Penelope ( A Madcap Regency Romance )

The Fairweather Sisters, Book 1

By: Anya Wylde

Narrated by: Deryn Oliver

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Leaving behind the rural charms of Finnshire, Miss Penelope Fairweather arrives in London with hope in her heart and a dream in her eye. The dowager, no less, has invited her for a season in London, where she will attempt to catch a husband.

Thus begins our heroine’s tale as she attempts to tackle the London season with all her rustic finesse. Unfortunately her rustic finesse turns out to be as delicate as a fat bear trying to rip apart a honeycomb infested with buzzing bees.

What follows is a series of misadventures, love affairs, moonlit balls, fancy clothes, fake moustaches, highwaymen, sneering beauties, pickpockets, and the wrath of a devilishly handsome duke.

©2015 Anya Wylde (P)2020 Anya Wylde

Silly

That’s what I thought as I was reading: This is just silly. I don’t think I actually laughed at any time. Penelope is a klutz, which in itself isn’t bad. However the Duke also has silly quirks. The whole thing was beyond me. I believe that someone who likes slapstick comedy would enjoy this book. Unfortunately I’m not one of them.

One of my favorites

I Have listened to this audiobook multiple times. It is already enjoyable and I laugh out loud 😊

A Silly Tale

When Miss Penelope Fairweather arrives in London, she charms her way into the affections of the Dowager and Lady Anne. However, the young lady's unpolished country upbringing land her in disgrace with the Duke of Blackthorne. Can she learn to mend her ways before the duke sends her back to the country?

I read this book many years ago, and remember being amused by the silliness. Coming back to it this year to listen to, I hoped I wouldn't be let down. And...it is still a silly tale. There are a few details that keep me from loving it completely. There is a scene where Penelope is discovered by the duke in nothing but a corset and bloomers. In a time where bloomers were not common? And no chemise under the corset? And I did sigh when Penelope was tight laced into the corset.

The narration was fantastic. The narrator does a superb job of bringing the characters to life. Even the servants all had a distinct voice! This is the second book I've heard from this narrator, and I think I am a fan now.

Overall, this is one i would recommend to readers who are not looking for a serious read. I received a free copy from the author and am choosing to review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Madcap is THE key word here.

Take a break from COVID, politics, and the snarkiness wars on social media making the ills of the world just that much worse....and give this audio a chance. Just as everyone has already said it is madcap, slapstick and laugh-out-loud hilarious.

Penelope, taken under the wing of the Lady who gave her mother a promise to look after her. She's not only a poor girl from the country with no social skills whatsoever, she has also been told by her evil step-mother to not even think about coming back home under any circumstance whatsoever. Whew! No pressure. However, mishaps just refuse to let her have a break. She has a huge heart though, and even though you are going to get to the point where you might want to slap her upside the head, or give her a big shake, she tries so hard to help the people she's living with. Those all go wrong too. The Hero is a piece of work with a stick up his backside, and so many of her mishaps might have been little nothings if he had given her a slight bit of kindness himself. Him, I really wanted to slap. It goes right to the very end with constant misunderstandings, but Penelope keeps trying. And his redemption is the s-l-o-w-e-s-t melt I've ever read. Even with the slow melt, it moves quickly like a Phaeton race. Everyone at the Dukes house comes to really care about her, from scullery maid to the Dowager. Sometimes it's a little 'Lucy and Ethel,' and sometimes it's the 'Perils of Pauline.' But as critical as I can get about my reading, this left me with a BIG smile on my face.

I won this audio in a giveaway, which I entered having read and loved the book. These are my own opinions.

It was like revisiting old friends

I had read this book, and when I had the chance to listen to the audiobook of the tale, I jumped at the opportunity.
Some stories are like revisiting old friends, you enjoy the first acquaintance, but love to go back, to rekindle the friendship. This is one of those tales.
I won't bore you with a synapses of the story, you can read that from the blurb. What I will say is that if you like Regency Romance, and enemies to lover tales, well this is the book for you!
Yes, the audiobook was just like the version in my head, when I read the book, but much more colorful, due to the adaptation of voice characteristics for each person.
Yes, I really enjoyed this visit with these old friends.

Waiting for Penelope's next adventure!

What a delightful book! Penelope is a country girl, come to London for a season, courtesy of a dear friend of her deceased mother. Beginning with her arrival, toting her unusual pet, to her forays into the ton, her kindess and friendship with Anne, she kept me laughing. And anxiously waiting to hear just what would happen next. This is truly a "madcap Regency romance".

fun

such a wonderful escape. Quirky, funny, touching. I enjoyed every minute. This was the perfect antidote for an horrible year.

Sweet story

This was a well written sweet and funny story. I highly recommend this title if you are looking for a sweet clean love story. A bit predictable. This should be a series

Penelope

I have never laugh to much in my life. One of the best books in quite a while.

Wonderful Laugh Out Loud Story

Penelope's story involves a little tiny bit of My Fair Lady, some slapstick comedy, a duke, and toss in a goat into that mix as well.While the story is silly, there is definitely a plot involved. The heroine does grow as a character as the book progresses, but she never loses the charm that makes her who she is.

I read Penelope a few years ago and absolutely loved the book. Listening to the book now, and I still absolutely love the book. It is laugh out loud funny, very silly, and just the sort of thing for you when you need something light to read to make your day a little better.

The narrator is also excellent. She brought the characters alive just like I imagined that they would sound and does an absolutely terrific job. I enjoyed listening to her. I hope the rest of the series is also going to be on Audible and narrated by Deryn Oliver.

*I received a free copy of the audiobook