Romance fiction - even Regency romance - is not normally my choice in reading material, nor any of my preference, but my library's summary of this story intrigued me, and as I had one space left for ebook loans I decided to try it. I'm glad I did.With most of the romance fiction I've ever tried to read (I specify fiction as I quite like romantic fanfiction, already knowing who the characters are and many of their possible motivations), I've found the major, and especially minor, characters far too thinly drawn for my liking, or else overdone in a way that means I lose much of my empathy or sympathy with them. That's not the case here. Leading lady Mira Markham is a sparky young woman of 18, who has been raised largely through ignorance by her parents, who spent all their time concentrating on her more obviously beautiful elder sister Drusilla - this to the detriment of the spoiled sister far more than to that of Mira, who has developed character and strength that Drusilla has not, and it shows. Mira's actions are initially so childish and scandalous that she is threatened with being sent home, but once she begins to mature in truth, she controls herself better, but as an innocent still lets herself in for things she has no idea to expect. All this makes her character far more relatable than her sophisticate sister, though Drusilla is not left to be two-dimensional throughout. The male characters are about as balanced as the females, and even down to the minor characters we are given at least some idea of their motivations, which I feel is much better than the way Harlequin/Mills & Boon seem to come across to me most of the time, with characters who do things to advance the plot just for the sake of doing them. Here, the characters' actions follow well from their given or implied motivations, which makes the story much more coherent. Of course there are recurring tropes from the genre - as soon as a certain character appeared I knew how Mira would end up, but getting to that end is fun and less predictable than the traditional fashion, both for the reader and several characters. I think I'm going to seek out more of this series, though I couldn't get interested in Agatha Raisin.
Mira Markham has always been a tomboy and dressed in boy’s clothes when she can get away with it. Suddenly she has to behave like a debutante when she and her beautiful sister Drusilla are taken to London by their parents for the season. Mira hates the restrictions and she finds she is in love with her old friend Charles who is also in London. Unfortunately Charles has fallen for her sister and ignores Mira except when he is lecturing her about her conduct. Mira strikes up an unlikely friendship with the Marquis of Grantley which helps her enjoy the social functions.This is an enjoyable light read with a very likeable heroine and some unconventional behaviour which adds an extra dimension to the story. I thought the characters were well drawn and the plot light but entertaining. If you want to read something with the feel good factor, some humour and a happy ending then try ‘The Dreadful Debutante’.
What do You think about The Dreadful Debutante (2011)?
A lark of a romance, set I think in the regency period. A young woman is coming of age and of course her families concern is that she do well on the "marriage market". But the beauty of her older sister surpasses hers, and besides the young lady in question really doesn't have much interest in acting lady like. She sneaks out of the house by wearing mens clothes to see a male acquaintance of her youth--but of course his reaction is not quite what she expected. While she is on her incognito adventures she meets an experienced older gentleman who sets out to be her advisor--and along the way a love match is made. Enjoyable for a quick light read, and if you really love these kind of romances this one will fit the bill more than nicely.
—Deb
Mira Markham has always tried to be the son her father never had. She enjoys dressing like a boy, riding, fishing and hunting. Her childhood was spent in company with their neighbor, Lord Charles Devere who treated Mira as a best friend. Now Lord Charles is back from the wars and in town for the Season and Mrs. Markham has decided to bring Mira and her beautiful, ladylike sister Drusilla to London for a Season. Balls and parties and gowns aren't Mira's idea of fun but she doesn't mind as long as she can see Lord Charles again. She believes that it will be just like old times now that Lord Charles is back, but when she disguises herself as a boy and seeks him out at his lodgings, he is sadly disapointing and disapointed in Mira for not acting ladylike. Even worse for Mira, is the fact that Lord Charles is instantly smitten with her sister. The two sisters compete for attention and Mira ruins her reputation by pushing her sister into a fountain. Confined to the house as punishment, Mira longs for freedom and grabs her chance while everyone else is away. Once again disguised as a boy, she heads out into fashionable London and ends up becoming friends with the Marquess of Grantley who encourages her secret hoydenish behavior and discourages her attracion to Lord Charles. Soon, scandal errupts and the only way to save Mira's reputation is for the Marquess and Mira to become engaged. Feelings and hurt pride get in the way before true love prevails. I liked Mira and her tomboy activities and I feel sorry for women of that time period but the story itself was pretty weak and insubstantial. The characters were stereotypical and mostly unlikeable. I did learn to like and appreciate Mira's sister but her transformation was too quick and unrealistic. This book just isn't as charming as Chesney's series books.
—QNPoohBear
