A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting
Author: Sophie Irwin
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Woman’s Fiction, Fiction
Year of Release: 2022
Release date 4th May 2022
Rating 
Synopsis
The season is about to begin – and there’s not a minute to lose
Kitty Talbot needs a fortune. Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. This is 1818 after all, and only men have the privilege of seeking their own riches.
With only twelve weeks until the bailiffs call, launching herself into London society is the only avenue open to her, and Kitty must use every ounce of cunning and ingenuity she possesses to climb the ranks.
The only one to see through her plans is the worldly Lord Radcliffe and he is determined to thwart her at any cost, especially when it comes to his own brother falling for her charms.
Can Kitty secure a fortune and save her sisters from poverty? There is not a day to lose and no one – not even a lord – will stand in her way…
Review
1818, London, England the Talbot house needs repair but there are no available funds and no man to earn the much-needed funds anytime soon. the Talbot sisters lost their parents, so all responsibly falls to the eldest sister Kitty Talbot to see the bailiffs don’t arrive on their doorstep thus ensuring the Talbot sisters don’t become the latest gossip in London society or fall victims to poverty. Instead of becoming gossip or poor Kitty decides to climb the ladder that is High society in the hopes of securing a husband with a healthy bank account can she pull it off before the season is over? Or will Lord Radcliffe be waiting to make sure she doesn’t even have an audience with the men of London’s high society?
The elegance of the regency era and promise of high society had me keen to discover A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting, with these two elements promised and a gorgeous cover I began reading.
Author Sophie Irwin has done a spectacular job in bringing the Regency Era alive throughout the book reminding this reader why I return to this genre and era again and again, this attention to detail is why the book received a 3-star-rating.
I found the characters were pleasant overall, however when it comes to the plot and roles the characters had within it, they did feel bland, I had rather hoped this would improve once all the characters were introduced and the plot had moved further along to the middle and ending sections, I believe there was the slightest change in the closing chapters but not much of one.
I listened to the Audiobook version of this book having finished this book a few weeks ago now I wonder if reading the book would’ve improved my overall enjoyment of this book, while the narration is fine, but I do remember getting lost in a few different places when listening.
If you’re looking for a quick read that transport’s you to another era or to break you out of a reading slump A Lady’s guide to Fortune Hunting is a good choice. Plot pacing is another strength for this book given the period it moves at just the right speed making it a great example of a comfort read.
“She was going to shoot him,’ Archie said, dazed. ‘I was not,’ Kitty insisted. ‘Give me that pistol,’ Hinsley instructed angrily, making a grab for it. ‘By George, do you have the faintest idea how to use it?’ ‘Well, not really,’ Kitty admitted. ‘But as it turns out, neither do you – it wasn’t loaded, you dolt. I checked as soon as you left. Are you honestly a soldier?’ ‘Dear God,’ Hinsley cursed. ‘Dear God.”
― Sophie Irwin, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting doesn’t have a big plot twist to accompany it and the ending was of no surprise to this reviewer; this might bother some readers, but I quite enjoy the knowing, sometimes I will say as much as the knowing doesn’t bother me other details like three dimensional characters and perhaps an element of surprise needs to be woven into the book for me to forget the predictability.
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting is similar to Jane Austin’s famed Pride and Prejudice
Enemies to lovers is the main trope that appears in the novel, and it is well suited in this tale. Making the ending a rather enjoyable one, overall, I am pleased to say I read this book I believe the timing was right I can see it being a success in this genre, I eagerly await the author’s next book.
I recommend this book to fans of Historical Fiction especially the Regency Era and Historical Romance.
