The Lacey Chronicles #1: The Other Countess (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
Ellie is a 16 year old girl who is poor and at the mercy of her alchemist father. She poses a worthless title—Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime. She has had a rough life living with her father who truly believes he is on the verge of discovering how make gold. Ellie is a feisty educated girl speaking Latin and Greek. Her spirit manages to catch the eye of the Earl of Dorset. Little does the Earl know he has already met Ellie and her father. William Lacey, Earl of Dorset, has inherited his father's title and his financial ruin which he blames on Ellie’s alchemist father. Now Will must seek a wealthy bride and restore his family's fortune. As soon as he sees Ellie at court he is attracted to her although he knows it would never work between them. He needs a rich bride and Ellie is far from rich. Sparks fly whenever Ellie and Will are together; they have a great friendship and attraction to each other.This book is labeled as a YA. The only thing really YA about this book is the fact that Ellie is 16 and Will is 18. The book is more like a toned down typical historical romance. If you don’t like YA I wouldn’t would let that put you off from this book. It has all the great makings of a historical romance. Ellie and Will are both likable characters. I did find their attraction to each other real as they moved from friendship to love. Early regency period story based in the late 1500's draws the reader into the life of a young countess faithful to her obsessed father who has lost all that the family had because he is determined to 'create' gold. You really feel the pain felt by this very well behaved young woman...I would have behaved very differently. I loved the book, and for the first time, when the cover showed the face of the character in the book, I agreed. Great cover.
What do You think about The Lacey Chronicles #1: The Other Countess (2011)?
Elizabethan romance. Light on history, more on romance.
—linzae
I actually appreciated this historical romance novel.
—Jade
