A Conformable Wife

Somehow or other I missed Alice Chetwynd Ley's books when I was younger, and A Conformable Wife is the first of hers I've read. It will not, however, be the last, for I found it charming.

It is very much in the style of one of my favourite authors, Georgette Heyer, including the familiar formula of eligible young woman meets eligible bachelor, sparks fly, there are obstacles to overcome before they, and we, reach the inevitable happy ending, and so on. Like Heyer, I'm sure that Alice Chetwynd Ley's books will explore the many possibilities offered by this pattern in very entertaining fashion, and amongst her books I will expect to find mistaken identities, dastardly villains, abductions (usually foiled), misunderstandings between lovers, young men going to the bad through gambling... all the vicissitudes which Georgian society can throw up, and all leavened with humour and warmth.

In A Conformable Wife, the Hon. Julian Aldwyn has decided that it's time he was married, and seeks a suitable wife, one able to manage a large household, and of respectable origins, obviously. His sister suggests her girlhood friend Henrietta Melville, who has kept house for her family until his death; despite being wealthy in her own right she now lives in her family home as a dependent relative of her brother and his resentful wife - it's not easy when the servants all defer to the former, instead of the present, mistress. Aldwyn, who in modern terms is positively phobic in his avoidance of love, having been once-bitten, proposes a marriage of convenience, since this will provide the rather dowdy Henrietta with her own establishment, and besides, they seem to get along quite well together. Henrietta retorts, in essence, that she's never had any fun in her life and doesn't see why she shouldn't have some now, and anyway, she'll marry - if ever, which at twenty-six, she doubts - for love, thank you.

Thus the stage is set for all the required elements, and the action moves to Bath, which is rather livelier than the family home. Henrietta embarks on a makeover, so that Julian fails to recognise her when he eventually turns up, and he's duly horrified by the number of conquests she has made. Need I say more?

Chetwynd Ley, like Heyer, is careful about her period detail, although - here, at least - she doesn't wield cant with such bravura. Perhaps she prefers not to compete? At any rate, readers shouldn't find themselves jolted out of the Regency by the annoying anachronisms which are all-too-common nowadays. Bath is well-portrayed and researched, but not in distracting detail - the author feels no need to show off her scholarship. Altogether, A Conformable Wife turned out to be an excellent place to begin my acquaintance with this author, and I look forward to many more of her books. My thanks to Sapere Books and NetGalley for my review copy.

I loved this book! It's enjoyable and entertaining.
I loved the well researched historical background, the well written characters, and the engaging plot.
A very good historical romance, I will look for other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Sapere Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

A charming Regency romance of love required--and hardily acquired!

I haven't read any of Alice Chetwynd Ley's books for years, so when the opportunity came to revisit one her works I took it. I'm glad I did.
It's 1814 and the Honorable Julian Aldwyn decided it's about time to marry. He is persuaded by his sister to consider Miss Henrietta Melville, a spinster of twenty-six, with a nicely timed sense of humor, an intelligent outlook, and an heiress.
Henrietta has been chatelaine of her father's house. After his death her brother has inherited her childhood home. It is becoming more apparent that it is no longer the place for her. No home needs more than one mistress. Her brother's wife is determined to be mistress and the servants find it hard to drop old habits of consulting Henrietta. An unfortunate dilemma.
On the pretext of being in the neighborhood Julian decides to become acquainted with his sister's friend. An untimely proposal of a marriage of convenience stirs Henrietta to refuse him showing Julian that she's neither comfortable nor conformable.
Looking to set up her own establishment Henrietta repairs to Bath joining her widowed friend Louisa Fordyce at her residence in Pulteney Street, one of Bath's more exclusive neighborhoods.
Although Henrietta doesn't take Bath by storm she is relieved to know she is admired, by not one, but three seemingly attentive gentlemen.
Into this situation comes Julian along with knowledge of unpleasantness relating to one admirer. Quite a jolt for all concerned.
Personally, I'm quite taken with the occupant next door to the ladies, Captain Robert Barclay of the Royal Navy, who only has eyes for Louisa.
A sweet read, if a little other worldly in the conversation style, with the heroine and the secondary characters cast in the role of Heyer type personas. All is proper in Henrietta and Julian's relationship, with that suppressed hint of attraction bubbling underneath. A pleasant HEA with a splash of drama!

A Sapere ARC via NetGalley

Absolutely loved this book drew me right in kept me happily turning the pages totally involved.Historical fiction romance at its best.#netgalley #saperebooks

Well researched historical romance.

How lovely to read a Regency romance that stays true to period. So many books in this genre today seem to be modern romances in period costume and I find myself jarred when reading them by historical inaccuracies, modern speech and freedoms that were just not available to the fairer sex. And don’t get me started on the sheer number of eligible Dukes that seem to be available on the marriage mart!

Henrietta first forewent her Season and introduction to Society when her mother died. She was then engaged in raising and marrying off her sisters and before long seven years have past, she is on the shelf and living with a sister-in-law who resents her. Small wonder then that Julian Aldwyn thinks she will jump at the chance to be his wife and have a home of her own, even if there is no emotional attachment between them. However, much to his chagrin, she turns him down, telling him she wants love and passion in any marriage she makes. Hetty waltzes off for an extended visit to Bath, whereupon she proceeds to update her wardrobe and indulge in the fun denied her in her youth.

This book may not have any sex scenes but it does have delightful descriptions, polite manners, gamesters, cads, villains and even an abduction!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.