Customer Reviews

Aunt Sophie's Diamonds (Fawcett Crest Book)

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4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

I found a copy of this in a used book store. Joan Smith is (was - nothing new has been published by her in years) one of my very favorite Regency romance writers. The dialogue in her novels, especially this one, is always delightfully witty. All her characters are fleshed out people (not just the main characters) with both good and bad traits. A very suitable heir to Georgette Heyer.

"Little" Claudia has been hidden away and neglected by her mother her whole life because her mother, an acredited beauty, does not want the fashionable world to figure out how old she really is. So Claudia has been living with an Uncle and his wife, very pious folks who only allow the Bible and John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" to be read in their home.

When Aunt Sophie is dying, Claudia's mother drags her daughter to her Aunt's bedside and funeral in hopes that Aunt Sophie will have left something to Claudia, perhaps some of her famous jewels (which her mother will appropriate since Claudia has no need for jewels). However, upon arriving at Aunt Sophie's home, they find that Aunt Sophie has written the strangest will in England.

Sir Hillary, a confirmed bachelor and neighbor of Aunt Sophie, is named the executor of the will. Although initially as condescending to Claudia as he is to her mother, he soon discovers that Claudia has a deliciously satirical wit, a taste for outrageous adventure, plus she is also an unbeatable chess player, a rare treasure in a woman.

I also recommend "Gather Ye Rosebuds" by the same author. Both novels have heros who start as snobs and learn to become less snobby and better men under the influence of intelligent and witty heroines who are lower than them in social rank. In that respect, there is something of Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice" in both these novels.

Have you ever had a crazy relative who left a bizarre will? Sophronia Tewksbury was a manipulative old bat and left her relatives with a mind boggling one. The entailed estate went to one nephew, various lesser jewels were given to others but her diamonds were to be buried with her. Outrage is the best description of their reaction to that news. Scheming sister Marcia, estate poor cousin Jonathon, marriage minded nephew Gabriel and ward Luane are all determined to get their hands on the necklace. But Marcia's neglected daughter Claudia just wants a few small adventures before heading back to her dreary life in Devonshire as the governess to her Uncle's bratty boys. Coexecutors of the will Sir Hillary Thoreau and Sophie's solicitor Mr. Fletcher will have their hands full trying to guard the grave, sort out the family squabbles and maybe, for Sir Hillary, find a little romance before all is sorted out.

Joan Smith does wicked, witty trad regencies better than about anyone else. And with Claudia and Hillary she has her usual cutting comedy. Very little gets past either one and both have delicious senses of humor. Sir Hillary comes upon Cousin Jonathon trying to propose to Claudia and decides to give lessons.


"Shall I show you how?" Sir Hillary asked. "Standing will do for a rehearsal, though in a real offer kneeling is all the crack. You take the lady's right hand---so. You had her left hand, Jonathon, the one with the emerald--didn't you notice? Next you assume a suitably ardent expression--a mixture of hope, love and eagerness with something of eternal devotion thrown in if you can manage it, but still firm and manly. Humility has no part in this particular expression. That will come later after she has accepted. I think the facial expression really half the battle. When my time comes I shall think of a particular trout that has eluded me these several seasons and imagine I am about to land him"

The secondary characters, especially Sophie's long suffering companion Miss Bliss and Marcia's upstart romantic suitor, are great and you get the regency feel but set in the countryside, so no tiresome trips to Almacks or harping on only two dances per gentleman per night. This one was delightful.

This book may be the best in Joan Smith's Regency Romance series. Her books are known for their witty, clever dialogue and their touch of suspense. This one has all those characteristics and more. This is one I will not part with and have read a least five times.

Claudia's Aunt Sophia raised cane when she settled into the ground---taking her diamonds with her, a final act of revenge. Claudia could care less. She never knew the obnoxious aunt while she was alive. But when Sir Hillary Thoreau, an ex-comrade of her Aunt Sophie, started following Claudia about, she needed reveal where his persistant interests aimed--for Claudia or Aunt Sophie's Diamonds.

Witty, adventurous, true-to-life characters. This easy story read is terrific, especially if you are a fan of Joan Smith's novels.

I liked this book a lot. The humor, characterizations and repartee reminded me of some of Georgette Heyer's books. Perhaps the welding torch was an anachronism, but if so I wasn't informed enough to notice. I recently discovered Joan Smith's books and enjoy her style in general; this is one of my favorites. Love being able to get out of print books on Kindle.

When Sophronia Tewksbury dies everyone in the will is present. They are all eager to find out who will inherit her wealth and the diamonds. Captain Jonathon Tewksbury gets her estate but is eager to court his cousins, Miss Luane Beresford and Miss Milmont, if they are wealthy. Miss Claudia Milmont, 24, has spent most of her life in the country and visited her mother only a few weeks every year in London. Her mother, Marcia Mil­mont, only wants the diamonds and tries to appear young by hiding the age of her daughter.

It gets interesting when there are odd requests made in the will. Sir Hillary Thoreaut neighbor and co-executor of Sophronia's will keeps a close eye on everyone's actions. I was eager to see how everything it turned out in the end.

This Novel combines a detective story with romance and is well written and a pleasure to read. I recommend it. Maria Rennard

Perhaps this story would work a little better in a historic period that the author was more familiar with. The manners and attitudes of the characters are impulsive and careless, not like behaviors in the early 1800s. The motives of the characters seem a bit random, or, at least, poorly explained. I stopped reading when the author has one of the characters propose the use of a welding torch... at this point in history, any welding activities required a blacksmith and a forge. This was the last straw in an unconvincing book. A waste of money and time.

I really enjoy most of Joan Smith's Regency Romances. This one I didn't even finish. I didn't think the characters were fleshed out to her usual standards - it seemed almost as if another author wrote it. An author not nearly as talented.