Dolly Blanchard's Fortune

I really enjoyed reading this book--another successful work by Ms. Ellingson. I truly enjoyed all the characters, especially Dolly. Dolly was portrayed as an intelligent, independent, sensible young lady with a head for business and a heart of gold; a loyal friend and pleasant companion. Dolly was truly a likable person, unlike some of the admirable heroines being either a bluestocking or a hoyden, this heroine was a great investor, and she was also a philanthropist--This set her apart from other heroines I have read so far (we could use some people like this in our financial world). However, this story was not without some minor dissatisfaction--Richard felt the jealousy towards some Dolly's gentlemen friends, but did not do anything to clarify the change of feeling that he had towards Melisande for afraid of public humiliation, and here Dolly was still loyally tried to make the match for him, despite of her own secret tender for him--not too heroic of hero...Fortunately, he made it up towards the very last page, but still a minor flaw. Highly recommended. Inside of book cover: Dolly Blanchard does not lack for suitors--how can she? She is young, beautiful, witty and endowed with a very large inheritance. But none of these attributes serve her when it comes to her tendre for Richard Daventry, her childhood chum, for Richard loves Melisande deLacey. He, however, is no luckier in love than Dolly, for Melisande must make a marriage that will recoup her family's fortune and Richard's well-meaning but improvident father has brought the Daventry estates to the edge of ruin. Generous Dolly, as good as she is wealthy, attempts to provide Richard with the cash he needs to make the Daventry farms profitable again. She offers him a loan, but he angrily refuses. Undaunted, Dolly determines to get the money to him somehow. With the help of an unlikely friend, an admitted fortune hunter of great charm, and to the dismay of the banker, Dolly fashions an intricate scheme to provide the funds anonymously. The plan seems to be succeeding, but complications--delightful ones--ensue. They are finally sorted out to the satisfaction of all, thanks to the clever Dolly and her frankly mercenary friend.