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Poor Relation #5
Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue
Colonel Sandhurst 70s, an owner of popular Poor Relations Hotel, fears calling in debt owed by Sir Randolph Gray. Sandhurst offers Gray daughter, fetching Frederica 17, refuge from marriage with hefty Lord Bewley, who mistakes chambermaid Mary Jones for heiress. Sandhurst demands ransom from Randolph. Captain Peter Manners, engaged to Belinda, falls for Frederica.
152 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 1995
157 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Marion Chesney
145 books740 followersMarion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 138 reviews
February 7, 2014
Business is brisk at the Poor Relation Hotel, however, it is fashionable for members of the ton not to pay their bills on time... or at all, so Col. Sandhurst is chosen to bully the money out of Sir Randolph but is scared off by Sir Randolph's daughter who warns him about her father's dogs and her father's desire to sell her to the highest bidder. Frederica is running away from home and her arranged marriage and Col. Sandhurst takes the opportunity to bring Frederica back to the hotel and hold her for ransom. When the Poor Relations try to enact their scheme, they are met by Frederica's intended groom, Lord Bewley, and in exchange for his paying off Sir Randolph's debts and not calling the Runners, the Poor Relations allow Lord Bewley to stay at the hotel and strive to keep the beautiful Frederica out of his sight. Meanwhile, Frederica has fallen in love with the handsome Captain Manners and Miss Tonks has a romantic dilema of her own! This is the very best in the entire series. It plays out like a Shakespearean comedy with mistaken identities, cross-dressing and romance. This is a great read!
October 9, 2020
A charming comedy. I adored like our 'poor relations' fight (also with one another ;-) ). And this time the main couple evidently fit one another. (It wasn't just a brooding duke and his damsel.) And in my imagination, they survived later Waterloo, Peter fighting, Frederica helping in Brussel.
Again, it was with a bit of the hidden censor of the upper-class life.
Again, it was with a bit of the hidden censor of the upper-class life.
January 14, 2018
The love story seemed a bit too similar to others in this series. But I enjoy following the regular cast and the ups and downs of the hotel business in Regency London. Mrs Tonks is currently my favorite.
May 22, 2014
I have been thoroughly enjoying this series and this book #5 is no exception. The owners of the surprisingly successful hotel, The Poor Relation, are as delightful as ever. They originally banded together as, although gentry, they were poor and ignored/abandoned by their wealthy relatives. They had hoped their relatives would be so embarrassed by their entry into trade that they would buy them out. The relatives were duly embarrassed but did not buy them out. Instead, the owners made the hotel into a great success.
In this book, Sir Philip has lost a great deal of the hotel's money by making a bad wager at a horse race. So, they decide to try to collect an unpaid debt from Sir Randolph. Colonel Sandhurst is sent on this mission and he stumbles upon Sir Randolph's daughter who is running away to escape a forced marriage. The hotel owners once again resort to schemes - this time a plan to not only get the money but help the poor daughter.
Once again, a very delightful and fun read.
In this book, Sir Philip has lost a great deal of the hotel's money by making a bad wager at a horse race. So, they decide to try to collect an unpaid debt from Sir Randolph. Colonel Sandhurst is sent on this mission and he stumbles upon Sir Randolph's daughter who is running away to escape a forced marriage. The hotel owners once again resort to schemes - this time a plan to not only get the money but help the poor daughter.
Once again, a very delightful and fun read.
February 5, 2019
All of these Poor Relation books are fast and funny reads with a heart!
I love MC Beaton AKA Marion Chesney AKA ????
My favorites are Agatha Raisin, Hamish Macbeth and the Poor Relation Hotel Series.
I laugh out loud and always have a smile on my face.
October 10, 2019
An adorable heroine, a misguided plot, and plenty of schemes—what could go wrong? HA!
My Full Review
My Full Review
January 27, 2018
Colonel Sandhurst great in this book (although not as heavily featured in the story as the title implies). Still, I loved the "kidnapping" scheme the Poor Relations cook up, and the romance between runaway lady Frederica and the dashing Captain Manners (I love some of the names in this series). I actually quite loved the romance that happened between Lord Bewley and chambermaid Mary (whom he mistakes for Frederica), and I'm thrilled that Miss Tonks went after Mr. Davie and brought him back to work for the hotel. Frederica is probably my least favorite of the ladies the hotel has helped to match up, but only because she kept doubting the Poor Relations (well, technically their motives weren't 100% clean, but they were still kind to her and saved her from what would have been a worse fate).
I am both delighted by this series, and devastated that the next book is the last. These are my first M.C. Beaton books, but I hope she has other stories with this much fun and wit and charm!
I am both delighted by this series, and devastated that the next book is the last. These are my first M.C. Beaton books, but I hope she has other stories with this much fun and wit and charm!
September 18, 2018
This is the first book in the series where I could very clearly see the formula followed by the author. But it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. This installment, as with its predecessors, is a light-hearted, feel good story. It's the perfect series to read if you're in a slump. None of the novels are all that long, and the narrative flows so easily that one can't help racing through. Indeed, that's what I find myself doing, with much amusement. On to the next and last book!
November 5, 2022
De nuevo, muy agradable y entretenido. No el mejor, pero muy simpático. Las tramas de los Poor Relations y Mr Davy muy bien, y la pareja no era sosa por el Capitán Manners, porque Frederica aporta poco. Más contenta con la historia secundaria de Mary y el Lord :)
December 20, 2019
Another bit of fluff from the Poor Relations series,. This time Colonel Sandhurst goes to collect a large debt for the hotel and ends up bringing the debtor's daughter back to London with him as ransom for the debt. Many misadventures ensue before the debt is not only paid, but TWO people fint spouses.
May 1, 2018
Colonel Sandhurst is a part owner of the Poor Relations Hotel. He was sent to collect a debt owed by Sir Randolph Gray. He ends up finding Gray’s daughter, Frederica, getting ready to run away because she is being forced to marry Lord Bewley. Colonel Sandhurst decides to help Frederica by bringing her back to the hotel and comes up with a scheme to get the money they are owed at the same time.
Lord Bewley thinks very highly of himself, so he decides to woo Frederica with his good looks and charms but mistakes chambermaid Mary Jones for her. In the meantime, Captain Peter Manners, who is engaged to Belinda, falls for Frederica.
There is so much going on in this book and I enjoyed it all. It made me laugh out loud several times.
Lord Bewley thinks very highly of himself, so he decides to woo Frederica with his good looks and charms but mistakes chambermaid Mary Jones for her. In the meantime, Captain Peter Manners, who is engaged to Belinda, falls for Frederica.
There is so much going on in this book and I enjoyed it all. It made me laugh out loud several times.
August 8, 2018
A group of poor relations of various high society families are invited by Lady Fortescue to help each other maintain their status with society. Out of necessity, they turn Lady Fortescue's home into a hotel. Each book in the series focuses on one of the members of this little group and entertains the readers with wit and charm. It's a bit dated, but I enjoyed it anyway.
The hero was a gentleman and did his gender proud.
Each book can stand on its own and delivers an HEA. These are very important attributes in a series for me. I'm glad I discovered this series.
The hero was a gentleman and did his gender proud.
Each book can stand on its own and delivers an HEA. These are very important attributes in a series for me. I'm glad I discovered this series.
March 7, 2019
Oh, Colonel Sandhurst, you silly thing. I was hoping for a little more of him since this is "his" book, but the plots are getting more intricate and relaying less on the 'aristocrat saving the pretty but poor relation' angle. Although, obviously, that is still in here to an extent. The Poor Relation is a little marriage market, send your daughters there ladies. Im sad there is only one left in this series.
September 21, 2013
As usual a great regency tale with humour,wit and adventures!
July 10, 2023
Love this entire series. Marion Chesney can write. Love the situations, the problems, the solutions, the outcomes, the twists & turns.Sometimes, the story takes a few hairpin turns, but it gets there. The characters are well thought out-from Lady Fortescue-aristocratic, stern but fair; Col. Sandhurst-thoughtful, resourceful, warm & caring; Miss Tonks-warm hearted, wears her heart on her sleeve, a good friend; Sir Philip-devious, sly, conniving-every story has to have one of those. They all work well together, well, except for maybe Sir Philip. They threw in their lot together to keep each of them, one by one, from going hungry and living on the streets. None of them had any money. The heroine of this story is 17 year old Frederica Gray who is to marry a 40 year old man whom she's never met. She decides to run away one night only to be met by Col. Sandhurst as he's coming to collect a debt from her father, Sir Randolph, who is notorious for not paying his bills if he can get away with it. Comedy ensues when Col. Sandhurst devises a plan to let Sir Randolph think his daughter has been kidnapped and the ransom money will satisfy his debt to the Poor Relations Hotel. Frederica's intended, Lord Bewley meets with Col. Sandhurst and the other owners of the hotel to pay the ransom at 2 in the morning in a park. They explain the situation to him and he agrees to help them help Frederica. There's a case of mistaken identity, a man who is already betrothed but has his eye on someone else, a scheming friend, outright lies, forgery, a Regent, furious father, berated mother, a scheming fiance, a disappointed mother, playacting. All in all, a good story. I hope you like this story as much as I did.
May 6, 2018
The poor relations are at it again. This time colonel Sandhurst happens upon poor Frederica, the daughter of a peer who owes money for his hotel stay.
The plot is to threaten her father to pay a ransom for her, but she doesn’t want to go home, was in fact running away, because her father was going to marry her off to an old man to pay off his debts.
Much more becomes complicated, but Frederica finds captain Peter Manners, the old man finds a young love whom he thinks is Frederica, but isn’t, and Sir Phillip’s tricks backfire on him.
Mr. Davy is another welcome addition, the actor whom Miss Tonks has taken a liking to. Love all the characters and all the trickery, mostly in the name of love.
Great series, only one left to read. I’ll miss it.
The plot is to threaten her father to pay a ransom for her, but she doesn’t want to go home, was in fact running away, because her father was going to marry her off to an old man to pay off his debts.
Much more becomes complicated, but Frederica finds captain Peter Manners, the old man finds a young love whom he thinks is Frederica, but isn’t, and Sir Phillip’s tricks backfire on him.
Mr. Davy is another welcome addition, the actor whom Miss Tonks has taken a liking to. Love all the characters and all the trickery, mostly in the name of love.
Great series, only one left to read. I’ll miss it.
May 26, 2019
This one was another great romance, in the sense that Frederica and Captain Manners spend time together and enjoy each other's company as they fall in love. I liked this one less in the sense that I didn't like how the hoteliers were never honest with Frederica about their motives or their plans. They were so caring and became so fond of her that their dishonesty really rubbed me the wrong way in this one. At the same time, I enjoyed the storylines - how the romance progressed, how the poor relations are finally putting Sir Philip in his place, Lord Bewley's accidental romance with Mary, and everyone's efforts to care for Frederica. I feel like the relationships get better in each successive book. I couldn't wait to start the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2021
Book # 5 in this delightful series. We find Colonel Sandhurst being settled with the job of debt collector for the group of Poor Relations. It is one he does not want but goes out to do his duty anyway. Upon reaching his destination he comes across a young Lady on his way up the road to the main house. It happens that she is the daughter of the house and is running away to avoid an arranged marriage to a man she has never met. So instead of trying to collect the debt from her parents the Colonel takes her up in his coach and returns with her to The Poor Relations Hotel. The group finds themselves with another young Lady under their protective wings. What follows is a case of mistaken identity, a broken engagement and HEA's for not one but two young women. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
August 10, 2020
I like to read these little Poor Relations "novellas" inbetween other heavier books-- to sort of cleanse my palate so to speak. At around 150 pages they are fun, easy, quick and satisfying.
I have to say, this might my my favorite of all 5 so far. There were twists and turns and several subplots. AND a cliffhanger, which I think is the first. Yeah, this was a great one! I will be sad when I get through them all. I have become quite attached to these characters!
If you haven't read any of the Poor Relations series, and if you like perky and fun Regency romantic comedies, don't miss out on these.
I have to say, this might my my favorite of all 5 so far. There were twists and turns and several subplots. AND a cliffhanger, which I think is the first. Yeah, this was a great one! I will be sad when I get through them all. I have become quite attached to these characters!
If you haven't read any of the Poor Relations series, and if you like perky and fun Regency romantic comedies, don't miss out on these.
October 14, 2024
Comedy of Regency love
An unpaid bill turns into a rescue of a fair young lady desiring escape from an unwanted betrothal when the Colonel is sent to collect a debt. From there, the comedy of love unfolds as the hotel takes in another aristocrat of tenuous means. Mistaken identities. Jealousy. Rivalry. Unrequited love. Davy the actor. A forgery. And an affianced Captain. It all works out in the end with two weddings and, maybe, even a budding romance for Miss Toll. If Sir Phillip will leave well enough alone, that is.
This is a light read that can also work as a standalone story, although it is fun to watch the characters grow from one book to the next.
An unpaid bill turns into a rescue of a fair young lady desiring escape from an unwanted betrothal when the Colonel is sent to collect a debt. From there, the comedy of love unfolds as the hotel takes in another aristocrat of tenuous means. Mistaken identities. Jealousy. Rivalry. Unrequited love. Davy the actor. A forgery. And an affianced Captain. It all works out in the end with two weddings and, maybe, even a budding romance for Miss Toll. If Sir Phillip will leave well enough alone, that is.
This is a light read that can also work as a standalone story, although it is fun to watch the characters grow from one book to the next.
February 8, 2021
A quick read, a short book, but so much fun and so entertaining. It's a Regency novel, and the Poor Relation is a London hotel run by a cadre of aristocrats who are down on their luck. When one of them attempts to collect a bill, he ends up rescuing a young girl who is running away from home to escape marriage. She goes to live and work in the hotel, and soon all kinds of romances are in bloom and there are lies and tricks and deceptions galore. This is exactly why the term "Regency romp" exists. An enjoyable, light read.
August 25, 2024
3 Stars
***HOOPLA Audio***
MC: Mr. Sandhurst
Frederica (17 y/o) runs away from home, desperate not to be forced to marry the man her father picked out. Mr. Sandhurst rescues here and takes her back to the Poor Relation Hotel. They give her refuge, but also use the opportunity to get back the money her father didn't pay after staying at their hotel. (Ransom for her return.) It's a duel storyline....rescuing Frederica and recouping their money.
If you're read other Poor Relations books you know how the storylines go. These books aren't in-depth reading, just nice cozies.
***HOOPLA Audio***
MC: Mr. Sandhurst
Frederica (17 y/o) runs away from home, desperate not to be forced to marry the man her father picked out. Mr. Sandhurst rescues here and takes her back to the Poor Relation Hotel. They give her refuge, but also use the opportunity to get back the money her father didn't pay after staying at their hotel. (Ransom for her return.) It's a duel storyline....rescuing Frederica and recouping their money.
If you're read other Poor Relations books you know how the storylines go. These books aren't in-depth reading, just nice cozies.
May 31, 2017
These are seriously such fun little period romances. I love the cleverness of Sir Philip, even though he's a rascal and a cur. And I love the growth of the founding members of the Poor Relations. They continue to develop their characters and to change as necessary. It's not only believable, it's enjoyable to witness it through the course of the short story. I'm looking forward to the last installment.
March 22, 2019
Funny book about the English class system. Since this is book 5 in the series, I feel that I have missed something but I got the gist enough to enjoy the book fro what it was: a silly romp. Some terms an slang don't quite translate into American English. "Fredericka felt that she had burned her boats instead of bridges. Who are the "Corinthians" that are looked down on? The ladies were drinking "negus." Not exactly best literature but entertaining.
November 21, 2017
I have read all these books and really enjoyed them all. They are light and easy to read. The story is good and moves along quite quickly. Another thing I liked about these books was the little bits and pieces thrown in about how un-glamorous some of the characteristics of the time were, for example the rotting or discoloured teeth and the pungent smells and also the people hanging in the gibbet.
November 28, 2020
PG
This series is so much fun to read. I’m obviously hooked and plan to finish it. What’s nice about Marion Chesney’s books is that she doesn’t go into graphic detail with the romance. There’s enough tension between the different characters and plenty of wit to drive her stories and keep me entertained throughout, from start to finish.
This series is so much fun to read. I’m obviously hooked and plan to finish it. What’s nice about Marion Chesney’s books is that she doesn’t go into graphic detail with the romance. There’s enough tension between the different characters and plenty of wit to drive her stories and keep me entertained throughout, from start to finish.
February 6, 2022
Cute, no explicit sex, historic romance by the enduring M. C. Beaton (a.k.a. Marion Chesney) in a 6 book series of stories about poor aristocrats in early 1800s London, who open a hotel, rather then live as "poor relations" with wealthier extended family members.
Best read in order.
Audiobooks are available on public library apps CloudLibrary HoopLa and Libby.
Best read in order.
Audiobooks are available on public library apps CloudLibrary HoopLa and Libby.
April 6, 2023
This is the fifth book in the Poor Relation (Regency England era) series - it was quick and fun. Frederica Randolph is a young woman who is supposed to marry a man twice her age. She runs away from her father and befriends the Colonel at the hotel and learns how to work in the kitchen. She meets a military captain who is engaged to someone else, and dreams of marrying him instead.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 138 reviews