An Unsuitable Heiress

Since discovering a love of historical romance four years ago, I’ve dived deep into this delightful genre. However, I’m reaching the point where I now veer towards stories with something a little different to offer, whether it’s diversity in characters or a less conventional plot. This is what drew me to Jane Dunn’s recent novel, An Unsuitable Heiress. Corinna Ormesby is the illegitimate  daughter of a noble father whose name she’s never known. She decides to seek him out in London, dressing as a man both as protection for herself and for increased access to information. But the story swiftly moves in unexpected directions over the course of the novel, keeping readers guessing. 

Special thanks to Jane Dunn, Boldwood Books, Austenprose PR, and NetGalley for the review copy of this book!

Summary

It’s 1815, and 19-year-old Corinna Ormesby has never known her father. An illegitimate  daughter between a nobleman and a working class mother, she lost her mother seven years ago and has depended on her reluctant cousin ever since. Now Corinna is determined to finally find her father, whoever he may be. She travels to London dressed as a man, a clever disguise but one that will certainly lead to questions. Corinna soon befriends three young men, not realizing one of them is closely connected to her long-lost father. 

Review

An Unsuitable Heiress is a unique historical romance that follows a rapidly changing set of plot points. At first, we meet Lord Ramsbury, whose son has just been killed in battle. Knowing his own end is near, he doubles down on his efforts to find his missing illegitimate daughter, Corinna, whom he hasn’t seen since she was young, before her mother died. Little does Lord Ramsbury know that Corinna is also eager to find him and has disguised herself as a man in order to safely travel to London and conduct her search. When she befriends three young men—one of whom is the younger brother of Lord Ramsbury’s heir—Corinna’s disguise as a man seems like it may be hard to conceal for very long. 

I went into this book expecting Corinna’s disguise to be a lasting plot device. And at first, it did lead to some interesting developments and humor. When Corinna agrees to stay with one of the men she met, she’s thrust into some difficult scenarios—especially when they take her to a brothel! Oh dear, how awkward that was for her! How scandalous! But alas, her disguise as a man doesn’t last nearly as long as I’d hoped, and the reveal is surprisingly anticlimactic. 

Similarly, I anticipated that Corinna’s search for her father would be drawn out and, upon being reunited, lead to some new drama. Instead, though, her search is completed quite quickly, she and her father are both happy for it, and the only issue that does arise is a matter of her inheritance versus that of her cousin Darius Wolfe (the older brother of her good friend Alick). Indeed, their divided inheritance does prove to be the bigger theme that carries the novel, subtly in the first half, and with increasing intensity in the second. 

The romance between Corinna and Alick grows very gradually for most of the novel, allowing them to develop a close friendship first. There are important moments that increase their feelings for one another, but it’s a slow burn that takes a while to fully blossom. 

Throughout An Unsuitable Heiress, I found Corinna to be a compelling protagonist. She’s naive but plucky, never afraid to choose an unconventional course of action (hence her masculine disguise) or stand up for someone’s honor. I admired her courage and steadfast nature throughout my reading. I also liked the characters surrounding her, especially her three friends. Alick, of course, stands out for also being a tentative love interest, as does her kindly father. Darius is a wildcard who becomes more  tumultuous and unpredictable as the story progresses. 

I also liked the deeper discussions about the kinds of limitations women had compared to men. It’s no wonder Corinna felt safer dressed as a man during her time in London! However, second sons also faced significant restrictions compared to their older brothers. But being lower class or illegitimate would be practically insurmountable without a stroke of luck. 

Sometimes it felt like there were too many moving parts: numerous characters and side stories, and Corinna’s own main plot changing course a few times. They do generally intersect, but perhaps could have been pared down, especially with the inclusion of the French friend. I would have also liked to see some portions extended (Corinna’s disguise) and some more emotional depth or drama added (her reunion with her father).

Nonetheless, this is a fun, humorous, and sweet novel that will hold the reader’s interest. It is rich in historical detail and boasts a cast of generally likable characters. 

Final Thoughts

An Unsuitable Heiress is a quirky and action-packed novel that dives into social issues while offering plenty of humor. For a time, the romance takes a backseat to other plot points, but its slow burn, friends-to-lovers development is sweet. 

Get the Book

You can buy An Unsuitable Heiress at the links below – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS

An Unsuitable Heiress by Jane Dunn
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Romance
Setting	England
Number of Pages	350
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	May 22, 2023

Official Summary

Following the death of her mother, Corinna Ormesby has lived a quiet life in the countryside with her cantankerous Cousin Agnes. Her father’s identity has been a tantalizing mystery, but now at nineteen Corinna knows that finding him may be her only way to avoid marriage to the odious Mr. Beech.

Deciding to head to London, Corinna dons a male disguise. Travelling alone as a young woman risks scandal and danger, but when, masquerading as a youth, she is befriended by three dashing blades, handsome and capable Alick Wolfe, dandy Ferdinand Shilton and the incorrigible Lord Purfoy, Corinna now has access to the male-only world of Regency England. And when she meets Alick’s turbulent brother Darius, a betrayal of trust leads to deadly combat which only one of the brothers may survive.

From gambling in gentleman’s clubs to meeting the courtesans of Covent Garden, Corinna’s country naivety soon falls away. But when she finds her father at last, learns the truth about her parentage and discovers her fortunes transformed, she must quickly decide how to reveal her true identity, while hoping that one young man in particular can see her for the beauty and Lady she really is.

❤️ A must read for Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, and historical romance fans.

❤️ A spunky, adventurous heroine on a quest in London to find her estranged father.

❤️ An adorable dog and an endearing horse!

❤️ Three dashing blades who will make you laugh, and swoon.

❤️ A bestselling & highly rated new release.

Praise for An Unsuitable Heiress

• 5 STARS “…a compelling and enthralling story of a determined young woman’s journey to find her father and her own place in the world.”— Jo Shaw, BookMadJo.com
• 5 STARS “…you should allow yourself to be carried away by it as if by a tall dark stranger in a carriage and four. I enjoyed it even more than The Marriage Season, and that’s quite a lot.”— Paul Feldwick, Goodreads
• 5 STARS “…a fun-filled romp through Regency England, with a smattering of romance, a sense of adventure and a wonderful heroine at its core. What’s not to like?!”— Jo, Jaffa Reads Too