THE STANBROKE GIRLS

by Fiona Hill ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 13, 1980

Fusty old authoress"" Hill (as the lady styles herself in one of her feisty-aunty asides) has brought off another very un-fusty Regency frolic, this one featuring a quartet of nicely matched pairs. Good sense and wit are represented by pair #1: Lord Marchmont, 39, disillusioned with war and women, and spirited Elizabeth Stanbroke, who defends her sex and heatedly outlines their tribulations. Pair #2 is sheer featherweight stuff: Elizabeth's lovely 16-year-old sister Isabella is awhirl in romantic fancy (""Isabella is not our heroine--Isabella is her own heroine"") over detestable rake Sir Jeffrey de Guere, a Marchmont cousin who's planning a ""quiet, classic abduction."" Pair #3 involves two mature, settled sorts: Marchmont's beauteous, strong-willed sister Emilia and her constant admirer, nice Lord Weld. And pair #4 consists of the Stanbroke brother, dim Lord Halcot (Charlie), and dear Stanbroke friend Amy Lewis, who's only a shade brighter than her Adored One. All hands take part in steering Amy and Charlie toward collision, and before everyone is sorted out, there's verbal sparring and outright roguery, clandestine meetings and misunderstandings, a duel in the wind, and that great dash towards Gretna Green with four horsemen pounding in pursuit. Hill doesn't bother to decorate relentlessly with period slang, and the talk seems to slide forward in time a bit--but the tone is light and tangy, the people amiable, and it's all in fine twig: another little winner from the author of such as The Autumn Rose.

Pub Date: Feb. 13, 1980

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1980

Categories: FICTION