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Ugly Ducklings #3.5
The Perks of Being a Beauty
The beautiful Miss Amelia Snow is not accustomed to being snubbed by the gentlemen of the ton. But when her mother dies unexpectedly, forcing Amelia to take employment as companion to a wealthy cit’s daughter, she quickly learns to play down her looks or risk losing her position. When her employers, the Smithsons, decide to throw a country house party, she is determined to fade into the background. But how can she when the Smithson’s guest of honor is Lord Quentin Fortescue, the childhood friend who stole her heart?
Younger son, Lord Quentin Fortescue, is far more interested in his host’s cotton mills in the north than he is in courting the man’s dim-witted daughter. But it’s the girl’s companion who makes him look twice. Years ago, Miss Amelia Snowe rejected his proposal without a backward glance. Quentin has molded himself into just the sort of man she’d have wanted back then, but is Amelia still the smug beauty who broke his heart? And can either of them risk their newfound positions to indulge the fiery attraction that burns between them?
Younger son, Lord Quentin Fortescue, is far more interested in his host’s cotton mills in the north than he is in courting the man’s dim-witted daughter. But it’s the girl’s companion who makes him look twice. Years ago, Miss Amelia Snowe rejected his proposal without a backward glance. Quentin has molded himself into just the sort of man she’d have wanted back then, but is Amelia still the smug beauty who broke his heart? And can either of them risk their newfound positions to indulge the fiery attraction that burns between them?
125 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2013
31 people are currently reading
599 people want to read
About the author
Manda Collins
33 books1,586 followersManda Collins grew up on a combination of Nancy Drew books and Jane Austen novels, and her own brand of Regency romantic suspense is the result. A former academic librarian, she holds advanced degrees in English Lit and Librarianship. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Entertainment Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, Bookpage, and USA Today. A native of Alabama, she lives on the Gulf Coast with a very stubborn cat and more books than are strictly necessary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
March 26, 2018
Another winner by Manda Collins!
I've read all the books in the Ugly Duckling series and I love Manda Collins' work! I am so excited for her new series!
This is a charming novella about the villain in the series. How can you route for her? Amelia Snowe was a bully and pure evil. But as always, the evil ones are the broken ones. She got better throughout the course of the series and I was hoping to get her book! And I did.
In this book, an unfortunate turn of events have made Miss Snowe into the paid companion to Harriet. Harriet's mother is throwing a house party to find a husband to Harriet. And Quentin shows up, the man who proposed to Amelia before she went to London. And so Amelia is forced to participate in the party to even out the numbers. And it is incredibly funny and sweet.
I believe you overestimate my interest in..." she paused, searching for the right word, "...in horticulture. In fact, I'm quite sure that I do not care for it at all."
"A fib if I ever heard one, Miss Snowe," he said with a smug laugh. "In fact, I'd wager that you enjoyed your foray into the art of making things grow quite a bit."
This is a tale about redemption and lovers reunited. It's awesome, but I'd really recommend that you start from the beginning.
Thanks to St. Martin's Paperbacks and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. It was a pure pleasure!
June 9, 2013
Miss Amelia Snow, noted mean-spirited beauty of the ton, has had a turn of fate. After her mother dies and she is left with no money, she takes on a job as a companion where she tries to blend in and help her charge find a good match. When a childhood friend arrives at a country house party, she remembers how she broke his heart and how he has always had a piece of hers. However, Amelia turned into a different woman after she went to London with her mother, who always told Amelia that all other girls were her competition, and Lord Quetin Fortescue is unaware of the pain and humiliation she caused in the ton. Even though Amelia has made amends with the woman she hurt, she still has not forgiven herself and is a bit hard about life. A rainstorm forces this couple to seek shelter together and this, of course, leads to a good heart to heart and some heated moments. Can Quetion show Ameila she is not the woman of her past and ready to move forward, together? With the humor, depth and a dash of heat I have come to expect from Manda Collins, The Perks of Being a Beauty is a story of forgiveness, healing and heart. 4 stars
eARC provided by St Martins Press via Netgalley
eARC provided by St Martins Press via Netgalley
June 20, 2013
Actual rating: 3.5
I haven't read Manda Collins' Ugly Ducklings series, besides one which I DNFed, but I'm tempted to go back and skim them just on the basis of seeing this novella's heroine in action. I didn't feel lost at all for not knowing her previously in the books, this can easily be read as a standalone. It's an enjoyable, light novel; the characterization was a little one-dimensional, but overall, this was an enjoyable, easy little read. Whatever fault there was can be attributed more to the short nature of the novella itself, and so a lack of depth is to be expected in a book such as this.
I found Amelia's character to be a little bit too perfect in this novella. Amelia Snowe has been brought low in circumstance and in nature, since her debut and years as the reigning diamond of the ton. After her mother's death, creditors came to her door, and she has been reduced to finding employment as a lady's companion.
"If she’d been a nicer person, or a more gracious winner, she might have survived by relying on the kindness of her friends. But the realization that she was fast becoming a thoroughly unlikeable person had come too late to save her from ostracism once her mother was gone."
Along with her destitution came her disgrace in the eyes of the public, after a particularly mortifying outburst where her true nature, that of a Regency Mean Girl, was revealed. Encouraged by her title-mad mother, Amelia spent years picking and choosing among the bachelors of the ton, never finding anyone befitting her standards, “I thought it would be easy enough to find some titled gentleman who was willing to trade his title for my beauty. More fool me.” She even turned down Quentin Fortescue, the youngest son of a duke, in her dedicated quest for a title.
Amelia has since changed 180 degrees. She is truly remorseful for her actions, and is deeply introspective in retrospect as she reflects on what she has done and the people she has hurt. "I know now that I was so cruel because I was in pain myself, but that doesn’t take away the fact that I did it. And I can never forget it." Regardless, she is quiet, demure, softspoken, and just a little bit too lacking in spirit for my liking. I know she has to change, but her actions, her feelings towards herself are a little bit too remorseful. It's not a bad thing to have backbone. There is a difference between remorse and being a martyr to said remorse, and I feel Amelia's character is closer to the latter. She is too perfect now, it's befitting her position as a lady's maid, much less a beautiful one who has to downplay herself for her shrewish employer's sake, but I would have liked to see a little bit more spark underneath behind the scenes.
Lord Quentin is a likeable man. He's not a rake, he was truly in love with Amelia and proposed to her before he broke his heart. He is only human, "he hadn’t wished her ill, but he was honest enough with himself to admit that seeing her brought low by the choice she’d made that day so many years ago was somewhat gratifying." Quentin is just a good beta hero. I liked that he does not hold a grudge against Amelia. She broke his heart, but he moved on, he made a success out of his life, and he does not allow his past to define him. Quentin does not mope around, he does not seek revenge, and whatever he felt about her betrayal, he does not use it against her in her reduced circumstance or make her life difficult in any way. Even if their current courtship is short, I felt there was more to it than just attraction as he got to know her and understand her actions in the past. He does not judge her, he does not ostracize her, but he listens to and accepts her previous faults; I loved that about him.
It's not a big deal, but it bothered me a bit that there was a lot of classism and thinly veiled insults for the new-money middle class for which Amelia works. There is no actual villain, but the other characters in the book were very one-dimensional. Literally, almost everyone depicted with the exception of the major characters were portrayed as addle-brained dimwits without the ability to string together two words. The woman who employs her is "barely literate," the other adults are "featherwits," the gentlemen "whose idea of scintillating conversation consisted of him saying “what ho” and “crikey” over and over again." And etc. The focus is on the two main characters, and that's fine, I just wished everything weren't so black and white.
I haven't read Manda Collins' Ugly Ducklings series, besides one which I DNFed, but I'm tempted to go back and skim them just on the basis of seeing this novella's heroine in action. I didn't feel lost at all for not knowing her previously in the books, this can easily be read as a standalone. It's an enjoyable, light novel; the characterization was a little one-dimensional, but overall, this was an enjoyable, easy little read. Whatever fault there was can be attributed more to the short nature of the novella itself, and so a lack of depth is to be expected in a book such as this.
I found Amelia's character to be a little bit too perfect in this novella. Amelia Snowe has been brought low in circumstance and in nature, since her debut and years as the reigning diamond of the ton. After her mother's death, creditors came to her door, and she has been reduced to finding employment as a lady's companion.
"If she’d been a nicer person, or a more gracious winner, she might have survived by relying on the kindness of her friends. But the realization that she was fast becoming a thoroughly unlikeable person had come too late to save her from ostracism once her mother was gone."
Along with her destitution came her disgrace in the eyes of the public, after a particularly mortifying outburst where her true nature, that of a Regency Mean Girl, was revealed. Encouraged by her title-mad mother, Amelia spent years picking and choosing among the bachelors of the ton, never finding anyone befitting her standards, “I thought it would be easy enough to find some titled gentleman who was willing to trade his title for my beauty. More fool me.” She even turned down Quentin Fortescue, the youngest son of a duke, in her dedicated quest for a title.
Amelia has since changed 180 degrees. She is truly remorseful for her actions, and is deeply introspective in retrospect as she reflects on what she has done and the people she has hurt. "I know now that I was so cruel because I was in pain myself, but that doesn’t take away the fact that I did it. And I can never forget it." Regardless, she is quiet, demure, softspoken, and just a little bit too lacking in spirit for my liking. I know she has to change, but her actions, her feelings towards herself are a little bit too remorseful. It's not a bad thing to have backbone. There is a difference between remorse and being a martyr to said remorse, and I feel Amelia's character is closer to the latter. She is too perfect now, it's befitting her position as a lady's maid, much less a beautiful one who has to downplay herself for her shrewish employer's sake, but I would have liked to see a little bit more spark underneath behind the scenes.
Lord Quentin is a likeable man. He's not a rake, he was truly in love with Amelia and proposed to her before he broke his heart. He is only human, "he hadn’t wished her ill, but he was honest enough with himself to admit that seeing her brought low by the choice she’d made that day so many years ago was somewhat gratifying." Quentin is just a good beta hero. I liked that he does not hold a grudge against Amelia. She broke his heart, but he moved on, he made a success out of his life, and he does not allow his past to define him. Quentin does not mope around, he does not seek revenge, and whatever he felt about her betrayal, he does not use it against her in her reduced circumstance or make her life difficult in any way. Even if their current courtship is short, I felt there was more to it than just attraction as he got to know her and understand her actions in the past. He does not judge her, he does not ostracize her, but he listens to and accepts her previous faults; I loved that about him.
It's not a big deal, but it bothered me a bit that there was a lot of classism and thinly veiled insults for the new-money middle class for which Amelia works. There is no actual villain, but the other characters in the book were very one-dimensional. Literally, almost everyone depicted with the exception of the major characters were portrayed as addle-brained dimwits without the ability to string together two words. The woman who employs her is "barely literate," the other adults are "featherwits," the gentlemen "whose idea of scintillating conversation consisted of him saying “what ho” and “crikey” over and over again." And etc. The focus is on the two main characters, and that's fine, I just wished everything weren't so black and white.
September 19, 2013
Posted on: Buried Under Romance
I was initially reluctant to read about a character who was an obvious antagonist in Manda Collins' previous books, but upon reading this novella, I had really grown to like Amelia Snow, for her change of character was not only believable, but heart-warming.
Her mother's sudden death had left Miss Amelia Snow destitute, forced to seek a position as a lady's companion to a family whom in the past she would have snubbed. Suffice it to say, Amelia had experienced an epiphany, belatedly realizing that her past behavior was beyond horrific, and that she truly needed to make amends to the "Ugly Ducklings" (heroines of the author's previous series). Armed with her new understanding of herself, and how her physical beauty had blinded her to believe in the irrelevance of inner beauty, she has resolved to be a better person, and to put the past behind her. However, when fate intervenes at a house party and she meets again Lord Quentin Fortescue, someone whose love she has spurned in the past due to youthful foolishness. Quentin, despite still desiring Amelia, cannot forget how she rejected his marriage proposal. Can they battle their past conflicts and arrive at a happy-ever-after? Or will each leave broken-hearted?
The answer is, of course, the first, though in the course of this novell Amelia and Quentin falls in love all over again. I find Amelia's confession of her past character to Quentin admirable, as is her willingness to admit her mistakes and seek forgiveness. Quentin, albeit understanding of Amelia's current plight, is reluctant to bare his heart again, in fear that it will be crushed anew. But even with knowledge of Amelia's previous disgraceful behaviors, he finds in the current Amelia the same qualities he fell in love with as a youth. Truly, it is a remarkable journey for the two to end up together again, and to the author's credit this is a very well-written novella of old love and forgiveness.
*ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I was initially reluctant to read about a character who was an obvious antagonist in Manda Collins' previous books, but upon reading this novella, I had really grown to like Amelia Snow, for her change of character was not only believable, but heart-warming.
Her mother's sudden death had left Miss Amelia Snow destitute, forced to seek a position as a lady's companion to a family whom in the past she would have snubbed. Suffice it to say, Amelia had experienced an epiphany, belatedly realizing that her past behavior was beyond horrific, and that she truly needed to make amends to the "Ugly Ducklings" (heroines of the author's previous series). Armed with her new understanding of herself, and how her physical beauty had blinded her to believe in the irrelevance of inner beauty, she has resolved to be a better person, and to put the past behind her. However, when fate intervenes at a house party and she meets again Lord Quentin Fortescue, someone whose love she has spurned in the past due to youthful foolishness. Quentin, despite still desiring Amelia, cannot forget how she rejected his marriage proposal. Can they battle their past conflicts and arrive at a happy-ever-after? Or will each leave broken-hearted?
The answer is, of course, the first, though in the course of this novell Amelia and Quentin falls in love all over again. I find Amelia's confession of her past character to Quentin admirable, as is her willingness to admit her mistakes and seek forgiveness. Quentin, albeit understanding of Amelia's current plight, is reluctant to bare his heart again, in fear that it will be crushed anew. But even with knowledge of Amelia's previous disgraceful behaviors, he finds in the current Amelia the same qualities he fell in love with as a youth. Truly, it is a remarkable journey for the two to end up together again, and to the author's credit this is a very well-written novella of old love and forgiveness.
*ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 12, 2014
THE PERKS OF BEING A BEAUTY is a sweet and heartwarming story of redemption, forgiveness and second chances.
When I finished reading How to Entice an Earl, I was surprised that Manda Collins obviously intended to redeem the Ugly Ducklings' arch nemesis, Amelia Snow. Amelia had been so despicable, I doubted Ms Collins could make me see her as a sympathetic heroine. Well, not only did I like and sympathise with Amelia, but I truly wanted her to have her Happy Ever After!
All Amelia's actions reveal a very different person...someone who has the courage to openly admit to Quentin the extent of her cruel, conniving behaviour. I could see her determination to be a better person in the way she cares about and guides Harriet and champions the cause of the mistreated maid, Mary.
I adore Quentin! I thought his initial reaction to seeing Amelia humbled was a very human one. Amelia had refused his proposal of marriage in favour of someone more important than a second son and so he enjoyed seeing her brought down a peg or two. Then he begins to see just how much effort she had made to atone for her sins and can't help but admire her. He also comes to understand how much her behaviour was the result of her mother's ambitions and why Amelia was so desperate to please her mother even at the expense of her own happiness. These revelations only serve to make Amelia more sympathetic and likeable.
Thrown together for the scavenger hunt, I enjoyed watching Amelia and Quentin regain that easy friendship they had once shared and the rekindling of their love seems such a natural progression.
I love the waltz scene where everyone thinks Quentin and Amelia are talking about horticulture but Quentin is talking about something quite different altogether!!
I also like the inclusion of two characters from Ms Collins' new Wicked Widows series but blink and you might miss them!
This novella is a such a charming ending to the Ugly Ducklings series. I'm certainly looking forward to Manda Collins' new series and already have WHY DUKES SAY I DO downloaded on my Kindle.
REVIEW RATING: 4/5 Stars
SENSUALITY RATING: HOT
Read August 2013
Ugly Ducklings series to date (click on book covers for more details):
This review is also posted on my blog:
http://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/...
When I finished reading How to Entice an Earl, I was surprised that Manda Collins obviously intended to redeem the Ugly Ducklings' arch nemesis, Amelia Snow. Amelia had been so despicable, I doubted Ms Collins could make me see her as a sympathetic heroine. Well, not only did I like and sympathise with Amelia, but I truly wanted her to have her Happy Ever After!
All Amelia's actions reveal a very different person...someone who has the courage to openly admit to Quentin the extent of her cruel, conniving behaviour. I could see her determination to be a better person in the way she cares about and guides Harriet and champions the cause of the mistreated maid, Mary.
I adore Quentin! I thought his initial reaction to seeing Amelia humbled was a very human one. Amelia had refused his proposal of marriage in favour of someone more important than a second son and so he enjoyed seeing her brought down a peg or two. Then he begins to see just how much effort she had made to atone for her sins and can't help but admire her. He also comes to understand how much her behaviour was the result of her mother's ambitions and why Amelia was so desperate to please her mother even at the expense of her own happiness. These revelations only serve to make Amelia more sympathetic and likeable.
Thrown together for the scavenger hunt, I enjoyed watching Amelia and Quentin regain that easy friendship they had once shared and the rekindling of their love seems such a natural progression.
I love the waltz scene where everyone thinks Quentin and Amelia are talking about horticulture but Quentin is talking about something quite different altogether!!
I also like the inclusion of two characters from Ms Collins' new Wicked Widows series but blink and you might miss them!
This novella is a such a charming ending to the Ugly Ducklings series. I'm certainly looking forward to Manda Collins' new series and already have WHY DUKES SAY I DO downloaded on my Kindle.
REVIEW RATING: 4/5 Stars
SENSUALITY RATING: HOT
Read August 2013
Ugly Ducklings series to date (click on book covers for more details):
This review is also posted on my blog:
http://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/...
June 8, 2013
Romance readers are notoriously tough in their judgment of female characters, and so redeemed heroines are much rarer than redeemed heroes. I admit that I was a scoffer when I first heard that Manda Collins was going to write Amelia Snowe’s story. I don’t have much forgiveness to offer mean girls, and I already thought Cecily, Juliet, and Maddie were too quick to accept Amelia’s apologies in How to Entice an Earl. I should have trusted this author.
Collins shows her readers a truly repentant heroine, one whose present circumstances are more than payback for her offenses. She also reveals Amelia’s history, so that the reader understands the forces that shaped her into the jealous, spiteful beauty whose venom spilled out in the Ugly Ducklings books. In this case, to understand is to forgive, and I wasn’t very far into The Perks of Being a Beauty before I found Amelia a sympathetic character whose HEA I was anticipating.
It doesn’t hurt that Quentin is a delicious beta hero, my favorite type, and that the two are involved in a reunion romance, my favorite trope. I really liked that he was not content to be merely the younger son of a duke but was actively engaged in building his fortune in a socially enlightened manner. I thought the time he spent in America as the son-in-law of a wealthy industrialist made both his interest in trade and his more egalitarian ways credible.
If you read the Ugly Ducklings books, you will find that The Perks of Being a Beauty is the perfect after dinner cordial—sweet and intoxicating. If you haven’t read the Ugly Ducklings series, I have three novels and a novella to recommend to you.
See full review at Just Janga:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2013/06...
Collins shows her readers a truly repentant heroine, one whose present circumstances are more than payback for her offenses. She also reveals Amelia’s history, so that the reader understands the forces that shaped her into the jealous, spiteful beauty whose venom spilled out in the Ugly Ducklings books. In this case, to understand is to forgive, and I wasn’t very far into The Perks of Being a Beauty before I found Amelia a sympathetic character whose HEA I was anticipating.
It doesn’t hurt that Quentin is a delicious beta hero, my favorite type, and that the two are involved in a reunion romance, my favorite trope. I really liked that he was not content to be merely the younger son of a duke but was actively engaged in building his fortune in a socially enlightened manner. I thought the time he spent in America as the son-in-law of a wealthy industrialist made both his interest in trade and his more egalitarian ways credible.
If you read the Ugly Ducklings books, you will find that The Perks of Being a Beauty is the perfect after dinner cordial—sweet and intoxicating. If you haven’t read the Ugly Ducklings series, I have three novels and a novella to recommend to you.
See full review at Just Janga:
http://justjanga.blogspot.com/2013/06...
November 24, 2013
This is a short reason why I love historical romances...I needed this little novella to remind me!
July 6, 2013
Read this review on Got Fiction? Book Blog
After the last Ugly Ducklings book, I actually found myself wanting to hear Amelia’s story. This novella is my wish granted!
Amelia Snow has been the darling of the ton and was definitely the most beautiful lady on the marriage mart. But if all this is true, why is she still unwed? Short answer, Amelia’s a jerk. She’s been horrible to the other ladies in the ton, primarily 3 whom she dubbed The Ugly Ducklings. All 3 of whom are married to men who rejected Amelia.
In this novella, Amelia is forced to seek employment as a companion after her mother dies leaving Amelia penniless and in debt. She also realizes that she was a horrible person, and that if she wants to survive, she’ll have to change her ways:
"If she’d been a nicer person, or a more gracious winner, she might have survived by relying on the kindness of her friends. But the realization that she was fast becoming a thoroughly unlikeable person had come too late to save her from ostracism once her mother was gone."
It doesn’t help that the mother of her new charge treats Amelia abominably. Amelia is forced to change her whole personality, and it’s definitely a change for the better. While preparing her charge for a country party, Amelia is determined to be the absolute model of decorum, she downplays her stunning looks, and she keeps to the background. Her plan is going well too, until she stumbles across a surprise guest.
Lord Quentin Fortescue is shocked to see his childhood sweetheart as a companion to the family he’s doing business with. He also isn’t afraid to admit that he’s not at all sad to see her humbled a bit. But he doesn’t know how her past couple years in London really went, so he’s even more shocked to hear her admit how awful she’d truly been. She also explains more why she left him for London, and he realizes that maybe he’s not all that upset anymore.
The two of them are a great couple. Quentin is a lovely hero, and I truly liked Amelia’s change of heart and personality. You can read this as a stand-alone, so if you get the chance, you should absolutely grab it!
***ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press
After the last Ugly Ducklings book, I actually found myself wanting to hear Amelia’s story. This novella is my wish granted!
Amelia Snow has been the darling of the ton and was definitely the most beautiful lady on the marriage mart. But if all this is true, why is she still unwed? Short answer, Amelia’s a jerk. She’s been horrible to the other ladies in the ton, primarily 3 whom she dubbed The Ugly Ducklings. All 3 of whom are married to men who rejected Amelia.
In this novella, Amelia is forced to seek employment as a companion after her mother dies leaving Amelia penniless and in debt. She also realizes that she was a horrible person, and that if she wants to survive, she’ll have to change her ways:
"If she’d been a nicer person, or a more gracious winner, she might have survived by relying on the kindness of her friends. But the realization that she was fast becoming a thoroughly unlikeable person had come too late to save her from ostracism once her mother was gone."
It doesn’t help that the mother of her new charge treats Amelia abominably. Amelia is forced to change her whole personality, and it’s definitely a change for the better. While preparing her charge for a country party, Amelia is determined to be the absolute model of decorum, she downplays her stunning looks, and she keeps to the background. Her plan is going well too, until she stumbles across a surprise guest.
Lord Quentin Fortescue is shocked to see his childhood sweetheart as a companion to the family he’s doing business with. He also isn’t afraid to admit that he’s not at all sad to see her humbled a bit. But he doesn’t know how her past couple years in London really went, so he’s even more shocked to hear her admit how awful she’d truly been. She also explains more why she left him for London, and he realizes that maybe he’s not all that upset anymore.
The two of them are a great couple. Quentin is a lovely hero, and I truly liked Amelia’s change of heart and personality. You can read this as a stand-alone, so if you get the chance, you should absolutely grab it!
***ARC courtesy of St. Martin's Press
June 8, 2013
When an author can take a character that they've previously made me hate and turn them into a credible heroine, I feel that they are talented at their craft. I loathe mean girls, so I was amazed that Manda Collins could make me feel any sympathy for Amelia Snowe, much less convince me to like her. I have not yet read the book that comes prior to this one, so I don't know how gradually the transformation of Amelia occurred, but she ended up making a great counterpart for the kind, forgiving Quentin Fortescue. The two were great characters, and I enjoyed their story.
Former dreadful mean girl Amelia Snowe has taken a fall from darling of the ton to paid companion. Her attitude and the way she presents herself to others has taken a sharp turn. When her former childhood friend and rejected suitor, Quentin Fortescue, appears unexpectedly at a house party hosted by her employers, she confesses all of her earlier cruel behavior to him. Although Quentin was also hurt by Amelia, he quickly forgives her and finds the sparks of his feelings for her growing while Amelia is putting her past behavior behind her and processing her true feelings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, and will be quickly going back to read the book before it that I missed. I enjoyed the characters in this novella, and the storyline kept me interested. Since this was a short novella, I really liked the way that Amelia and Quentin were reviving a past relationship. I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley.
Former dreadful mean girl Amelia Snowe has taken a fall from darling of the ton to paid companion. Her attitude and the way she presents herself to others has taken a sharp turn. When her former childhood friend and rejected suitor, Quentin Fortescue, appears unexpectedly at a house party hosted by her employers, she confesses all of her earlier cruel behavior to him. Although Quentin was also hurt by Amelia, he quickly forgives her and finds the sparks of his feelings for her growing while Amelia is putting her past behavior behind her and processing her true feelings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, and will be quickly going back to read the book before it that I missed. I enjoyed the characters in this novella, and the storyline kept me interested. Since this was a short novella, I really liked the way that Amelia and Quentin were reviving a past relationship. I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley.
July 12, 2013
Amelia has been a thorn in my butt in the series, the bully who gets off on preying on others. In this novella, Amelia turns over a new leaf and I actually enjoyed reading about her.
It wasn't annoying at all and it was so heartwarming to see her genuinely caring for her charge. Readers are told of her backstory and why she behaved like she did before.
Nevertheless, I was happy for Amelia finally getting her very own HEA and at the same time am very sad to see this lovable series coming to an end.
It wasn't annoying at all and it was so heartwarming to see her genuinely caring for her charge. Readers are told of her backstory and why she behaved like she did before.
Nevertheless, I was happy for Amelia finally getting her very own HEA and at the same time am very sad to see this lovable series coming to an end.
July 23, 2016
In this novella, which both concludes Manda Collins’
Ugly Duckling
series and introduces characters who will appear in her forthcoming novel Why Dukes Say I Do, readers are re-acquainted with Miss Amelia Snowe, the stuck-up, sharp-tongued young woman who had previously scorned and mercilessly mocked the three cousins who were the heroines of those books.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Amelia was a total bitch in those novels, someone who could not bear to see others succeed where she did not, and who felt that her position as a reigning beauty of the ton meant she could disdain and bad-mouth others with impunity.
But at the end of the third book (How to Entice an Earl) it appears that the icy Miss Snowe has had a massive change of heart when she appears in order to apologize for her dreadful behaviour to the ladies she had previously derided so publicly.
In this novella, we discover that Amelia, having recently lost her mother, has been reduced to taking a position as a lady’s companion and that it, among other things, has served as a massive eye-opener when it comes to assessing her former life and manner of behaviour.
Her charge is one Miss Harriet Smithson (I wonder if the author was listening to music by Berlioz while writing!) who is the daughter of a wealthy industrialist. Having made their money in trade, it is difficult for the family to enter the world of high society, but securing the services of a former ‘diamond’ of the ton is seen as rather a coup. Mrs. Smithson is anxious to give her daughter as much “polish” as possible in order for her to make a good match, and she hopes Amelia can help.
With this aim in mind, Harriet’s mother has arranged a house-party, on the eve of which her husband invites an unexpected visitor – Lord Quentin Fortescue – to remain for the duration. This, of course, upsets the hostess’ plans, meaning that she has to include Amelia in the dinners and entertainments in order to make up the numbers.
Amelia and Quentin had known each other some years previously, prior to Quentin’s departure for America on the heels of Amelia’s rejection of his proposal of marriage. Seeing each other again immediately rekindles their past feelings for each other and it is not long before they act on that attraction.
This is a novella rather than a full-length novel, so having the protagonists have a history together is a useful way of having them embark on a romance without the need for longer introductions and periods of getting-to-know-each-other. That said, I’ve read novellas that have done that very successfully in just as limited a page count, and in which the characters have been fully rounded-out and given as much depth as if they had indeed been in a full-length novel. Unfortunately, however, that is not the case here. In fact, I felt that the most successful parts of this novella were those that dealt with Amelia’s relationship with her late mother, her realization of just what an awful person she had been, and her determination to leave that all behind. Her honesty, with both herself and with Quentin, about that part of her life was refreshing, and even though there was a sense that she viewed her candor as a necessary part of a kind of penance, Amelia never became an object of pity. I thought it showed a lot of backbone that she could admit her errors and try to atone for them, no matter how difficult or demeaning the cost.
Quentin Fortescue was an attractive hero, although I never felt that he rose to being anything more than two-dimensional. I enjoyed his developing friendship with Amelia, but the romance felt forced. It was given a helping hand by the fact that the pair were drawn as partners for a kind of treasure-hunt and so could spend a little time together without tongues wagging too much, but when, at around the half-way point, Quentin tells Amelia that he desires her, his declaration comes pretty much out of the blue. There is a sad lack of romantic and sexual tension between them, even when things get a bit steamy in the greenhouse - although there is no deflowering among the potted palms! That she should let him get as far as he did given that discovery would have led to her dismissal without references and have seen her reduced to penury didn’t make sense either. And neither does the “caught-in-the-rain-oh-look-there’s-a-cottage-in-the-woods” sex scene that takes place a little later on.
In the course of one-hundred and twenty-five pages there are two sex scenes which I felt were completely unnecessary and didn’t add anything at all to the story. These characters have not seen each other for eight years and Amelia, despite her straightened circumstances, is a lady, who has spent most of her adult life in the midst of society, knowing how important it is to maintain the proprieties. I found it hard to believe that she could have completely disregarded everything she’d been brought up to so very quickly and have no qualms about jumping into bed with a man who had promised her nothing and whom she hadn’t seen for almost a decade.
I’ve read the previous novels in this series and had reservations about all of them, many of which are repeated here. I enjoy Ms. Collins’ writing style, but there is often too modern a feel in the way she has her heroines behave and speak, and in this particular story, I didn’t feel there was any real connection between the two protagonists.
If you’re looking for a quick, romantic read, I think there are other novellas out there that will fulfill your requirements more accurately. But if you want to know more about Amelia and her change of heart, this story will fill in the gaps more than adequately, and I thought that aspect of the story was by far the most satisfying one.
I still think that Manda Collins isn't doing herself justice - but maybe I'm wrong. I've read books 1&3 in the "Ugly Ducklings" series (1 wasn't bad, 3 was!) and now this... I'm not sure if I'm going to read her next series.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Amelia was a total bitch in those novels, someone who could not bear to see others succeed where she did not, and who felt that her position as a reigning beauty of the ton meant she could disdain and bad-mouth others with impunity.
But at the end of the third book (How to Entice an Earl) it appears that the icy Miss Snowe has had a massive change of heart when she appears in order to apologize for her dreadful behaviour to the ladies she had previously derided so publicly.
In this novella, we discover that Amelia, having recently lost her mother, has been reduced to taking a position as a lady’s companion and that it, among other things, has served as a massive eye-opener when it comes to assessing her former life and manner of behaviour.
Her charge is one Miss Harriet Smithson (I wonder if the author was listening to music by Berlioz while writing!) who is the daughter of a wealthy industrialist. Having made their money in trade, it is difficult for the family to enter the world of high society, but securing the services of a former ‘diamond’ of the ton is seen as rather a coup. Mrs. Smithson is anxious to give her daughter as much “polish” as possible in order for her to make a good match, and she hopes Amelia can help.
With this aim in mind, Harriet’s mother has arranged a house-party, on the eve of which her husband invites an unexpected visitor – Lord Quentin Fortescue – to remain for the duration. This, of course, upsets the hostess’ plans, meaning that she has to include Amelia in the dinners and entertainments in order to make up the numbers.
Amelia and Quentin had known each other some years previously, prior to Quentin’s departure for America on the heels of Amelia’s rejection of his proposal of marriage. Seeing each other again immediately rekindles their past feelings for each other and it is not long before they act on that attraction.
This is a novella rather than a full-length novel, so having the protagonists have a history together is a useful way of having them embark on a romance without the need for longer introductions and periods of getting-to-know-each-other. That said, I’ve read novellas that have done that very successfully in just as limited a page count, and in which the characters have been fully rounded-out and given as much depth as if they had indeed been in a full-length novel. Unfortunately, however, that is not the case here. In fact, I felt that the most successful parts of this novella were those that dealt with Amelia’s relationship with her late mother, her realization of just what an awful person she had been, and her determination to leave that all behind. Her honesty, with both herself and with Quentin, about that part of her life was refreshing, and even though there was a sense that she viewed her candor as a necessary part of a kind of penance, Amelia never became an object of pity. I thought it showed a lot of backbone that she could admit her errors and try to atone for them, no matter how difficult or demeaning the cost.
Quentin Fortescue was an attractive hero, although I never felt that he rose to being anything more than two-dimensional. I enjoyed his developing friendship with Amelia, but the romance felt forced. It was given a helping hand by the fact that the pair were drawn as partners for a kind of treasure-hunt and so could spend a little time together without tongues wagging too much, but when, at around the half-way point, Quentin tells Amelia that he desires her, his declaration comes pretty much out of the blue. There is a sad lack of romantic and sexual tension between them, even when things get a bit steamy in the greenhouse - although there is no deflowering among the potted palms! That she should let him get as far as he did given that discovery would have led to her dismissal without references and have seen her reduced to penury didn’t make sense either. And neither does the “caught-in-the-rain-oh-look-there’s-a-cottage-in-the-woods” sex scene that takes place a little later on.
In the course of one-hundred and twenty-five pages there are two sex scenes which I felt were completely unnecessary and didn’t add anything at all to the story. These characters have not seen each other for eight years and Amelia, despite her straightened circumstances, is a lady, who has spent most of her adult life in the midst of society, knowing how important it is to maintain the proprieties. I found it hard to believe that she could have completely disregarded everything she’d been brought up to so very quickly and have no qualms about jumping into bed with a man who had promised her nothing and whom she hadn’t seen for almost a decade.
I’ve read the previous novels in this series and had reservations about all of them, many of which are repeated here. I enjoy Ms. Collins’ writing style, but there is often too modern a feel in the way she has her heroines behave and speak, and in this particular story, I didn’t feel there was any real connection between the two protagonists.
If you’re looking for a quick, romantic read, I think there are other novellas out there that will fulfill your requirements more accurately. But if you want to know more about Amelia and her change of heart, this story will fill in the gaps more than adequately, and I thought that aspect of the story was by far the most satisfying one.
I still think that Manda Collins isn't doing herself justice - but maybe I'm wrong. I've read books 1&3 in the "Ugly Ducklings" series (1 wasn't bad, 3 was!) and now this... I'm not sure if I'm going to read her next series.
June 10, 2013
View more of my review and others at my blog: www.mynotsovacantshelf.blogspot.com
This review will be pretty short as it was a pretty short novella. Amelia Snow was someone I came to hate in the series because of her stuck-up attitude, but in the final book of the series we definitely see a change in her, and understand why she is the way she is. Having lost her mother and her wealth she is now in a much lower position than what she is accustomed too, and finally feeling the sting of Karma. But, I will admit I felt bad for her. No one really deserve to be treated horribly especially when her mother was her puppeteer, and she had learnt her lesson. This novel is a lot different than the other in the series, mainly because its a Novella and doesn’t really have a mystery like the others do, so it focuses straight on the romance, how Amelia spends her time, and there is a lot of class talk. Its a cute novella, but nothing compared to the full-length novels in the series.
Good:
Amelia--a completely different person
Quentin Fortescue--a good guy, doing his best to take care of his responsibilities while still pinning for Amelia after all these years. Love him
Bad:
A little slow for my liking.
Overall (Writing style, story line, and general):
Overall the book was easy to follow. In the previous ones I occasionally got confused by the three different names that each person had for themselves, but that isn’t really an issue in this novel. I also liked that there wasn’t a lot of talk about clues compared to the other novels and focused on the romance and the main characters. This novella was still a good finishing point for the series; it’s always nice to see the snobby girl learn her lesson, and that everyone can change when given the chance.
This book was provided courtesy of the author/publisher for review; however, this is no way affected my review.
This review will be pretty short as it was a pretty short novella. Amelia Snow was someone I came to hate in the series because of her stuck-up attitude, but in the final book of the series we definitely see a change in her, and understand why she is the way she is. Having lost her mother and her wealth she is now in a much lower position than what she is accustomed too, and finally feeling the sting of Karma. But, I will admit I felt bad for her. No one really deserve to be treated horribly especially when her mother was her puppeteer, and she had learnt her lesson. This novel is a lot different than the other in the series, mainly because its a Novella and doesn’t really have a mystery like the others do, so it focuses straight on the romance, how Amelia spends her time, and there is a lot of class talk. Its a cute novella, but nothing compared to the full-length novels in the series.
Good:
Amelia--a completely different person
Quentin Fortescue--a good guy, doing his best to take care of his responsibilities while still pinning for Amelia after all these years. Love him
Bad:
A little slow for my liking.
Overall (Writing style, story line, and general):
Overall the book was easy to follow. In the previous ones I occasionally got confused by the three different names that each person had for themselves, but that isn’t really an issue in this novel. I also liked that there wasn’t a lot of talk about clues compared to the other novels and focused on the romance and the main characters. This novella was still a good finishing point for the series; it’s always nice to see the snobby girl learn her lesson, and that everyone can change when given the chance.
This book was provided courtesy of the author/publisher for review; however, this is no way affected my review.
March 21, 2018
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I requested this book I didn't realize it was part of a series or rather short story set after third book in the Ugly Ducklings series. Maybe it's because it was really short or because I didn't know any of the characters that I felt out of place and little confused. Characters were too plain for me to even remember their names and I didn't feel any chemistry between two of our leads.
I quite like the writing style and maybe in the future I try reading series, hopefully this time in order
When I requested this book I didn't realize it was part of a series or rather short story set after third book in the Ugly Ducklings series. Maybe it's because it was really short or because I didn't know any of the characters that I felt out of place and little confused. Characters were too plain for me to even remember their names and I didn't feel any chemistry between two of our leads.
I quite like the writing style and maybe in the future I try reading series, hopefully this time in order
March 31, 2020
The Perks of Being a Beauty by Manda Collins is a sequel to her Ugly Ducklings Trilogy. I really enjoyed this book. Collins does a beautiful job of telling Amelia Snowe’s story. Amelia was the horrible villain in the previous books. But now after her mother’s death, Amelia is reduced in circumstances and must serve as a companion for a wealthy merchant’s family. When she is attending a house party, Amelia is confronted by the presence of her lost love Quentin Fortescue. After rejecting him years ago, her hopes are once again reignited. But can Quentin put Amelia’s ugly past behind? So beautifully written, this novella can be read in one afternoon.
April 5, 2024
Short and sweet. The spiteful Miss Snow, who terrorized the three cousins, "ducklings," repents of her ways and is thoroughly forgiven. Then, while humbled and serving as companion to a young miss, she is reunited with her first and true love. The sex comes more quickly in shorter stories! And all is well with Miss Snow's happily ever after.
June 6, 2018
This was bad. The book felt rushed and there were no sparks in the romance. I already noticed I didn't liked it early on in the book and now regret I kept reading. It just wasn't worth it for me.
July 26, 2014
(Originally posted at Doing Some Reading)
This is the novella starring the beautiful Miss Amelia Snowe, the mean child in The Ugly Duckling series.
Although she was mean and hateful (we really did dislike her) in the previous three books in the series, she finally gets to have her own HEA and hero.
And we get to see how she came to be the way she is and can begin to reform our thoughts about her in this little novella.
Okay so her Miss Amelia Snowe’s mother has passed and she is now destitute and penniless, but with the help of her newly found friends the former Ugly Duckling cousins, she has found a job as a companion to a girl from a middle class family. The parents then planned a house party to find their daughter a suitable husband and during this time Amelia is reacquainted with her childhood sweet heart, Lord Quentin Fortescue.But she can’t risk her position as a companion to the girl whom she’s watching because where else could she go. She’ll just have to stay away from the tempting man and let him go on his way.
Quentin was surprise to see his former love working as a companion to a family lower than her social upbringing let alone in more controlled of herself and duller than he remember. The last he had seen of her was when she rejected his suit of becoming his wife years ago and leaving him heart broken to pursuit titled gentlemen in London. Now a widow, he thought he has gotten over his feelings towards the high headiness of a girl he fell for but can’t help but fall back into her gaze and wonder what had happen to the girl he once new and loved.
This was an amazing read as I sit here at six in the morning typing this review. I love the series and am super delight and happy that Ms. Collins had written this story for Amelia and had given her her own HEA. We got to see her in the last book of the series in How to Entice an Earl quite a bit and got to see her break down due to the fact that none of the wealthy titled gentlemen wanted her but fell for the cousin whom she loved the bully. I just love that this novella helped reformed her in our, the readers’ eyes and can come to love her as much as we once hated her.
In this story Amelia was portrayed as the toned down girl whom she used to be and had fallen in hard times with her mother’s death. We also find out that the reason why she was so persistent in finding a suitable and wealthy gentlemen was due to the fact that she wand her mother was living on loans and basically nothing but pride. I love how realistic Amelia’s feelings were towards those she had wronged and how she felt that everything that was happening to her because of her actions in the past. I really admire her strength and courage on holding her head high and learning her position as a fallen beauty and on doing the right thing for a good cause, and for not look down on people because of their status anymore. It was an eye opener for her which was great.
Quentin I adore! He keep to himself and stayed true to himself. He was witty and open with Amelia and their past history and was willing to work it out and put it past him just to get closer and have that bond they used to have years ago. I like how he wasn’t pushy to get Amelia to open up about her thoughts but listened and waited for her responses, along with poking her with small questions at first then letting her open up to more info when she wanted to.
This was a very sweet, fast, touching story of forgiveness, reformation, second chances, and learning to trust and love one another. I really enjoyed this read and can’t believe this series it truly over~ But I cannot wait for the next trilogy series which stars a certain characters we just met in this story :D So look out for Why Dukes Say I Do book one in the Wicked Widows trilogies coming the end of July 2013!!!
Hope you readers enjoy this delightful little read :)
This ARebook was provided by netgallery and St. Martin’s Paperbacks.
This is the novella starring the beautiful Miss Amelia Snowe, the mean child in The Ugly Duckling series.
Although she was mean and hateful (we really did dislike her) in the previous three books in the series, she finally gets to have her own HEA and hero.
And we get to see how she came to be the way she is and can begin to reform our thoughts about her in this little novella.
Okay so her Miss Amelia Snowe’s mother has passed and she is now destitute and penniless, but with the help of her newly found friends the former Ugly Duckling cousins, she has found a job as a companion to a girl from a middle class family. The parents then planned a house party to find their daughter a suitable husband and during this time Amelia is reacquainted with her childhood sweet heart, Lord Quentin Fortescue.But she can’t risk her position as a companion to the girl whom she’s watching because where else could she go. She’ll just have to stay away from the tempting man and let him go on his way.
Quentin was surprise to see his former love working as a companion to a family lower than her social upbringing let alone in more controlled of herself and duller than he remember. The last he had seen of her was when she rejected his suit of becoming his wife years ago and leaving him heart broken to pursuit titled gentlemen in London. Now a widow, he thought he has gotten over his feelings towards the high headiness of a girl he fell for but can’t help but fall back into her gaze and wonder what had happen to the girl he once new and loved.
This was an amazing read as I sit here at six in the morning typing this review. I love the series and am super delight and happy that Ms. Collins had written this story for Amelia and had given her her own HEA. We got to see her in the last book of the series in How to Entice an Earl quite a bit and got to see her break down due to the fact that none of the wealthy titled gentlemen wanted her but fell for the cousin whom she loved the bully. I just love that this novella helped reformed her in our, the readers’ eyes and can come to love her as much as we once hated her.
In this story Amelia was portrayed as the toned down girl whom she used to be and had fallen in hard times with her mother’s death. We also find out that the reason why she was so persistent in finding a suitable and wealthy gentlemen was due to the fact that she wand her mother was living on loans and basically nothing but pride. I love how realistic Amelia’s feelings were towards those she had wronged and how she felt that everything that was happening to her because of her actions in the past. I really admire her strength and courage on holding her head high and learning her position as a fallen beauty and on doing the right thing for a good cause, and for not look down on people because of their status anymore. It was an eye opener for her which was great.
Quentin I adore! He keep to himself and stayed true to himself. He was witty and open with Amelia and their past history and was willing to work it out and put it past him just to get closer and have that bond they used to have years ago. I like how he wasn’t pushy to get Amelia to open up about her thoughts but listened and waited for her responses, along with poking her with small questions at first then letting her open up to more info when she wanted to.
This was a very sweet, fast, touching story of forgiveness, reformation, second chances, and learning to trust and love one another. I really enjoyed this read and can’t believe this series it truly over~ But I cannot wait for the next trilogy series which stars a certain characters we just met in this story :D So look out for Why Dukes Say I Do book one in the Wicked Widows trilogies coming the end of July 2013!!!
Hope you readers enjoy this delightful little read :)
This ARebook was provided by netgallery and St. Martin’s Paperbacks.
June 17, 2013
I always like to start reading a series from the first book
This book, even as a series, is also independent, and you can perfectly understand everything that happens to the characters.
Young, beautiful, in full season to meet and fall in love, Amelia and Quentin did not have this opportunity. Due to a misunderstanding between Amelia and her mother - explained the story - it was forced to decline the offer of marriage the young Quentin, since he was 'only' the youngest son of the Duke.
Quentin married another and left for America.
Amelia's life was not easy. Their financial situation only declined, then her mother died, and Amelia had to sell even the beautiful dresses to pay the debts that her mother kept hidden in the sewing basket.
Now she worked as a chaperone of young Harriet. A naive young girl with a fierce mother, who wanted to marry her off to the best advantage.
In addition to needing work, Amelia carried more guilt in her heart. In her time at Belle of the Ball, she humiliated several girls, made some scandals, and when the time came that found herself alone, with no money, only one of the girls humiliated helped her. She learned her lesson the hard way. So she took it upon herself to help Harriet not only to arrange a good marriage, but also to have the most irreproachable behavior possible.
On the occasion in which the Smithsons, their bosses, decided to offer a country party, to increase the chances of their daughter in choosing a good fiance, Amelia was surprised by the unexpected arrival of someone important in her past. Someone she had to belittle, and that she never forgave herself.
Widowed, wealthy and recently returned from America, Quentin saw before him the opportunity to review - and regain - Amelia. But he would endeavor to convince her that despite her sins in the past, she was still worthy of being loved? ...
A short book without hots scenes, but with delicious passages of how love can be everlasting.
It's a book about SECOND CHANCES.
Even being so short, I thought at times that maybe Amelia would cost more to understand that she had paid her debt to have done it in the past. Although not fully justifying the fact that she acted like that much because of her mother, but her mistakes were in the past.
This was now a mature love. The kind where you feel happy to read and be part of it.
Very good description of some of the characters, as one who gossips, who is jealous, or that one happy with others happiness. Perfect descriptions of the type of people you meet in your everyday life. A book that invites you to read the rest of the series.
I liked the pace of the story. The cover is beautiful too - a wonderful blue color.
I have no negatives to point out.
Surely the other books are on my list of "to read".
5 STARS!!
This book, even as a series, is also independent, and you can perfectly understand everything that happens to the characters.
Young, beautiful, in full season to meet and fall in love, Amelia and Quentin did not have this opportunity. Due to a misunderstanding between Amelia and her mother - explained the story - it was forced to decline the offer of marriage the young Quentin, since he was 'only' the youngest son of the Duke.
Quentin married another and left for America.
Amelia's life was not easy. Their financial situation only declined, then her mother died, and Amelia had to sell even the beautiful dresses to pay the debts that her mother kept hidden in the sewing basket.
Now she worked as a chaperone of young Harriet. A naive young girl with a fierce mother, who wanted to marry her off to the best advantage.
In addition to needing work, Amelia carried more guilt in her heart. In her time at Belle of the Ball, she humiliated several girls, made some scandals, and when the time came that found herself alone, with no money, only one of the girls humiliated helped her. She learned her lesson the hard way. So she took it upon herself to help Harriet not only to arrange a good marriage, but also to have the most irreproachable behavior possible.
On the occasion in which the Smithsons, their bosses, decided to offer a country party, to increase the chances of their daughter in choosing a good fiance, Amelia was surprised by the unexpected arrival of someone important in her past. Someone she had to belittle, and that she never forgave herself.
Widowed, wealthy and recently returned from America, Quentin saw before him the opportunity to review - and regain - Amelia. But he would endeavor to convince her that despite her sins in the past, she was still worthy of being loved? ...
A short book without hots scenes, but with delicious passages of how love can be everlasting.
It's a book about SECOND CHANCES.
Even being so short, I thought at times that maybe Amelia would cost more to understand that she had paid her debt to have done it in the past. Although not fully justifying the fact that she acted like that much because of her mother, but her mistakes were in the past.
This was now a mature love. The kind where you feel happy to read and be part of it.
Very good description of some of the characters, as one who gossips, who is jealous, or that one happy with others happiness. Perfect descriptions of the type of people you meet in your everyday life. A book that invites you to read the rest of the series.
I liked the pace of the story. The cover is beautiful too - a wonderful blue color.
I have no negatives to point out.
Surely the other books are on my list of "to read".
5 STARS!!
June 15, 2013
This novella takes place after Collins previous Ugly Duckling series where Amelia is somewhat of a villain. She mentions to Quent all these horrible things she has done to the Ugly Ducklings but also shares how she apologized and is now friends with them. This is my first book by Collins and while I have heard of that other series, I didn’t realize it was connected. To not have any spoilers I would read the other series first although this one does stand alone as a complete short.
Miss Amelia Snow was once a diamond in the first waters in London. Now destitute after the death of her mother is the paid companion of a middle class family. At a party for her charge she tries to blend into the background and succeeds until an unexpected guest arrives. Lord Quentin Fortescue is the younger son of a Duke and former best friend of Amelia. At one time he had hoped to be more than a friend but she turned down his marriage proposal and went to London to securer a ‘better’ match.
Amelia is a character that I would have hated before she changed her attitude. She was the typical ‘mean girl’ that would belittle others just to make herself feel better. Now that she is more self-aware she is very nice and ashamed of her previous behavior. I liked how Quent would not let her feel too badly about herself and feel like she deserved her present circumstances. He was proud of how she had owned up to her behavior and changed how she treated others.
I have always enjoyed plots where the main characters knew each other but lost contact or were in love but it didn’t work out. Second chances are fun to read. It was nice to see how the characters can see the person they loved when they were younger but they can also see the older more mature person they have become and that is just as enticing.
Since I am reading this short first when it would be better read last I am now excited to read the Ugly Duckling series. From what Amelia says about the characters they are all unique and different from the traditional historical romance heroines so they should be a lot of fun.
Miss Amelia Snow was once a diamond in the first waters in London. Now destitute after the death of her mother is the paid companion of a middle class family. At a party for her charge she tries to blend into the background and succeeds until an unexpected guest arrives. Lord Quentin Fortescue is the younger son of a Duke and former best friend of Amelia. At one time he had hoped to be more than a friend but she turned down his marriage proposal and went to London to securer a ‘better’ match.
Amelia is a character that I would have hated before she changed her attitude. She was the typical ‘mean girl’ that would belittle others just to make herself feel better. Now that she is more self-aware she is very nice and ashamed of her previous behavior. I liked how Quent would not let her feel too badly about herself and feel like she deserved her present circumstances. He was proud of how she had owned up to her behavior and changed how she treated others.
I have always enjoyed plots where the main characters knew each other but lost contact or were in love but it didn’t work out. Second chances are fun to read. It was nice to see how the characters can see the person they loved when they were younger but they can also see the older more mature person they have become and that is just as enticing.
Since I am reading this short first when it would be better read last I am now excited to read the Ugly Duckling series. From what Amelia says about the characters they are all unique and different from the traditional historical romance heroines so they should be a lot of fun.
June 22, 2013
A lovely romance novella. The Perks of Being a Beauty was a quick, wonderful read about the redemption of a heroine. I really liked this novella.
I'm going to be honest, I haven't read the previous books in this series (The Ugly Ducklings), where Amelia was the antagonist. So, I don't know the full extent of her crimes. But, from the quick recaps in this book, it sounded pretty bad. But, I think people deserve second chances, so I like romance where the hero or heroine has a chance to redeem him/herself. And this was a great one.
Amelia has gone from the top, being society's premier beauty, and fell pretty hard. Now, as a companion to a cit''s daughter, who she would have scorned in the past, she has been thoroughly humbled. And, after reflecting on her past actions, she has figured out that she was a terrible person. So, she's working on bettering herself, becoming a better person. I respect that. And that allowed me to respect her character and really like her. She might have been terrible in the past, but she redeemed herself.
Quentin was also wonderful. He was a sweet guy and it didn't take long for me to adore him. He was way more forgiving than most people would be in his situation, considering Amelia threw his offer of marriage back in his face. But, to me, that was a marker of a true gentleman. I thought he was a perfect hero.
The romance was mostly sweet. Not much spice here. Amelia and Quentin were so cute together. I though it was adorable how, despite how things seemed so against them over the past years, they still ended up together. They were a lovely couple.
The plot was fast paced. Though I was kept interested, however, I never got completely hooked, which is why I knocked off a points. I enjoyed this story, but I didn't get completely into it for some reason, so I didn't love it. Regardless, I still really liked this book. And I thought the ending was a perfect redemption for Amelia.
The Perks of Being a Beauty was a lovely romance novella. If you're looking for a great, quick read, this is your book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Publishing for a copy!
I'm going to be honest, I haven't read the previous books in this series (The Ugly Ducklings), where Amelia was the antagonist. So, I don't know the full extent of her crimes. But, from the quick recaps in this book, it sounded pretty bad. But, I think people deserve second chances, so I like romance where the hero or heroine has a chance to redeem him/herself. And this was a great one.
Amelia has gone from the top, being society's premier beauty, and fell pretty hard. Now, as a companion to a cit''s daughter, who she would have scorned in the past, she has been thoroughly humbled. And, after reflecting on her past actions, she has figured out that she was a terrible person. So, she's working on bettering herself, becoming a better person. I respect that. And that allowed me to respect her character and really like her. She might have been terrible in the past, but she redeemed herself.
Quentin was also wonderful. He was a sweet guy and it didn't take long for me to adore him. He was way more forgiving than most people would be in his situation, considering Amelia threw his offer of marriage back in his face. But, to me, that was a marker of a true gentleman. I thought he was a perfect hero.
The romance was mostly sweet. Not much spice here. Amelia and Quentin were so cute together. I though it was adorable how, despite how things seemed so against them over the past years, they still ended up together. They were a lovely couple.
The plot was fast paced. Though I was kept interested, however, I never got completely hooked, which is why I knocked off a points. I enjoyed this story, but I didn't get completely into it for some reason, so I didn't love it. Regardless, I still really liked this book. And I thought the ending was a perfect redemption for Amelia.
The Perks of Being a Beauty was a lovely romance novella. If you're looking for a great, quick read, this is your book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Publishing for a copy!
June 20, 2013
This review will appear on Romantic HIstorical Lovers on June 21.
Amelia Snowe was once the belle of the ball. She was determined to marry someone from peerage. But that all changed when her mother died. She’s been left penniless. Now she works as a lady’s companion. Instead of her past horrible behavior, she’s now the epitome of grace of civility.
While assisting her companion at a house party, she’s faced once again with her childhood friend and former suitor, Quentin Fortesque. Since he’s the younger son of a Duke, Amelia didn’t marry him. She spurned his proposal and set off for London to find someone more acceptable to her mother.
Amelia is not the same woman Quentin knew all those years ago. She’s….something more…. Something better. Slowly Quentin realizes that he still loves Amelia. Now he just has to get Amelia to realize she loves him. He’ll do anything to win her over.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’ve not read the others in the Ugly Duckling Series, but I will definitely have to go back to read them. Reading about the exploits of Amelia toward these other ladies, makes me want to read the other books. She’s was absolutely boorish to them!
Even though I have not read the others in the series, I was not lost in this story. There is enough back information in the story to let me know what happened without it taking over the current story. It’s all told through Amelia and others as part of conversations with Quentin. Quentin has been out of the country, so he had no idea what all Amelia had done in London. So, it worked rather nicely for these conversations.
Dealing with all the backstabbing that goes on in polite society, makes one realize that polite society is not all that polite! Rules to follow, games to play, and treachery at every corner, make it all that much more intriguing.
The Perks of Being a Beauty is relatively short story, but definitely worth reading!
Amelia Snowe was once the belle of the ball. She was determined to marry someone from peerage. But that all changed when her mother died. She’s been left penniless. Now she works as a lady’s companion. Instead of her past horrible behavior, she’s now the epitome of grace of civility.
While assisting her companion at a house party, she’s faced once again with her childhood friend and former suitor, Quentin Fortesque. Since he’s the younger son of a Duke, Amelia didn’t marry him. She spurned his proposal and set off for London to find someone more acceptable to her mother.
Amelia is not the same woman Quentin knew all those years ago. She’s….something more…. Something better. Slowly Quentin realizes that he still loves Amelia. Now he just has to get Amelia to realize she loves him. He’ll do anything to win her over.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’ve not read the others in the Ugly Duckling Series, but I will definitely have to go back to read them. Reading about the exploits of Amelia toward these other ladies, makes me want to read the other books. She’s was absolutely boorish to them!
Even though I have not read the others in the series, I was not lost in this story. There is enough back information in the story to let me know what happened without it taking over the current story. It’s all told through Amelia and others as part of conversations with Quentin. Quentin has been out of the country, so he had no idea what all Amelia had done in London. So, it worked rather nicely for these conversations.
Dealing with all the backstabbing that goes on in polite society, makes one realize that polite society is not all that polite! Rules to follow, games to play, and treachery at every corner, make it all that much more intriguing.
The Perks of Being a Beauty is relatively short story, but definitely worth reading!
November 6, 2013
Got this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
A very sweet historical romance novel. It has been a while since I have dug into a historical romance book, I do miss them. When I first got a review copy of The Perks of Being a Beauty I didn't realize It was a novella until I cracked it open. Either way, it satisfied my thirst for this genre for now and introduced me to yet another new author to me!
When Miss Amelia Snowe's employers, the Smithsons throw a party for their daughter Harriet, the last thing she expect was to run into her childhood friend and the man she declined a marriage proposal from. Lord Quentin Fortescue never expected to see the woman from his past that stole his heart and shattered it again until they were thrown together once more.
Lovely quick read, I did thoroughly enjoy this one. Amelia Snowe has had a bad past. After rejecting his proposal she had managed to get herself in quiet a bit of mischief chasing man with titles during her London season. A woman who is now out to correct all her past mistakes of being totally horrible to the rest of the ton, now works as a companion to one of the wealthy families in hopes of redeeming herself.
I kind of liked Amelia. Thought the author briefly touched on what she had done, it was clear that she was a nasty character probably in one of the books. I am glad to see her on a different kind of path in this one. I am sure it was a complete turn around for her. I loved Quentin more and the fact that he stood up for her when times called for it.
Quick read that introduced me to the world of the Ugly Duckling's series. I think I own the last book, but I am sure I will be picking up some more of this authors writing. I enjoyed the instant attraction between Amelia and Quentin as well as Collins story telling!
A very sweet historical romance novel. It has been a while since I have dug into a historical romance book, I do miss them. When I first got a review copy of The Perks of Being a Beauty I didn't realize It was a novella until I cracked it open. Either way, it satisfied my thirst for this genre for now and introduced me to yet another new author to me!
When Miss Amelia Snowe's employers, the Smithsons throw a party for their daughter Harriet, the last thing she expect was to run into her childhood friend and the man she declined a marriage proposal from. Lord Quentin Fortescue never expected to see the woman from his past that stole his heart and shattered it again until they were thrown together once more.
Lovely quick read, I did thoroughly enjoy this one. Amelia Snowe has had a bad past. After rejecting his proposal she had managed to get herself in quiet a bit of mischief chasing man with titles during her London season. A woman who is now out to correct all her past mistakes of being totally horrible to the rest of the ton, now works as a companion to one of the wealthy families in hopes of redeeming herself.
I kind of liked Amelia. Thought the author briefly touched on what she had done, it was clear that she was a nasty character probably in one of the books. I am glad to see her on a different kind of path in this one. I am sure it was a complete turn around for her. I loved Quentin more and the fact that he stood up for her when times called for it.
Quick read that introduced me to the world of the Ugly Duckling's series. I think I own the last book, but I am sure I will be picking up some more of this authors writing. I enjoyed the instant attraction between Amelia and Quentin as well as Collins story telling!
June 7, 2013
I received an arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The novella is often a difficult format to do well but Collins succeeds with this story. This is the first thing I've ever read by the author so I had not been introduced to Amelia in any of her previous books. I liked the concept of the mean girl learning from her mistakes and changing her ways. I feel like her changed ways were shown in the ways she interacted with her companion, Harriet, and the way she takes on a bully that she feels acts similarly to the way she did when she was part of the beau monde.
Part of the reason this story works so well is because Amelia and Quentin had a previous relationship so the romance doesn't feel rushed. Quentin and Amelia were best friends as teenagers which turned into first love. Quentin proposed to Amanda but she refuses to please her mother. Amelia then goes on to five seasons in London where she fails to find a titled husband. When her mother dies, she is forced to become a paid companion. Quentin and Amelia are brought back together at a house party and they quickly realize that the love they felt for each other never went away. They've grown and changed but have never forgotten or stopped missing their relationship. My favorite scene is an exchange between the two of them and a few other members of the party where Quentin and Amelia are exchanging innuendos based on a romantic encounter they have in the greenhouse. It was witty and a lot of fun.
This was a short, very sweet reunited lovers story that I really enjoyed. I look forward to checking out the series this novella sets up and the previous series that it references.
The novella is often a difficult format to do well but Collins succeeds with this story. This is the first thing I've ever read by the author so I had not been introduced to Amelia in any of her previous books. I liked the concept of the mean girl learning from her mistakes and changing her ways. I feel like her changed ways were shown in the ways she interacted with her companion, Harriet, and the way she takes on a bully that she feels acts similarly to the way she did when she was part of the beau monde.
Part of the reason this story works so well is because Amelia and Quentin had a previous relationship so the romance doesn't feel rushed. Quentin and Amelia were best friends as teenagers which turned into first love. Quentin proposed to Amanda but she refuses to please her mother. Amelia then goes on to five seasons in London where she fails to find a titled husband. When her mother dies, she is forced to become a paid companion. Quentin and Amelia are brought back together at a house party and they quickly realize that the love they felt for each other never went away. They've grown and changed but have never forgotten or stopped missing their relationship. My favorite scene is an exchange between the two of them and a few other members of the party where Quentin and Amelia are exchanging innuendos based on a romantic encounter they have in the greenhouse. It was witty and a lot of fun.
This was a short, very sweet reunited lovers story that I really enjoyed. I look forward to checking out the series this novella sets up and the previous series that it references.
June 20, 2013
The Perks of Being a Beauty is the fourth book of the Ugly Ducklings series but can be read as a stand alone (difficult will be you not be tempted to read the others)
It tells the history of Miss Amelia Snow, once the beauty of the ton, now unmarried, after 5 seasons, and poor since her mother's deceased, she starts to work as a companion for young Harriet Smithson, the daughter of untitled rich family.
It looks like Amelia was some kind of a villan in the other books, but has redeemed herself and is trying to thrive in her own. Since she haven’t forgiven herself for being selfish and mean in the past she doesn’t want to accept the help her old nemesis (now friends) want to lend her.
Besides trying to help Harriet find a good husband she also wants her to be a better person than Amelia was before.
In the middle of it all, during a country house party thrown by the Smithsons, Amelia reencounter her childhood friend and love, Lord Quentin Fortescue, the same one she rejected a marriage proposal from because he was only the youngest son of a duke.
Now back from America, Quentin is a rich widow that haven’t forgotten the beautiful Amelia Snow the woman who broke his heart 6 years before.
The Perks of Being a Beauty is a short story about, reedeption, forgiveness, friendship, love and second chances. Despite being very fast and leave you with a feeling that you missed important facts it leaves you wanting more when it ends.
Lets not forget about the most interesting conversation about “gardening” ever!!
A great and enjoyable read for sure
It tells the history of Miss Amelia Snow, once the beauty of the ton, now unmarried, after 5 seasons, and poor since her mother's deceased, she starts to work as a companion for young Harriet Smithson, the daughter of untitled rich family.
It looks like Amelia was some kind of a villan in the other books, but has redeemed herself and is trying to thrive in her own. Since she haven’t forgiven herself for being selfish and mean in the past she doesn’t want to accept the help her old nemesis (now friends) want to lend her.
Besides trying to help Harriet find a good husband she also wants her to be a better person than Amelia was before.
In the middle of it all, during a country house party thrown by the Smithsons, Amelia reencounter her childhood friend and love, Lord Quentin Fortescue, the same one she rejected a marriage proposal from because he was only the youngest son of a duke.
Now back from America, Quentin is a rich widow that haven’t forgotten the beautiful Amelia Snow the woman who broke his heart 6 years before.
The Perks of Being a Beauty is a short story about, reedeption, forgiveness, friendship, love and second chances. Despite being very fast and leave you with a feeling that you missed important facts it leaves you wanting more when it ends.
Lets not forget about the most interesting conversation about “gardening” ever!!
A great and enjoyable read for sure
June 17, 2013
“The Perks of Being a Beauty” is a novella that follows up the three excellent books in her Ugly Ducklings Trilogy. Miss Amelia Snowe was definitely the villainess of those three books, making life miserable for the heroines by her cruel behavior. In this book she has fallen upon hard times and finds herself reduced to being a companion to the young daughter of a middle class couple. Into her life comes an old friend and onetime beau, Lord Quentin Fortesque. Years before, Amelia had turned down his proposal with an eye to a better catch and he later married someone else. He is now widowed and Amelia knows she is no longer eligible to marry him.
What I liked about this book was the theme of second chances and being able to redeem oneself for past behavior. Usually when a bad character gets their come-uppance in a book, we never see what happens after or find out why they behaved as they did. In this book, Amelia gets a chance to make amends for her nastiness by helping her charge and others in the household and also to explain to Quentin why she really turned him down. The romance between them is hot even as they both try to protect their hearts. If you read the previous three, you have to read this one. You will also enjoy it even if you didn’t read the others.
There is a brief glimpse of the heroine of Ms. Collin’s new series in this book. That book, “Why Dukes Say I Do” is due to be published on July 30. I can’t wait for this series to start!
What I liked about this book was the theme of second chances and being able to redeem oneself for past behavior. Usually when a bad character gets their come-uppance in a book, we never see what happens after or find out why they behaved as they did. In this book, Amelia gets a chance to make amends for her nastiness by helping her charge and others in the household and also to explain to Quentin why she really turned him down. The romance between them is hot even as they both try to protect their hearts. If you read the previous three, you have to read this one. You will also enjoy it even if you didn’t read the others.
There is a brief glimpse of the heroine of Ms. Collin’s new series in this book. That book, “Why Dukes Say I Do” is due to be published on July 30. I can’t wait for this series to start!
June 14, 2013
3.5ish stars;
This was a nice novella for Amelia Snow, considering how in the first three Ugly Ducklings book we've only seen her as someone who's quite spiteful and mean. Collins does a wonderful job of making Amelia more sympathetic without being unrealistically out of character.
It was a light read and I enjoyed the relationship between Amelia and her charge; I felt that's where you could really see her be the better person she wanted to be. Amelia and Quentin's relationship was very sweet and was able to slightly overcome the inherent problem of novellas (being a bit too short to build that solid relationship without it seeming insta-love) with the fact they they have had a history together that wasn't just lust or romance, but a friendship too. There were cute moments and fun moments and moments of redemption; a lovely and entertaining read. It's nice to see a girl who changed her ways and deserve her happily ever after.
{*Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. Original review at Bookmunchies
This was a nice novella for Amelia Snow, considering how in the first three Ugly Ducklings book we've only seen her as someone who's quite spiteful and mean. Collins does a wonderful job of making Amelia more sympathetic without being unrealistically out of character.
It was a light read and I enjoyed the relationship between Amelia and her charge; I felt that's where you could really see her be the better person she wanted to be. Amelia and Quentin's relationship was very sweet and was able to slightly overcome the inherent problem of novellas (being a bit too short to build that solid relationship without it seeming insta-love) with the fact they they have had a history together that wasn't just lust or romance, but a friendship too. There were cute moments and fun moments and moments of redemption; a lovely and entertaining read. It's nice to see a girl who changed her ways and deserve her happily ever after.
{*Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. Original review at Bookmunchies
June 24, 2013
Miss Amelia Snow is infamous amoungst the ton for her beauty and also her cruel tongue. But soon after turning a new leaf and apologizing to the three girls, the "Ugly Ducklings", whom she bullied the most she has come upon hard times and now works as a ladies companion. In her new circumstances she never expected to see Lord Quentin Fortescue the man she refused and broke his heart as well as her own, and she certainly never expected to still be in love with him after all this time. Could he still feel the same way?
After reading the Ugly Duckling books I wasn't sure Manda Collins could turn it round and make me actually like Amelia Snow, but she did! Not only did I like her, I was rooting for her to get her man. It was great to see her such a changed person from the first class bitch she was in the other books and I am glad she got her happy ending.
Like with the previous Manda Collins book it didn't particularly wow me, but it was a nice gentle read and it was nice to have that closure on the Ugly Duckling series. Essentially it was sweet and romantic, with a good hero and a surprisingly likable heroine and it kept me entertained.
After reading the Ugly Duckling books I wasn't sure Manda Collins could turn it round and make me actually like Amelia Snow, but she did! Not only did I like her, I was rooting for her to get her man. It was great to see her such a changed person from the first class bitch she was in the other books and I am glad she got her happy ending.
Like with the previous Manda Collins book it didn't particularly wow me, but it was a nice gentle read and it was nice to have that closure on the Ugly Duckling series. Essentially it was sweet and romantic, with a good hero and a surprisingly likable heroine and it kept me entertained.
June 12, 2013
I have not read Manda Collins' Ugly Duckling series, but I do know that Amelia Snow was the snob who bullied the ducklings unmercifully. Now, her star has fallen. Her mother died, leaving Amelia penniless, and she has accepted the job as paid companion to an industrialist's daughter. Lord Quentin Fortescue, younger son of a duke, was the first man that Amelia turned down, and in the eight years since, he has been married and widowed. Now, they are thrown together at a house party hosted by Amelia's employers.
As we learn more about Amelia's younger years, her mother's behavior, and her efforts to atone for her wrongdoing, she becomes a sympathetic character.
There is an inherent problem with novellas; there's precious little space to convince the reader of the couple's love. And even though Quentin and Amelia had a history, I just could not become invested in their rekindled passion. I suspect, however, that fans of the series will enjoy seeing it wrapped up in this manner.
As we learn more about Amelia's younger years, her mother's behavior, and her efforts to atone for her wrongdoing, she becomes a sympathetic character.
There is an inherent problem with novellas; there's precious little space to convince the reader of the couple's love. And even though Quentin and Amelia had a history, I just could not become invested in their rekindled passion. I suspect, however, that fans of the series will enjoy seeing it wrapped up in this manner.
June 22, 2013
Amelia gets her comeuppance! For readers who have enjoyed the Ugly Ducklings trilogy, “The Perks of Being a Beauty” is a fun follow-up novella. I feel sure that if one has not read the others, there’s a great deal of subtext that is missing and the novella would be fairly mundane. However, for those of us lucky enough to have context, finding out what becomes of that little b**ch, Amelia Snowe, is a good read. Poor Amelia, after he monumental meltdown in the last Ugly Ducklings book, has lost her fortune and is now employed as a dramatically chastened companion to a truly lovely, kind girl named Harriet. Her childhood sweetheart, Quentin, rebuffed by the haughty Amelia, is now given the opportunity to reward Amelia for her change of heart. Manda Collins’ style is very readable and her characters engaging. But I’d recommend reading the trilogy first.
July 2, 2013
I really enjoyed this novella. I actually would have liked a full novel. It was nice to see the change in Amelia & get some understanding about her behavior & past. I loved Quentin, I would've liked to have learned more about him. He's the 3rd son of a duke & had proposed to Amelia years before but she refused him because she wanted better prospects. After she broke his heart he married a woman who already had a child. When she passed he continued raising her. There is so much more we could have learned of these two & their refound love. Overall, it was a cute short story allowing the readers of the Ugly Duckling series to see what happened to Amelia.
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