I love me some Jane Dunn, her books are a place to get lost in, and imagine yourself in a different time and place. a 5 Star Read.

"A Lady's Fortune" is another fabulous Regency romance from author Jane Dunn! The historical setting is described with clarity, detail, and a vividness that brings the characters, locations, clothing, and events of the story to life. The characters feel three-dimensional, real, and are so very lovable! I had so much fun meeting and getting to know them. It was beautiful to see both Leonora and Lord Rokeby slowly realize how much they care for each other and understand the depth of their feelings. This is a beautiful book about family, friendship, love, healing, and the beauty in living. The suspenseful elements of the story were also carried out very well! I could not stop reading. This is a book that will keep you reading on late into the night! The speed of the plot is perfect, the writing style is smooth and dazzling, the characters are lovable, the romance is sweet, swoony, and full of emotion, the character development is great, and the story is captivating and oh so beautiful! I cannot recommend this book and author highly enough. I have loved all of this author's books! Read them! You will be so glad you did. 5 stars! Beautiful, charming, and an absolute delight! Wonderful gothic vibes as well. I love this book and will be revisiting these characters and their story again soon!

Thank you very much to author Jane Dunn, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of reading and reviewing this book honestly.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I love historical romance and this was a great one!

Star Rating: 3/5
Spice: 1/5

The premise of this book really caught my attention. I am a fan of historical romance, but this is my first book by Jane Dunn. I tried to finish this book, but ultimately I had to wave the flag and just give it up. I wanted to like it so much and I attempted to power through until I started questioning myself as to why I was struggling through a book that held little interest to me.

This book follows Leonora Appleby and Charlotte Blythe, with it's main focus on Leonora. Leonora is delightfully independent and at 27 and unmarried, is considered an old maid. Ownership of the home that she has always known is soon taken by its new heir, George Lockwood, after the death of her father. At the same time, her neighbor Alistar, a war veteran who was scared at war returns. He's a bit abrasive, but Leonora is instantly attracted to him while Charlotte is attracted to George.

All of the characters are very likable and nice, but don't seem to have any depth. The slow burn between Leonora and Alistar is so slow that it's virtually invisible. There was just nothing there to compel me to continue reading. I was confident that they would all have very nice happy endings with small, but tolerable bumps in the road.

This story was okay. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. My challenge with the book was the style of writing. The author sometimes uses unnecessarily complex terms. For example, a character “quaffed the champagne” and there were “meretricious diversions.” When these phrases came up, it interrupted the flow of the story for me. There were other things like this, but if you can look past these annoyances then give the book a try.

Leonora Appleby waits for the new heir, George Lockwood, to take over Hasterleigh Manor after the death of her father. His offer for her to live at the Lodge means she won't have to leave her dearest friends. Alister, the Earl of Rokeby, returns to Rokeby Abbey. A war hero, scared from his wounds, he isn't the easiest man to get to know. The earl arranges for his niece, Charlotte, and her best friend Leonora to travel to London for the Season. At first exciting, everything dims and they dream of returning home. The Earl Rokeby's final confession sheds new light on his character. A man to be admired and loved by Leonora. If only he could return her love? Very much reminiscent of older regency historical romance books. I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed Jane Dunn’s first regency novel and looked forward to reading future ones, but on the whole have found that they didn’t match up to the first one. Sadly, for me, A Lady’s Fortune didn’t either.

The identity of the heroes and heroines were predictable, one heroine was predictably silly, the plot twists were equally obvious, especially one which was ‘flagged’ almost from the beginning of the book. It was an easy read but forgettable.

Jane Dunn’s "A Lady’s Fortune" is a compelling historical novel that immerses readers in a richly detailed world of 19th-century England. The story follows the life of the resourceful and independent Leonora Appleby, who, after a series of personal setbacks, finds herself navigating the complexities of wealth and social status. Dunn skillfully balances a vivid depiction of the era with a gripping narrative, blending romance, intrigue, and societal critique.

Dunn’s portrayal of Nora is particularly noteworthy. She emerges as a strong, relatable protagonist, whose journey from adversity to empowerment resonates deeply. The supporting characters are equally well-drawn, each contributing to a tapestry of relationships that enrich the story. The historical backdrop is meticulously researched, providing an authentic setting that enhances the plot without overwhelming it.

Overall, "A Lady’s Fortune" is a rewarding read for fans of historical fiction, offering both an engaging story and a thoughtful exploration of the era's social dynamics.

Two romances...

In one. Leonora and Charlotte must make their way in the world, or ton, and create their own fates. Leonora, a spinster for sure at 27, has to move out, as she awaits the new heir, George.
Earl Rokeby is back from war. He has news that will change things.
Lottie has to find her own way.
A new to me author. I enjoyed this book and the relationship between Leonora and Charlotte and I especially enjoyed Earl Rokeby.
Recommend.

"A Lady's Fortune" by Jane Dunn is a story about two main characters, Leonora and Charlotte, who live in Hasterleigh, England. It's a mix of Jane Austen and "Bridgerton," and it's very enjoyable.

Miss Leonora Appleby is waiting for the new heir, George Lockwood, to show up at the Manor following her father’s death. She will be moving out of the Manor, which has been her home her entire life. Earl Rokeby returned to his lands after being scarred in the Napoleonic War. What secrets will his return reveal for the members of this town?

I really enjoyed the chemistry and development of the relationship between Leonora and Alistair, as well as Charlotte, George Lockwood, and Nanny P.

English village life!

Charming story of an earl returned to his lands after being scarred in the Napoleonic war. Lady of the Manor, Leonora Appleby had been living in Hasterleigh, Berkshire all her life. Now the heir to the property George Lockwood was to visit.
Charlotte (Lottie) Blythe a foundling, is her best friend and daughter to local vicar and wife.
A village story with a suicide, a loving recluse and his dog, a host of others and a smarmy officer.
Jolly good read!

A Boldwood Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
I am a fan of Jane Dunn's Regency novels, and I like that they are standalones - it's sometimes hard to find a genre book to read these days that isn't part of a series. Good writing, fun plots and lots of details that root us in the Regency period.
A Lady's Fortune is well written, and at times reminiscent of Georgette Heyer and Sense and Sensibility (particularly the relationship between the two main characters). As with most Regency books, the story deals with the quest for a husband (or two quests) but it plays out in an interesting way.
I really enjoyed watching Leonora and Charlotte's relationship develop as they grew as individuals, an as they found out things about themselves and their backgrounds. It kept the plot interesting and the dynamic was always changing.
As other readers have pointed out, the eleventh hour drama felt a bit forced and probably unnecessary - I think if it had been toned down a bit it would have fit the rest of the story better.
(Pet peeve - I wish that authors would stop dressing their heroines in white wedding dresses - not popular until after Victoria's in 1838)
Solid 4 out of 5, and a cut above a lot of books in the genre.

A Lady's Fortune will appeal to all fans of Regency and historical romance. It is reminiscent of Austen and better than Julia Quinn's charming Bridgerton series in that the characters have more depth and the story is more emotionally charged.
I found myself feeling quite sad while reading Earl Rokeby's recollections of his traumatic experiences on the battlefield and his brother's death. He describes the sights and sounds as his brother was dying and the fight continued around them. He included the war horses in his recollection making it very realistic and as if I was reading a first-hand account. He has a great affection for his animals and I loved that about his character.
There is plenty of humour, drama and romance to more than offset the heavier themes of war and grief.
Rokeby and Leonora have a meet cute along the side of the road which reminded me a little bit of Rochester and Jane in Jane Eyre. Although Rokeby is more likeable despite his gruffness, as he is much gentler around Leonora and Charlotte.
I enjoyed the fact that there were two romances woven into the main plot of this book. The story is well paced and entertaining throughout. It's a book that I looked forward to picking up again after the working day. I liked the added drama that the side characters provided. I could see elements of Pride and Prejudice. There is a Caroline Bingley type character and Captain Ormonde reminded me of Mr Wickham as soon as he was introduced. I couldn't wait to see what would transpire from that quarter.
This book is a gorgeous read with main characters I was rooting for all the way. Jane Dunn has become a firm favourite.

If you are a fan of historical fiction and romance then this novel will be a good choice for you. This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed the writing style and storytelling.
It was easy to read and enjoy.

Like many people, I am partial to a well-written Regency romance, and in recent years Jane Dunn has become one of my favourite writers in this genre. In part I think it is the historical accuracy, which stems from her background as a historian, but somehow she manages to convey a world synonymous with the writings of both Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer.

As I began this book, I was reminded of Jane Austen’s Emma with the way in which Leonora had taken Charlotte under her wing, teaching her, guiding her, and wanting to find a husband for the foundling who was like a little sister in her life. There was a scene early in the novel, where a group of people were at dinner, nearly all of whom were mentally matchmaking others at the table. It was so effortlessly funny, and for some reason that I cannot explain, it made me think of the farcical comedy in The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.

I thought that the resilience in Leonora was captivating, and as for Earl Rokeby, I am not sure I have ever been so attracted to a male literary character before. He was brooding and gruff, but also incredibly caring and thoughtful. They were perfect together although both burdened by the scars of war, with Rokeby’s scars mostly physical ones, but with both of them scarred emotionally too. A mention must also go to Achille, an ever-present and loyal wolfhound, oh how I love dogs in books!

The other characters in the book were all so multi-dimensional. I adored Nanny P (or Mrs Priddy), who had been the mother figure in Leonora’s life, quietly chaperoning Leonora and Charlotte with wisdom, sensibility and the tendency to fall asleep at the best moments. Charlotte was innocent but with a tenacity that was almost unexpected. I also loved George Lockwood, who had such a sunny personality, but with a steeliness when pushed. It would also not be a Regency romance without a cad or two, and Ormonde was a classic schemer, determined to get his own way.

I was so engrossed in this fabulous story that the world passed me by as I read it, and when a book is so good that you get immersed in the world within the pages I cannot think of anything better!

A delightful book. As it started I was reminded of, not only those books written by Georgette Heyer, but also the charming stories of life in small towns where lace was soaked in milk to stop it going yellow, and gowns were made over to 'freshen' them with ribbon and frills and buttons a la Cranford.
Certainly, our heroines are country misses and not sophisticated town girls and their knowledge and behaviours reflect this upbringing. And their clothing too is simple and not high fashion - until their circumstances change.
The style was appropriate for the genre, and the book was well,proofed and grammatically correct.
Overall, a nice read and suitable for all ages.

A lot of good in this book but the circular conflict singed it a star. The dialogue could also be improved upon but it may just be an issue of personal taste. Would read from author again and would likely recommend book to friends

I read and enjoyed A Scandalous Match in January and was looking forward to another Jane Dunn novel to read this month. If you love Jane Austen and enjoy regency romances with brilliant characters and a gorgeous feeling of the time, these books are for you.
A Lady’s Fortune is set in Hasterleigh, a village in Berkshire. Leonora Appleby is 27 – the same age her mother died. Her father died two years before and after looking after the estate since, now George Lockwood is to inherit her home of Hasterleigh Manor.
Leonora’s best friend is Charlotte (Lottie) Blythe, who is 18 and lives at the Vicarage. She was a foundling left on the steps of the Vicarage as a baby and has always been brought up by Reverend Mildmay and his wife Sarah as their own daughter.
The village is soon ignited with excitement as the new Earl Rokeby, Alistair, returns. His brother died in the war and Alistair is mentally and physically scarred from war. How will his return affect the village and its dynamics?
Meanwhile, Leonora and Lottie go to London for the Season, leaving their safe countryside surroundings for the dangers of the big city.
Well, I hope that’s given you an idea of the set up of the novel. There’s lots going on, but I recommend you read it yourself to find out what happens. It’s such a lovely book, beautifully written with a wonderful use of language and well-paced so you never lose interest.
Jane Dunn writes such brilliant characters! So many realistic and unforgettable ones in here - from the adorable, kind and wise Nanny P (Peg Priddy) to the apparently psychic Rose Vazey and the horrible Lady Livia Dearlove, who is so spiteful and nasty that I wished I was in the pages and could give her a piece of my mind!
Another truly lovely read from Jane Dunn.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This was a charming Regency romance. I quickly warmed to the protagonist, Leonora, and some of the other characters too. I found the writing to be sophisticated, but also with a lovely cosy quality, and I enjoyed how the author worked with the manor house and village setting to bring them to life for the reader. I think the character that made me smile the most was Nanny P.

The tone and style of writing actually reminded me of the classics, so if you do read classic authors, this may appeal to you. It wasn't particularly spicy, but it was romantic, heartwarming and charming.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I would like to thank and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest of the book.

This was another enjoyable tale, that reminded me a little of Emma. I don't think the third act break up was needed.