving; I never warmed to hero
Review: Enough other reviewers have mentioned the storyline so I will not repeat it. The heroine (Charis) was an interesting character but in some ways never fleshed out! Charis got into a couple scrapes along the way because of her headstrong manner.... but then she just sort of went out with a whimper. Towards the end, her liveliness was totally subdued. She was trying to save Marcus from two conniving women and managed to amusingly turn away one woman but the other "saving" never panned out, even when Charis was injured by the nasty woman (Alicia). Charis' sister Harriet was also fun at the beginning but her writing a book was glossed over and she just faded in the background. The mother was a rather vague, comical (and sad) woman.

I never warmed up to Marcus. There were some unanswered questions - what was it the Earl said to Marcus after changing his will? Why did he think Charis would only want him to gain money? He seemed to be the one pushing her into society to catch a husband. Telling another man her favorite foods were cabbage and pickled pigs feet and that she was romantic and would adore abduction seemed childish and dangerous to me.

I normally read books in hours - this took me weeks as I put it down to read others. I have enjoyed other Hendrickson books but this one was just a rather tame tale without a lot to recommend.


Rating:
Summary: A bit long, but definitely a page turner!
Review: I truly enjoyed this book. Charis is a strong woman and such a great person to get to know. Marcus is just the most sizzling and mysterious man. The author drops these well-timed bits of insight into Marcus's feelings and it just moves the story along so well. Towards the end, I thought the pace was rather slow, but, the characters and the dialogue make this book a wonderful thing to read!

Rating:
Summary: A masterful job!
Review: When the Earl of Huntingdon died, he left everything to his cousin, Marcus Rutledge. To his wife and two daughters, he left only small allowance and the title.

Countess Charvis never blamed Marcus for getting all her father's estates and money. But she was practical enough to understand that she needed to wed soon and provide for her mother and younger sister, Harriet. A season in London would be all that was needed. None expected Marcus to be residing in the Huntingdon House at the moment.

Marcus welcomed them to stay and even helped them! Yet he planned to keep Charvis close to his side. He had his own plans for her.

***** WHEW! The author did a masterful job on the scheming character of Lady Alicia! She turned out to be a villainess that I loved to hate! The perfect shrew! Once again Emily Hendrickson has written a very entertaining novel that will delight all her readers! Brava! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch