Fortune's Bride

Rating:
Summary: Charming, witty, and fun!
Review: As usual, Victoria Malvey charms with yet another witty romp of a romance! FORTUNE'S BRIDE sparkles with good humor, rapid-fire plot twists, and a sweet love story between two unlikely people who are destined to be together.

Turned out by a sleazy cousin who inherited her family's properties, Lady Alyssa Porter is trying to support herself and her younger sister, Calla (who is a riot!). To make ends meet--just barely at that--Alyssa has become Madam Zora, a gypsy fortune teller whose tarot readings and crystal ball predictions are taking the ton by storm.

Ian Fortune, a titled nobleman who'd rather strike out on his own than accept his disapproving grandfather's charity, is not so taken with the lovely "gypsy." He has made a career of spotting con artists and Madam Zora seems to be just that. While attending a party where she is doling out psychic advice to the gentry, Ian attempts to discredit her. Later on he feels guilty for his actions, when a friend reminds him that the lady is likely only trying to do what he's done: be responsible for her own well-being.

Ian tries to make up to her more than once, but complications ensue--not the least of which being his fierce attraction to pretty, spunky Alyssa. With one amusing obstacle after another tossed in their path, it isn't long before Ian and Alyssa are completely and hopelessly head over heels in love.

I had a great time following Alyssa's antics, and Ian was her perfect foil. Alyssa's little sister, Calla, is an added bonus to an already charming book. I look forward to seeing Calla meet her match, perhaps in a future book? (I hope!)

Thanks for another great read, Victoria!

Rating:
Summary: Great reading material
Review: In 1835 England, Lady Lucy Porter supports herself and her fourteen year old sister Calla by pretending to be the gypsy Madame Zora. Lucy performs at the various parties hosted by the Ton. Although she knows her life is ruined, Lucy wants her sibling to have a season in a few years. Since their parents died and her cousin treated them worse than poor relatives, the two sisters currently live in a run down dwelling and find sustenance in plenty of potatoes.

Lucy's profession begins to unravel when Ian Fortune cynically insults her fortune telling abilities. He appears wherever the gypsy performs, ultimately planning to expose her as a fraud. Lucy and Ian begin to fall in love, but outside forces including his estrange grandfather, her odious cousin, and a wannabe lover threaten their relationship.

FORTUNE'S BRIDE is an entertaining historical romance that will please fans of Regency and Victorian tales as it bridges both sub-genres. The well-written plot is fun, but the story belongs to Lucy, whose bravery under fire turns her into a heroine. Ian is a strong lead character. Readers will want Victoria Malvey to follow up with a Victorian romance starring the precocious Calla, whose antics often steal the show from the dynamic lead couple.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Repellant hero ruins mediocre book
Review: It's really hard to like a romance book where the hero in no way fits that description. Ian Fortune, the "hero" of "Fortune's Bride", is vulgar, immature and unintelligent. The son of a duke's heir and a serving wench, he is despaired of by his grandfather and by me. Ian's chief ambition is to amass a fortune and marry a high-ranking bride - and then flaunt both in front of his grandfather. Mature? I don't think so, especially since his grandfather would probably relish nothing more. Upon encountering Madame Zora, fortuneteller to the ladies and gentlemen of the ton, he proceeds to bait her in the rudest manner. When his friend points out to him that Zora is just trying to earn a living, Ian is contrite and believes himself sympathetic to her plight - he, after all, as unacknowledged grandson of a duke, has had to make his own way. He resolves to apologise, but never does - his patronising approach is met with the frostiness it deserves and he therefore pettishly decides to ruin Madame Zora by exposing her for a fraud.

Madame Zora, really Lady Alyssa Porter, is trying to make ends meet by telling fortunes. She hopes to save enough to provide her sister with a season.

Ian's grandfather decides to take his grandson in hand to teach him to be responsible enough to take over the dukedom in his turn. As a character concerned with duty over feelings, the reader is meant to see him as a cold, hard man - but after witnessing Ian's ungentlemanly behaviour on several occasions the reader has to agree with the duke that his grandson is in no way suitable for the role he must sustain. The duke contracts a betrothal between Ian and Alyssa, they break it off, Ian won't be ruled by his grandfather, Alyssa loves him and doesn't want him to be unhappy, etc etc.

There's lots of slapstick humour with frogs, geese and boils. Not necessary. The juvenile, hostile dialogue between Alyssa and Ian is probably meant to be amusing too. It's not.

Character-wise, Alyssa is all right. Her little sister is enchanting, the duke is interesting and sensible. Ian, our "hero", ruins a book that might have otherwise been acceptable.

Oh, and this is supposed to be Regency-set? How would we tell?

Rating:
Summary: Repellant hero ruins mediocre book
Review: It's really hard to like a romance book where the hero in no way fits that description. Ian Fortune, the "hero" of "Fortune's Bride", is vulgar, immature and unintelligent. The son of a duke's heir and a serving wench, he is despaired of by his grandfather and by me. Ian's chief ambition is to amass a fortune and marry a high-ranking bride - and then flaunt both in front of his grandfather. Mature? I don't think so, especially since his grandfather would probably relish nothing more. Upon encountering Madame Zora, fortuneteller to the ladies and gentlemen of the ton, he proceeds to bait her in the rudest manner. When his friend points out to him that Zora is just trying to earn a living, Ian is contrite and believes himself sympathetic to her plight - he, after all, as unacknowledged grandson of a duke, has had to make his own way. He resolves to apologise, but never does - his patronising approach is met with the frostiness it deserves and he therefore pettishly decides to ruin Madame Zora by exposing her for a fraud.

Madame Zora, really Lady Alyssa Porter, is trying to make ends meet by telling fortunes. She hopes to save enough to provide her sister with a season.

Ian's grandfather decides to take his grandson in hand to teach him to be responsible enough to take over the dukedom in his turn. As a character concerned with duty over feelings, the reader is meant to see him as a cold, hard man - but after witnessing Ian's ungentlemanly behaviour on several occasions the reader has to agree with the duke that his grandson is in no way suitable for the role he must sustain. The duke contracts a betrothal between Ian and Alyssa, they break it off, Ian won't be ruled by his grandfather, Alyssa loves him and doesn't want him to be unhappy, etc etc.

There's lots of slapstick humour with frogs, geese and boils. Not necessary. The juvenile, hostile dialogue between Alyssa and Ian is probably meant to be amusing too. It's not.

Character-wise, Alyssa is all right. Her little sister is enchanting, the duke is interesting and sensible. Ian, our "hero", ruins a book that might have otherwise been acceptable.

Oh, and this is supposed to be Regency-set? How would we tell?

Rating:
Summary: Repellant hero ruins mediocre book
Review: It's really hard to like a romance book where the hero in no way fits that description. Ian Fortune, the "hero" of "Fortune's Bride", is vulgar, immature and unintelligent. The son of a duke's heir and a serving wench, he is despaired of by his grandfather and by me. Ian's chief ambition is to amass a fortune and marry a high-ranking bride - and then flaunt both in front of his grandfather. Mature? I don't think so, especially since his grandfather would probably relish nothing more. Upon encountering Madame Zora, fortuneteller to the ladies and gentlemen of the ton, he proceeds to bait her in the rudest manner. When his friend points out to him that Zora is just trying to earn a living, Ian is contrite and believes himself sympathetic to her plight - he, after all, as unacknowledged grandson of a duke, has had to make his own way. He resolves to apologise, but never does - his patronising approach is met with the frostiness it deserves and he therefore pettishly decides to ruin Madame Zora by exposing her for a fraud.

Madame Zora, really Lady Alyssa Porter, is trying to make ends meet by telling fortunes. She hopes to save enough to provide her sister with a season.

Ian's grandfather decides to take his grandson in hand to teach him to be responsible enough to take over the dukedom in his turn. As a character concerned with duty over feelings, the reader is meant to see him as a cold, hard man - but after witnessing Ian's ungentlemanly behaviour on several occasions the reader has to agree with the duke that his grandson is in no way suitable for the role he must sustain. The duke contracts a betrothal between Ian and Alyssa, they break it off, Ian won't be ruled by his grandfather, Alyssa loves him and doesn't want him to be unhappy, etc etc.

There's lots of slapstick humour with frogs, geese and boils. Not necessary. The juvenile, hostile dialogue between Alyssa and Ian is probably meant to be amusing too. It's not.

Character-wise, Alyssa is all right. Her little sister is enchanting, the duke is interesting and sensible. Ian, our "hero", ruins a book that might have otherwise been acceptable.

Oh, and this is supposed to be Regency-set? How would we tell?

Rating:
Summary: A light read to lift your spirits and leave you feeling good
Review: London, England - 1835

Alyssa Porter and her sister Calla were taken from their family home and sent to Live in a cottage in the country when their father, The Earl of Tonneson, died and a cousin inherited the estate. When the new earl stops even their miserly monthly stipend, Alyssa is forced to take desperate measures for their survival. The young ladies move into a tenant apartment in an impoverished area of London, and Alyssa masquerades as Madam Zora, a gypsy woman who becomes the newest form of entertainment as she earns a meager living telling fortunes to members of the ton. When Ian Fortune hears the popular woman is dubbed Fortune's Lady' he decides to have his palm read and have some fun mocking the gypsy woman. Oh my, but does this initial meeting ever change this arrogant young man's future!

Ian's father, son of Regis Fortune, the Duke of Hammond, fell in love and married a family servant and was disowned and disinherited, dying without a penny to his name. Ian refuses to acknowledge the duke as his grandfather, and struggles to become a successful business man, worth a fortune of his own. The last task to prove himself is to marry a titled woman, and the wealthy bachelor moves in the ton's circle to find one. The duke is determined to choose the right 'gel' for his grandson, because acknowledge it or not, Ian will be the next Duke of Hammond.

Alyssa Porter and Ian Fortune is such a fun couple to read about. It doesn't take Alyssa very long to charm Ian with her sense of humor, intelligence, quick wit, and passion for living. She is just the challenge this handsome young fellow needs. He is a loving, romantic, with a sense of honor to do what is right, and quickly develops a need to protect her. Secondary characters are given just the right personalities and situations to offer conflict and round out the story, but it's a pure joy to read about the lead couple and the antics they experience as their friendship grows. You'll think of the old adage - cutting off your nose to spite your face - as you read about Ian and his determination not to allow his grandfather to manipulate him.

Victoria Malvey delivers another enjoyable tale with FORTUNE'S BRIDE. It's a story with romance and humor and a little suspense as you try to figure who, what, and why. You will experience sensual tension with a delightful couple in a regency setting, and a very satisfying conclusion. Get set for a light, pleasurable read; one I highly recommend to lift your spirits and leave you feeling good.

Carol Carter, Reviewer

Rating:
Summary: A very sweet soufle that fell flat
Review: This novel contains many of the components of a good romance novel. It has a sweet, handsome couple who are certainly made for each other. It overbounds with witty banter and humorous situations. And it is set in the far off time of the glittering Regency period, 1835 to be precise. Yet for all this, it failed to stir me.

One reason is the lack of detail provided. Almost 90% of the book is dialogue, and what is described tends to be couched a value judgment by the character. We are told the heroine looks dashing in her new ball gown, but never is the actual dress described. Although this makes it difficult to envision the scenes of the book, it is almost a relief, for these "descriptions" are sometime all we have to see into the mind of a character beyond what the character says to others.

Another reason this novel disappointed me is that the plot failed to excite me and the conflicts always seemed silly. The biggest hurdle the couple needed to overcome on their way to wedded bliss was the need to make the choice to wed themselves and not be pushed into it by their friends and family who knew they were perfect for each other. Perhaps this is a valid problem, but not exciting to read about.

In all, this novel has much potential to amuse, but fails to satisfy. The banter between characters (not the least of which the hero and heroine) had me laughing outloud on several occasions. If only the plot hadn't been so dry and unimaginative.

Rating:
Summary: A very sweet soufle that fell flat
Review: This novel contains many of the components of a good romance novel. It has a sweet, handsome couple who are certainly made for each other. It overbounds with witty banter and humorous situations. And it is set in the far off time of the glittering Regency period, 1835 to be precise. Yet for all this, it failed to stir me.

One reason is the lack of detail provided. Almost 90% of the book is dialogue, and what is described tends to be couched a value judgment by the character. We are told the heroine looks dashing in her new ball gown, but never is the actual dress described. Although this makes it difficult to envision the scenes of the book, it is almost a relief, for these "descriptions" are sometime all we have to see into the mind of a character beyond what the character says to others.

Another reason this novel disappointed me is that the plot failed to excite me and the conflicts always seemed silly. The biggest hurdle the couple needed to overcome on their way to wedded bliss was the need to make the choice to wed themselves and not be pushed into it by their friends and family who knew they were perfect for each other. Perhaps this is a valid problem, but not exciting to read about.

In all, this novel has much potential to amuse, but fails to satisfy. The banter between characters (not the least of which the hero and heroine) had me laughing outloud on several occasions. If only the plot hadn't been so dry and unimaginative.