Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Another fun journey with the Lady Travelers Society, and like the previous book, our intrepid travelers are not quite what they seem. Sidney has been writing her adventure stories about Egypt for some time, using her grandmother's journals for inspiration. They are wildly popular, and she discovered too late that people believe that they are her adventures. To confess the truth would destroy her reputation and her only source of income. When the Earl of Brenton accuses her of writing rubbish and maligns her knowledge, she accepts his challenge to prove it with a trip to Egypt, accompanied by his nephew.
Harry Armstrong, the "nephew" in question, is actually the earl himself. After twenty years in Egypt, making like Indiana Jones, he returned to take up his new responsibilities as earl. Part of his plan is to write about his time in Egypt, but no one is interested in his writing when they can read "Mrs. Gordon's." He's confident he can gather enough evidence to prove her a fraud.
I felt a bit badly for Sidney at the beginning. Her deceptions were not her choice but forced on her by her publisher and the times. Also, the public war of words with the earl wasn't hers, but the well-meaning interference of her Aunt Effie and her friends, Poppy and Gwen. Sidney was furious when she found out about it, but she also wasn't about to roll over and play dead. Though it took a little prodding from the old ladies, she was determined to prove him wrong.
Harry did not make a good first impression. It was clear that his motivating factor was jealousy that Sidney's writings were popular and his were rejected time and again for being dull and dry. He redeemed himself slightly with his worry that he was potentially ruining an old lady supplementing her pension, but his refusal to back down didn't help his case.
The journey is sponsored by Sidney's publisher, who has a lot riding on the outcome. If she is proved a fraud, it won't look good for him. He will also be stuck publishing Harry's book, which isn't nearly as good as Sidney's. There's an amusing scene where Effie manages to get the publisher to include the three ladies in the trip as Sidney's chaperones. Mr. Cadwallender also sends along a reporter as an impartial witness and to write about whatever the results are.
From the moment the journey began, the sparks flew between Harry and Sidney. He makes it clear that he doesn't believe she has ever been to Egypt, based mainly on her "rosy" depiction of the places and events. For him, if you don't include the bad, you don't know what you're talking about - which explains his dreadful writing. Of course, he's right, she has never set foot in the country, but she has studied extensively and has her grandmother's journals. And she never intended people to believe they were completely factual. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Sidney confound Harry with her knowledge and confuse him with her unbridled enthusiasm. It was fun to see him attempt to trip her up, and her stay just on the right side of giving herself away. In this she was helped along by the three ladies.
I liked the development of the relationship between Harry and Sidney. It didn't take long for him to become thoroughly intrigued by her contradictions and drawn into her enthusiasm. It begins to bring back the memories of his early days when life was more adventurous and considerably more fun. One of my favorite things is that Harry and Sidney are equal in intelligence and quickly develop respect for each other's abilities. Harry also becomes unexpectedly protective of Sidney, adding a bit of stress to his daily life. Sidney is wholly independent and tends to go off on her own, unconscious of the dangers. The harem scene was especially fun.
The feelings between Harry and Sidney have a better chance to grow when they put their animosity aside to investigate an intriguing antiquity. Harry's somewhat disreputable past comes back to bite him when he is "encouraged" to retrieve an ancient medallion from an unscrupulous American. I laughed out loud at the way Sidney inserted herself in the process and then took it over. Their teamwork is impressive, with each bringing something vital to the table. The resolution of the mystery was exciting with a couple of unexpected twists. One added an extra layer of danger, and the other a solution to a mystery and a problem. There were a couple of minor obstacles to overcome before they could get their happy ending - not the least of which was finally admitting the truth to each other. There was a nice little O. Henry twist to that event. The epilogue was lovely.
Once again, Poppy, Effie, and Gwen are vital parts of the story. They frequently give the impression of being ditzy, but they are very cunning when they want to be. I loved seeing them try to show Sidney the importance of knowing the details of her fictional past, especially when those details can trip her up. There's also a hilarious scene as they attempt sex education so that the "widow" won't be taken unawares. Harry's problems with "the old ladies" were myriad as they frequently got on his nerves, but also entertained him. The morning after scene in Sidney's room was hysterical. One of the things I loved best was that the founders of the Lady Travelers Society finally got to do some traveling of their own and that they embraced it with such fervor.
Harry Armstrong, the "nephew" in question, is actually the earl himself. After twenty years in Egypt, making like Indiana Jones, he returned to take up his new responsibilities as earl. Part of his plan is to write about his time in Egypt, but no one is interested in his writing when they can read "Mrs. Gordon's." He's confident he can gather enough evidence to prove her a fraud.
I felt a bit badly for Sidney at the beginning. Her deceptions were not her choice but forced on her by her publisher and the times. Also, the public war of words with the earl wasn't hers, but the well-meaning interference of her Aunt Effie and her friends, Poppy and Gwen. Sidney was furious when she found out about it, but she also wasn't about to roll over and play dead. Though it took a little prodding from the old ladies, she was determined to prove him wrong.
Harry did not make a good first impression. It was clear that his motivating factor was jealousy that Sidney's writings were popular and his were rejected time and again for being dull and dry. He redeemed himself slightly with his worry that he was potentially ruining an old lady supplementing her pension, but his refusal to back down didn't help his case.
The journey is sponsored by Sidney's publisher, who has a lot riding on the outcome. If she is proved a fraud, it won't look good for him. He will also be stuck publishing Harry's book, which isn't nearly as good as Sidney's. There's an amusing scene where Effie manages to get the publisher to include the three ladies in the trip as Sidney's chaperones. Mr. Cadwallender also sends along a reporter as an impartial witness and to write about whatever the results are.
From the moment the journey began, the sparks flew between Harry and Sidney. He makes it clear that he doesn't believe she has ever been to Egypt, based mainly on her "rosy" depiction of the places and events. For him, if you don't include the bad, you don't know what you're talking about - which explains his dreadful writing. Of course, he's right, she has never set foot in the country, but she has studied extensively and has her grandmother's journals. And she never intended people to believe they were completely factual. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Sidney confound Harry with her knowledge and confuse him with her unbridled enthusiasm. It was fun to see him attempt to trip her up, and her stay just on the right side of giving herself away. In this she was helped along by the three ladies.
I liked the development of the relationship between Harry and Sidney. It didn't take long for him to become thoroughly intrigued by her contradictions and drawn into her enthusiasm. It begins to bring back the memories of his early days when life was more adventurous and considerably more fun. One of my favorite things is that Harry and Sidney are equal in intelligence and quickly develop respect for each other's abilities. Harry also becomes unexpectedly protective of Sidney, adding a bit of stress to his daily life. Sidney is wholly independent and tends to go off on her own, unconscious of the dangers. The harem scene was especially fun.
The feelings between Harry and Sidney have a better chance to grow when they put their animosity aside to investigate an intriguing antiquity. Harry's somewhat disreputable past comes back to bite him when he is "encouraged" to retrieve an ancient medallion from an unscrupulous American. I laughed out loud at the way Sidney inserted herself in the process and then took it over. Their teamwork is impressive, with each bringing something vital to the table. The resolution of the mystery was exciting with a couple of unexpected twists. One added an extra layer of danger, and the other a solution to a mystery and a problem. There were a couple of minor obstacles to overcome before they could get their happy ending - not the least of which was finally admitting the truth to each other. There was a nice little O. Henry twist to that event. The epilogue was lovely.
Once again, Poppy, Effie, and Gwen are vital parts of the story. They frequently give the impression of being ditzy, but they are very cunning when they want to be. I loved seeing them try to show Sidney the importance of knowing the details of her fictional past, especially when those details can trip her up. There's also a hilarious scene as they attempt sex education so that the "widow" won't be taken unawares. Harry's problems with "the old ladies" were myriad as they frequently got on his nerves, but also entertained him. The morning after scene in Sidney's room was hysterical. One of the things I loved best was that the founders of the Lady Travelers Society finally got to do some traveling of their own and that they embraced it with such fervor.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl (Lady Travelers Society, Bk 3) on + 1713 more book reviews
This one seemed to fall flat for me. There was no real direction of the story throughout the whole book. Nothing exciting seemed to happen at all or anywhere.
There was the usual witty banter and I love the old ladies and what they bring but they alone could not hold up the whole book.
I am hoping for better in the next one as the ones before have been a great read.
There was the usual witty banter and I love the old ladies and what they bring but they alone could not hold up the whole book.
I am hoping for better in the next one as the ones before have been a great read.
Mary R. (greatdanelover) reviewed The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl (Lady Travelers Society, Bk 3) on + 131 more book reviews
I have read all of Ms. Alexander's previous books and liked them all. I guess my tastes have changed because this series cannot hold my interest at all. I read the first two begrudgingly, but this one I could not finish. It is cute with a lot of repartee between the characters, but I guess cute doesn't do it for me anymore.
