Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
This comedy of manners story is very much in the line of the old Signet and Zebra Regencies. It's nice to see that drawing room comedies and clean romances are still being published. The writing quality isn't quite as good as some of the Heyer wannabes who wrote back in the 80s and 90s. It's not terrible though. At least the author refrains from attempting to sound like Jane Austen. The story is amusing; I even giggled at parts. It's cute, it's light and fluffy and the heat factor is close to nothing. (A couple of kisses, including a passionate angry kiss). The romance develops over the course of less than two weeks but because the characters were forced to spend 24/7 together, it's mostly believable. Plus, Ginny and Sir Anthony already knew each other. I liked Ginny because I value speaking my mind, however, she is not very period correct. The whole story hinges on Sir Anthony giving up his code of honor in a time period when a strict social code prevailed. Giving it up would mean social suicide and Sir Anthony would be an outcast. We see evidence of that in Ginny so why she would encourage anyone to go against the social code, I don't know. If you're not a high sticker and enjoy the light drawing room comedies of Marion Devon, Emily Hendrickson, etc. you will like this novel. I'll read the sequel though it's not necessary. I really wanted to like this book but it left me rather bored and just wanting to finish it. The characters did not ring true. (SPOILER ALERT) Neither lead characters had any intention of getting married but in a less that two weeks both have completely had personality changes and are in love. I can see what the author was trying to do to bring out the best of both leads, but it went a little too far, both leaving behind the essence of who they were. The sub characters sadly lacked any charm (I didn't get the lisping at all!) and I felt it was a comedy of errors gone awry. I enjoyed the duel episode though :)Synopsis - When the dowager duchess of Marcross insists he accompany her niece, Ginny, into the country for the day to execute a special task, Sir Anthony is appalled, to say the least. Ginny, who thinks little of the fashionable Sir Anthony, is as eager to be done with the chore as he, but before they arrive at their destination they are stranded by highwaymen and launched into adventure.Forced into each other’s company, Ginny begins to sense the passionate nature beneath Sir Anthony’s mask of ennui, while his exasperation with the forthright Ginny turns into admiration of her wit and charm. Then beautiful Lucinda Barrington and Lord Avery, a poet, come onto the scene, sparking Ginny’s imagination and revealing a way to unmask the true man behind Sir Anthony’s frivolous facade. Meanwhile, the dowager duchess has plans of her own for this pair, and her special task turns into a battle of words, wills, and wit
What do You think about Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind (2008)?
Cute. Quite light coming off of Jane Eyre. But cute. Looking forward to reading the second.
—Cpshelli
The dialogue is too much bantering for me. But yes very sweet and clean
—michelle
I really liked the tangles the characters got into.
—Kourtney
