The Selfless Sister

Miss Lucinda Linley has once again been faced with the question of is she going to finally marry now, and make her younger sister (Henrietta) who is in love wait a few more years until her parents can afford another dowry, or is Lucinda going to step aside and allow her sister to use the dowry and marry the man she loves, as Lucinda has so done from her other 5 sisters? Being the age of 26 Lucinda realizes that her chances of finding a good match are comeing close to nothing but she doesn't care because she refuses to wed a man she doesn't love. However when a letter comes from a distant aunt, she sees it as a perfect answer to her problem for her aunt has offered her father (who doesn't want to send either of his daughters to his sister-in-laws) to provide Lucinda with a "more-than-adequate dowry" as long as she stays and entire year. What could be so bad about that? She loves to read and draw birds, and according to her father there are thick woods beside the mansion surely to hold more than enough birds to keep her busy. Of course this statement comes right before a warning of "Be careful. You have never met the likes of Edgerton Linley." her cousin.Douglas Wyndham, Earl of Belington, is very much a man that keeps to himself. After "The Tragedy" 25 years ago, in which his family member was accused of horrible things and then the family was cut in every home, he has grown with bitterness towards the Linleys but mostly towards Edgerton Linley.Even though it is forbidden to be close to a Belington, much less secretly meet with one in the woods, Lucinda can not seem to help herself. She is attracted to this oh-so-hansome man is ways she can't understand, whereas Douglas can't understand why he can't stop himself from seeing the only woman he could never have.Overall this was a great story, very well thought out. The characters were great, the excitment was there, everything was there. Except even though our author showed all strings being tied for our happy couple, she didn't do so with our secondary characters as well. Now don't get me wrong, she doesn't leave us wondering what happened to them, I just thought she was going to show the reunited loves being reunited. Oh well. Like I said it was a great story with all of the characters completly thought out! I greatly recommend this book!

I have read with great pleasure and increasing respect all four of Shirley Kennedy's Regency novels. While keeping within the format of regencies, Shirley has added a sassiness and humor which places her books a notch above. I look forward to the next and the next and the next. . .

I'm not a Regency fan, but I received Lady Semple's Secret as a gift and was hooked on Shirley Kennedy's writing. I've read all of her books and loved them dearly. Selfless Sister, ugh, I hate this title and I know these books don't have great titles, is a great read. Shirley not only delivers a terrific romance, she adds suspense and intrigue to her books. The plot is truly exciting as we try to discover the mystery of a missing child from years gone by. Shirley does not let us down at the end, she provides the reader with a satisfying romance and resolves the mystery in a surprising manner. Her characters are well developed and you truly care what's happening to each one, including Edgarton, the villain you love to hate. This book does have a gothic flavor, yet doesn't. For any Regency fan, this is a MUST READ. I give this book my highest award, five stars.

Douglas Wyndham, outcast Lord of Ravencroft, has no desire to wed due to a twenty-five-year old tragedy. He meets Lucinda Linley and knows she is all a man could ask for in a woman. Unfortunately she is visiting at her cousin's home, and that family is part of the family tradedy. Lucinda has found no reason to wed; so she has allowed her sisters to be brought out and wed before her. Now her father with only enough dowry for one daughter gives Lucinda an ultimatum to wed. Again she refuses. Her sister must wed, and Lucinda will take her place as companion to her dreaded aunt. This selfless act brings her to Southfield and under her beastly cousin's roof. The family's tragedy seems to be at the center of Southfield's unhappiness, and the enmity against the Wyndham's is a living thing. Lucinda questions the events while losing her heart to Douglas. There are impediments to their wedding--the lack of a dowry and the old tragedy. Family secrets of both the Linleys and Wyndham also stand in the way. A lovely tale with good twists and bends on the road to romance. The Selfless Sister revolves around love and sacrifice. Shirley Kennedy writes a convoluted tale of the selflessness of love and lovers. An enjoyable romance. I look forward to reading other books by Ms. Kennedy.

Lucinda Linley is the second of Seven (7) sisters. At the ripe old age of 26 she has repeatedly sacrificed her chances to marry so her younger sisters may find hapiness. Mainly because none of the men who have offered for her have moved her heart. The man she marries must be like her kind and gentle papa, Lucinda always said. The last thing she wants is to end up like her older sister Bess, so unhappy in her marriage to the dull and boring Earl of Colttrain and disgusted with the "duties" of a wife that she undresses in the closet and thinks of her daily tasks until the horrible deed is over. Lucinda wanted to experience Passion and Love in any marriage she would make.After the marriage of her second youngest sister Amelia, Lucinda is informed by her parents that there is no longer enough money for doweries for both her and her youngest sister Henrietta and that they will have to share what is left; meaning Henrietta will not be able to marry her true love Lord Carlton. She, (Lucinda) is then told that the Honorable Reverend Lucius Whittlesby is willing to take her as his second wife despite her reduced dowry. He needs a mother for his six children besides any more he (they) might have. After all that is his true purpose in life, the reason he was put on this earth, to reproduce. Repulsed and unable to imagine herself married to such a pompus oaf of a man, let alone sharing his bed; Lucinda insists on giving up her half of the dowry and going to York to be companion to her elderly aunt Pernelia. Unselfishly leaving Henrietta with the full dowry required to wed Lord Carlton.Lucinda never expected to find what she did in York. A Houshold so cowed by her Aunt Pernelia's son Edgerton that everyone walks around on tiptoe. And a 25 year old family feud with the neighboring family, the head of which was the all to virile Douglas, Lord Belington; to whom Lucinda is attracted from the first moment she sees him. Douglas is attracted too, but the fued stands in the way of their budding romance. If Lucinda can solve the mystery of the 25 year old tradgedy that devides their families, maybe then they can find true hapiness.The first book by Shirley Kennedy that I read was "The Rebelious Twin" and I loved it so much that I immediately bought the other titles by her. "The London Belle" and "Lady Semples Secret" these too were excellent. I love the way she makes her hero's real and vulnerable I fall for all of them myself. Her Heroines are sassy independant and full of life; none of them are afraid of speaking their minds. Her secondary characters are always well developed as well. You can never go wrong with a book by Shirley Kennedy.