Mrs Smalltree Folly A Quirky Regency Romance edition by Jo Raine Literature Fiction eBooks
Download As PDF : Mrs Smalltree Folly A Quirky Regency Romance edition by Jo Raine Literature Fiction eBooks 
Even an eccentric lord is a good catch — especially if he's rich.
So thinks Mrs. Smalltree. She is convinced she can get Allen St. George, visiting naturalist and wealthy lord, to marry her daughter, Pamela.
But plain, poor cousin Harriet disapproves. Pammy is sixteen, and extremely shy. And there is another, far baser reason Harriet hopes Mrs. Smalltree's plans fail she's beginning to have feelings for Allen herself.
A quirky Regency romance
20,000 words
Excerpt
Now he looked sheepish at her mention of travel. "Er, not exactly. I spotted him on the way. I do love a hedgehog!" He held it out carefully for her perusal. "There's so much we don't know about the world and the creatures in it. Even a humble hedgehog has secrets clutched tightly."
He stroked fingers tenderly back over its little spines, and smiled fondly down at the indignant creature. "Can you spare some milk for him? I'll only study him for a bit and then let him go again. But sometimes they drink milk. I don't want him to starve."
This artless announcement had the unintended effect of charming both girls utterly. It also gave poor awkward Pammy an escape route. "I shall go at once," she managed.
She rose and hurried from the room, her cheeks pink. A gentleman who could spare attention for a little animal, and who was passionate about learning about the world, could not but be welcome here. As she strode away, she couldn't help feeling that it would be a wonderful visit after all.
Harriet smiled affectionately at the hedgehog and then looked up to say something to the gentleman — she never afterwards remembered what — only to see him looking down anxiously into her face as if working out a bothersome puzzle.
"You're not really named Hortense, are you?"
She laughed and straightened up, smoothing her skirts automatically. "No, indeed. It's Harriet. Sometimes they even call me Harry, you know, but it's never been Hortense before today." She rolled her eyes slightly. "I'm the poor relation."
"Ah." He held out a hand. "I'm very pleased to meet you, all the same."
She shook his hand solemnly. It was slim and warm even through the glove, which was just a bit grubby.
"We have cats and dogs," she told him solemnly, looking into his gentle face. "If you're interested in them. And any amount of rodents, though I shouldn't say so, and insects and birds. There are acres of wildlife. We have badgers, and hawks, and all sorts of creatures." She hoped these delights would encourage him to stay.
He didn't stand as tall as many gentlemen, who seemed to tower over women and look down at them. He was only slightly taller than she, who could be only considered of average height for a woman. He might, in a roomful of men, be one of the shortest present.
And yet his size suited him well, like a small, clever bird of some sort, perfectly suited to its body, not awkward and long and unkempt like half-grown cattle, the way some young men were, always knocking things over and hunching in on themselves, or booming and strutting like peacocks. He fit his size perfectly.
He did look young, although she couldn't guess his exact age. He seemed precise and kind and perfect exactly what one would want in a gentleman if one could pick from a catalogue. This trait and that...this particular, gentle smile, and these pleasing gray eyes. And then there was the delightful aspect of his interest in nature and animals. It could only please a slightly unconventional woman...especially when he looked at her like that, as though he saw her, as though she was worth the bothering of noticing and listening to.
Therefore she spoke somewhat at random regarding the animals on the estate. He nodded gravely, released her hand, and said they would get on very well together if she could show him but some of these delights.
Mrs Smalltree Folly A Quirky Regency Romance edition by Jo Raine Literature Fiction eBooks
I stumbled upon “Mrs. Smalltree’s Folly” after wondering if anyone was still writing stories in the style of traditional Regencies, rather than historical romance novels. After reading the story, I’m not sure it qualifies as either category – but I applaud the author for having a very creative and unique take on the Regency period nonetheless. It is, as the title promises, a quirky story. It involves a poor relation with is actually best friends with the daughter of the family for a change. Neither of the two girls are considered a beauty and both are somewhat subdued in personality, although the heroine is a bit more outspoken. The hero is an exceptionally unusual character as a quiet man more focused on insects and small animals than socializing.Again, I really liked that both the characters and plot are unique and interesting – that’s hard to find. The story isn’t exactly funny, but there are definitely some amusing moments – like when characters are shown from the perspective of an entomologist. I also liked that the author uses a lot of appropriate (or at least relevant) language for the time period. But I do think the story needs a good deal of work. It has a very “fairy tale” feel to it because there is so much narration and so little dialogue. There’s not much romance to see because the reader is only present for a few sentences of dialogue between the main characters before they decide to get hitched. The story continues a ways after the couple gets married – which in a way was satisfying – but in other ways felt like an epilogue that took up the last 1/3 of the novella. Other details could be improved: sentence transitions could be refined with the help of an editor, Mr. Smalltree shouldn’t talk like a modern day redneck, and there was at least one place where the name “Harriet” was used when the author meant to type “Pamela.”
Overall, I think the author had some wonderful ideas and unique perspectives. But the story feels like a very rough draft.
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Mrs Smalltree Folly A Quirky Regency Romance edition by Jo Raine Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
This is a sweet romance about two shy people finding their way to true love. They have at least one bully to deal with.
I stumbled upon “Mrs. Smalltree’s Folly” after wondering if anyone was still writing stories in the style of traditional Regencies, rather than historical romance novels. After reading the story, I’m not sure it qualifies as either category – but I applaud the author for having a very creative and unique take on the Regency period nonetheless. It is, as the title promises, a quirky story. It involves a poor relation with is actually best friends with the daughter of the family for a change. Neither of the two girls are considered a beauty and both are somewhat subdued in personality, although the heroine is a bit more outspoken. The hero is an exceptionally unusual character as a quiet man more focused on insects and small animals than socializing.
Again, I really liked that both the characters and plot are unique and interesting – that’s hard to find. The story isn’t exactly funny, but there are definitely some amusing moments – like when characters are shown from the perspective of an entomologist. I also liked that the author uses a lot of appropriate (or at least relevant) language for the time period. But I do think the story needs a good deal of work. It has a very “fairy tale” feel to it because there is so much narration and so little dialogue. There’s not much romance to see because the reader is only present for a few sentences of dialogue between the main characters before they decide to get hitched. The story continues a ways after the couple gets married – which in a way was satisfying – but in other ways felt like an epilogue that took up the last 1/3 of the novella. Other details could be improved sentence transitions could be refined with the help of an editor, Mr. Smalltree shouldn’t talk like a modern day redneck, and there was at least one place where the name “Harriet” was used when the author meant to type “Pamela.”
Overall, I think the author had some wonderful ideas and unique perspectives. But the story feels like a very rough draft.
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