Jane Dunn's The Accidental Debutante was published on June 14th by Boldwood Books.
A daring young lady and dashing lord
At Prebbles Flying Circus, the daring Eliza Gray captivates
audiences with her breathtaking feats on horseback. Yet beyond the applause,
she harbours a longing to find the family she lost as a child and discover who
she truly is.
Fate, however, takes an unexpected turn when Eliza is
unceremoniously knocked down by a curricle driven recklessly by Raven, Earl
Purfoy. Dazed but intrigued, she cannot help but notice Purfoy’s commanding
presence.
For his part, the dashing lord, is mortified at his
carelessness and resolves to assist the spirited yet intriguing young woman. He
deposits her in the care of his dearest friends, Corinna and Alick Wolfe, who
encourage Miss Gray in her search for her family and sponsor her entry into
London society. The glittering balls and scurrilous gossip of the ton are a far
cry from the circus ring and Eliza finds herself the subject of intense
speculation and unwelcome advances.
As a most accidental debutante, Eliza has to navigate the
complexities of high society and her new friendships. Her quest for family and
belonging becomes perilously entwined with Zadoc Flynn, an American heir in
search of an English bride, and the unfathomable Lord Purfoy.
Can Eliza uncover the truth of her past and the family she
longs for? And will it be Mr Flynn or Lord Purfoy, or indeed her new female
friends, who help her find her place in the world?
In a tale of courage, passion, and self-discovery, this lost
orphan must decide where she truly belongs.
My Thoughts
Eliza is an intriguing central character with a mystery to solve as to her upbringing. She can mimic whichever strata of society she finds herself in but her earliest memories point to her having a respectable and fairly affluent family. As self defence, she finds herself having to mislead the people who are trying to help her. She feels guilty about this. Raven is the dashing lord who has made sure that she is safe and under the care of his closest friends. Up in London for the Season, he is a confirmed bachelor but you feel that there is a sensitive side beneath the surface.A trauma in his family has left him determined to avoid any future heartbreak. Eliza finds herself with a choice to make. She has the chance for a respectable but loveless marriage to a rich American but hankers after a true love affair. There is plenty of period detail which shows you a believable world with some interesting characters. It has all the ingredients of a Regency romance and depicts plausible friendships and a touch of humour too.
In short: family secrets and a glittering romance
About the Author
Jane Dunn is an historian and biographer and the author of
seven acclaimed biographies, including Daphne du Maurier and her Sisters and
the Sunday Times and NYT bestseller, Elizabeth & Mary: Cousins, Rivals,
Queens. She lives in Berkshire with her husband, the linguist Nicholas Ostler.
You can follow Jane here: Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter Sign Up | Bookbub profile
Purchase links
Thanks to Jane Dunn, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Check out the rest of the tour!
Dear Pam, just wanted to thank you here as you may not use Twitter so much. It's a lovely review and I'm so grateful for your time and thought. I love your précis "family secrets and glittering romance" - that would get me every time! I also love the fact you appreciated the characters and the humour. I loved writing about them and it's so special when others respond positively. I am also incredibly grateful for your generous 5 star review on Amazon. One feels so tender about the book when it's first published and these early reviews can really break one's confidence or bolster one up. You have surely done the latter. Thank you!
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