Clarissa and the Poor Relations

By: Alicia Cameron

Narrated by: Heath Miller

Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

In Regency England, Mrs. Thorne's School for Young Ladies is about to close due to the death of young Clarissa's mother a year ago. This leaves 18-year-old Clarissa Thorne and her three schoolmistress friends no option but to return to the bosoms of their families as despised 'poor relations' - at everyone's beck and call for all their lives.

But Clarissa has just inherited Ashcroft, a large, crumbling estate, and she offers her companions an escape - to run away with her to a life of independence and adventure. They must put the estate to rights with little money and less experience. Can sensible Miss Micklethwaite, aging romantic Miss Appleby, and the beautiful Miss Oriana Petersham escape their fate? To keep the vivacious, impulsive Clarissa in check, they must at least try.

However, their relatives may have other plans.

Meeting the Earl of Grandiston and his companion (a devotee of the divine Oriana) on the road sets hilarious events in motion. Perhaps to adventure the ladies must add romance.

©2016 Geraldine Cameron (P)2016 Geraldine Cameron

Fun, no sex, historical romance.

A Georgette Heyer style romance. Charming, light and amusing with out the sex. No melodrama.

Channeling Jane and Georgette

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Delightful, clean, witty romance in the style of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Clarissa and the Poor Relations?

Cornelia receiving her just rewards.

Which character – as performed by Heath Miller – was your favorite?

He did very well on both Grandiston and Elfoy

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The story made me smile. Finished in a single Saturday.

Any additional comments?

More like this from Alicia Cameron, please.

An Enjoyable Surprise

I am not familiar with this arthor but I throughly enjoyed the story. I recomend it to those who like regency romances. It is light and funny and very entertaining.

Fun story

This was such fun. I enjoyed it very much. It was like reading a Georgette Heyer.
Well narrated too for a man reading feminine parts.

Brilliant!

I'd never heard of this author but this was such a great departure from the usual girl under male control story. Horrible brother & godawful sister in law, but Clarissa & her friends bring them to rout. With the help of a fab supporting cast of friends. Funny & great read by narrator. Please could I have a Sullivan as butler on my next estate(Dream on)!

Sweet Novella

Clarissa and the Poor Relations by Alicia Cameron is a sweet little novella, though it lost a little steam towards the end.

This is the first book by this author I’ve read. The novella is a romantic comedy/satire about a young woman who comes into an inheritance and invites her ragtag group of friends and colleagues (the poor relations) from the school they were all teaching at to come and live with her and try to make a go of reviving the dying estate she inherited. The only problem is that the young woman, Clarissa, is not of age and is at the mercy other older step-brother.

The story is sweet and humorous at times, the characters are charming and quirky. I thought the plot to keep Clarissa at her manor was both too complicate and simplistic. While I enjoyed most of the book, towards the end it got silly which is why I gave it three stars. The author was trying to channel Georgette Hayer and Barbara Metzger but didn't quite have the skill to pull it off. But there's promise there.

Overall, it was a sweet romantic novella and while it got a little silly I didn't mind spending my time reading it and would read another book by this other.

Audiobook Notes:
The audiobook was narrated by Heath Miller who did did a very nice job. I think I've listened to one other book narrated by her and she's been good. She's not on my list of top narrators but she does a good job.

Lovely romance

Great storyline, very good character development for all in the story and so engaging. Did not want to put down the book. Loved it.

adorable book

loved it ...very funny and charming, a cute love story, very clean .definitely recommend , I laughed and grinned the whole story

Hard to follow

I found this very hard to follow, I ended up alternating between reading what I had just listened to and back and forth to clarify. I'm not sure it was worth it.... Yet I can't really point to any specific issue that is bad. All in all okay with the potential to have been really good as the story itself was interesting, just told too fast perhaps. (Not fast like talking fast, tho a little of that too at times)

My Kinda Story

The first I've read that has an excellent ending. This is a laugh out loud story. I especially liked seeing that witch and her husband get what's coming to them. I was shocked to see that the whole house was in on the conspiracy.

A true gem!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Warm characters and irresistible humour.

What did you like best about this story?

The unexpected elements that turned this Regency romp into something more.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The scenes where the girls' older companion flirts the old fashioned way.

Any additional comments?

Loved, loved, loved this audiobook! I had already bought the Kindle version of this book and enjoyed it so much I decided to buy the audiobook book too. And I am so glad I did. The book is an absolute charm - well written, witty and full of loveable characters, and anyone who loves Georgette Heyer really needs to snap this up. Of course, part of the success is due to the choice of narrator - Heath Miller. I hadn't heard of him before, but his reading of this Regency romp was spot on and I'll certainly look out for him in the future. All in all, the best audiobook I've ever listened to.

What a pity

I enjoyed the book but the narrator is just not up to the task. Very disappointing.

Good listen

I was given this free review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Story well written and great narration

hmm wasn't what I expected

brilliant performance by all, found I got a little lost at times during this book

A slow paced story .

The story was somewhat spoilt by strange pronunciation of some words by the reader, who also changed chocolate into coffee when it was bought to the heroines bedchamber.
A simple tale with happiness all round at the end