The Bond Street Chronicles - Mrs Budley's Disgrace - Sir Philip Loses His Mind (Volume 2)

What do penniless aristocrats do to maintain their standing in 19th-century London? They open a hotel!

One infallible rule unites the hotel associates: everyone must contribute to its financial well-being. This month, it's Mrs. Budley's turn. With no family, the beautiful widow has no other solution than to swindle an old marquis, as rich as he is doddery, who turns out to be... a charming young man!

Meanwhile, Sir Philip, eager to expand the clientele, brings in his new conquest. But she is so vulgar that she drives customers away!

Lady Fortescue, for her part, comes to the rescue of a young girl whose mother intends to steal her thunder during the social season... Business is business but, noblesse oblige, order must be restored!

Witty and quirky, the best English Regency romance, by M.C. Beaton, the author of Agatha Raisin.

📖 Review from the Ancient Grimoire Bookstore

By our editorial & librarian committee

M.C. Beaton, famous for her Agatha Raisin series, displays all her talent for comedy of manners and the English Regency novel in The Chronicles of Bond Street. This second volume brilliantly continues the misadventures of penniless aristocrats turned hoteliers against their will.

What gives this series its irresistible charm is its explosive mix of British humor, romantic twists, and social satire. Beaton excels at sketching the flaws of 19th-century English aristocracy with a delightful lightness and impertinence. The intertwined plots—Mrs. Budley and her fake marquis, Sir Philip and his vulgar conquest, Lady Fortescue and her worldly good deeds—form a piquant and addictive fresco.

The author perfectly masters the codes of historical romance while mischievously subverting them. Her colorful characters, attached to their rank despite their financial downfall, accurately embody the contradictions of an era where appearances mattered more than anything.

We recommend this series to fans of light historical romances, English comedies of manners, and all those who appreciate Jane Austen's universe revisited with a dose of contemporary impertinence. A delightful and witty read, perfect for escaping to Regency London.

Our rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — A sparkling and addictive comedy of manners, a worthy heir to the Austenian tradition.