Of Paupers and Peers

By: Sheri Cobb South

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Overworked and underpaid curate James Weatherly is resigned to a life of genteel poverty, never suspecting he is heir to a dukedom until a solicitor appears on his doorstep. Alas, on the way to claim his inheritance, James is set upon by ruffians whose handiwork deprives him of his memory.

Margaret Darrington is no stranger to genteel poverty herself, since the death of her father has left her in charge of her two younger siblings and feather-brained aunt. But Margaret has a plan: To salvage the family's finances, she has only to put her beautiful younger sister, Amanda, in the way of marrying a wealthy man - perhaps the new Duke of Montford, who is expected to arrive any day.

When Margaret finds a beaten and bloodied young man in the road, his shabby attire and collection of secondhand books lead her to mistake him for the tutor she has hired for her younger brother. Still reeling from the attack upon his person, James is relieved to have the mystery of his identity so easily "solved" and accompanies her home. As James' bruises fade, Margaret discovers that he is, if not classically handsome, undeniably pleasing to look upon, with an appealingly self-deprecating wit. Suddenly Amanda's brilliant marriage is in jeopardy, for how can any impressionable female resist such a paragon?

But nothing about the penniless pedagogue is quite as it seems, and Margaret would do well to forget about her sister's prospects and look to her own heart instead...

©2006, 2013 Sheri Cobb South (P)2018 Sheri Cobb South

A wonderfully fun tale

I read and listen to a LOT of romance. This was one of the few where it wasn't blatantly obvious in the first pages who were going go be the hero and heroine. Instead, the story unfurled a bit like a Shakespearean comedy: mistaken identities, missed opportunities, and humor in abundance. At the same time, it was a finely crafted tale of a well-heeled but poorly funded aristocratic family trying to do whatever they honorably could to survive and the story of a poorly-heeled but golden-to-the-core young man suddenly able to shape his own future and capture his true love's heart. I was belatedly pruning last summer's raspberry patch before the next batch of snow while listening to parts of the book, and I laughed out loud at some of the antics. Current day politically correct critics will roar at minor references to Romani, but taken in historical context, the terminology and prejudices mentioned are apt and in no way disrespectful. I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author, and I'm grateful for the opportunity it gave me to get acquainted with a new-to-me writer. I've checked my "holdings" and have happily discovered that I already digitally own at least two more of her books, so more delight awaits. It wasn't a perfect 5, in that I probably won't feel compelled to revisit Of Paupers and Peers anytime in the near future, but I've rounded up because of the overall pleasure it delivered.

Charming, sweet and very romantic:)

This is a kind of romance that has that elegant charm of old-fashioned tales (books and movies) in which the H and the h kiss at the end of the story - and we sigh delighted that they finally get to do it:)

The plot is deceitfully simple - James Weatherly, a poor curate, finds out that he's a duke, while on the way to claim his inheritance he's attacked by some ruffians, loses his memory and is hired to be a tutor to the younger brother of Margaret Darrington's, who in turn would do almost anything for their other sister to marry a duke (or so she says, at least:))... But as Fortune loves to interfere with mere humans' plans, not everything goes according to Margaret's intentions:)

It's a typical comedy of errors - people are not who they are thought to be, or who they themselves think they are, and there are more than one misunderstanding when it comes to who loves whom and who is going to propose to whom.... But the tale is woven with such charm and elegance that you feel like reading your favourite Jane Austen's novel - it has a similar feeel to it... at least it does for me:)

Both James and Margaret are charming characters, though you don't expect to like Margaret so much when you meet her for the first time (she does sound like a money hunter, you know:)). Background characters are also very agreeable (as Jane Austen would have probably called them), and each of them has their part to play in James and Margaret's love affair...

Narration by Ms Zimmerman is almost perfect The pace of her reading is very good, the female voices great, and although some of the male characters sound a bit overdone, she is spot on when it comes to conveying their personalities through the way they speak (one of James's friends does sound like a bored aristocrat he seems to be judging from his description:)).

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Just lovely!

This was my first listen by Sheri Cobb South and I loved it, it's a clean historical romance with a very lovable main couple. There were plenty of sweet moments, and plenty of times I laughed out loud. I've grown used to reading historical romances with a world weary rake who is finally claimed by a shy young miss. Nothing wrong with that story line at all, but Of Paupers and Peers is just the opposite. James is a sweet tempered and poor young man, just beginning to come into his own, and Margaret is a self assured woman who has been managing her estate and her family for years, and she isn't afraid to take the lead. It was a pleasure all through!

Stevie Zimmerman was wonderful as always in this historical romance, it makes good use of her range and accents. She always has the best voice for the male lead and makes it believable. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. I'd definitely recommend this one to fans of clean historical romance!

Very good

Great light hearted story. Appreciate author’s witty verbiage. Narrators did an excellent job with story.

Sweet heartwarming Romance

This was my first Sheri Cobb South book. I'll be purchasing more. Of Paupers and Peers was a well done amnesia plot. I usually dislike them, but the author was able to make the character development interesting. You really do fall in love with the hero. His personality is charming and without the trite hyper-masculinity we so often see in romance novels. On his way to claim a dukedom, our hero, James Weatherly finds himself unable to remember his past and employed by Margaret Darrington, a lovely young woman in genteel poverty who was left in charge of her two siblings and addle-brained aunt. Ms. Darrington has little interest in love. She wants to make an excellent match for her beautiful younger sister in hopes it will save the family from poverty. The book deals a lot on whether money or love is most important. I say a little of both can't hurt.
The dialogue between James and Margaret is sweet and funny. The plots moves along quickly enough to keep you interested.

Overall the book is worth a credit. It has a bit of a Georgette Hyer feel, but unique in itself. I read it really quickly the first time and went back to listen to it again. I actually enjoyed it more on re-read. Everyone needs a heartwarming tale once in a while.

"This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."

Fun and clean

I love Sheri Cobb Souths regency mysteries, so I definitely wasn't going to pass on one of her romances. It was a story that can't happen anymore in this day and age, what with our IDs and all-mighty search engines. When you can't google who the Duke should be, and he doesn't remember himself, all kinds of aspirations rise up. It's probably not best to make self-assured statements of how things will pan out, dear Margaret :) Poor gal had to go through several mental adjustments to get to the happy ending. It was a very pleasurable listen. Kudos, Stevie Zimmerman.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I expect Nothing Less from Sheri Cobb South

I read every book I find by this author. They are clean, exciting, and well written. These are the books I stay up late to continue reading.

Heartwarming Regency Romance

I absolutely loved this book... it was charming, frustrating and entirely enjoyable all wrapped up in a Jane Austen style regency romance. It's a story of forgotten identity that pride and yes... prejudice enters into as the story goes on. The narrator does a wonderful job with this story and was a pleasure to listen to. I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy clean regency romances.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Sense and Pride

The family's meager prospects depend on the beautiful younger sister making an advantageous match. He's been bashed on the head and lost his memory; when it is assumed he is the awaited tutor, the books he is carrying seem to support that surmise. With all the charm one could hope for in a Regency, author Sheri Cobb South engages us in another delightful tale of crossed lovers and misunderstood intentions. I had the pleasure of listening to narrator Stevie Zimmerman's expressive enacting, making the story that much more enjoyable with the added dimension.

Great Regency Story!

Sheri Cobb South writes fabulous regency stories. I was immediately attracted to this book by seeing her name as the author, and was not disappointed at all. I loved how this story was not the expected, but full of twists, endearing characters, and incredible imagery. This is a feel good listen, and Stevie Zimmerman performs it brilliantly. She brings the characters to life with distinguishable voices, and delightful banter. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review. I will definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator.