Book Tour Review: The Marriage List by Ella Quinn

A lovely review of The Marriage List!!

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About the Book:

Title: The Marriage List

Author: Ella Quinn

Series: The Worthingtons #8

Publication Date: December 27, 2022

Publisher: Kensington Books

Synopsis: As part of a large, rambunctious family, Lady Eleanor Carpenter has gained some knowledge of what makes a successful marriage. She’s even compiled a list of essential qualifications in a potential husband. John, the Marquis of Montagu, seems of good character (check), with money enough to support a family (check). But what of the many other requirements on her list?

Montagu, meanwhile, believes the key to a comfortable life lies in marrying someone quiet and docile. Yet the one lady who captivates him could hardly be more different to what he envisioned. Lady Eleanor is as opinionated as she is lovely, determined to improve working conditions for coal miners, even at risk to her own safety.

From evenings at Almack’s to carriage rides in Hyde Park…

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Regency Trivia: Holding up One’s Hair.

For some reason, I decided to make sure my use of “hairpin” was correct and used during the Regency. Imagine my surprise to learn the first written mention of a hairpin was in 1818. Now, we all know that spoken words are frequently used for up to 20 years before anyone writes them down in something that will be preserved. That said, it was interesting. It was then I went down the rabbit-hole. Fortunately, it wasn’t a long one. In 1725, hairpins were called hair-needles. The first mention of a pin for the hair was 1580, when a “bodkin” or big needle was used to keep hair up. In the late 18^th century they were called “skewers.”

Instruments used to hold hair up were made of wood, bone, and metals. Bone hair pins date from to the Romans. Unfortunately, we don’t know what they were called.

#RegencyTrivia #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance

Regency Trivia – Franking Privileges

During the Regency there were three ways to send a letter. The first was to send it to the recipient who paid for the honor of receiving said letter. The second was by way of a messenger that the sender would pay and the receiver would probably tip. The third way was by using franking privileges.

All peers had franking privileges. This was because they had seats in the House of Lords. Members of the Commons also had them. Even today politicians holding elected office in the UK, Canada, the US, and probably other countries have franking privileges. That means that the government actually pays for the letter to be sent.

Once the letter had been written, sealed, and was ready to be sent, the peer or MP would write his name diagonally across the sealed part of the letter. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find an image of a Regency era franked letter.

Stamps were not used until about 1840.

#RegencyTrivia #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFiction #RegencyRomance

Regency Trivia – Gentlemen’s Pumps

As most of you know, other than boots, gentlemen wore pumps (and yes, they were called pumps). Pumps were worn in the evening especially at Almack’s, and the balls in London. Although, some men might not care, most gentlemen wore what was expected. Pumps were also worn with trousers. Gentlemen were actually the first sex to where shoes with a higher heel. If only that trend had continued.

During the Georgian era it was fashionable to have precious gems put on the heels of one’s pumps. Unfortunately, that went out of fashion during the Regency. I was unable to find any images of them.

#RegencyTrivia #HistoricalRomance #RegencyRomance #HistoricalFiction

Regency Trivia – A Gentleman’s Boots

A regency gentleman’s typical day wear would be boots. There were several different kinds of boots, but the most popular became the Wellington. Hoby was the most well-known boot maker of the Regency. Boots were always highly shinned and valets had secret recipes for shining boots. Some gentlemen (typically those who aspired to be Dandy’s) had white tops on their boots or gold tassels. Beau Brummell was famous for never going beyond the first field of a hunt for fear the mud would damage the white tops on his boots.

#RegencyTrivia #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFictioni #RegencyRomance

Cover Reveal for The Most Eligible Viscount in London!!

It’s not available for pre-sale yet.

In bestselling author Ella Quinn’s intriguing new Regency trilogy, a dashing suitor must decide if love and marriage are mutually exclusive . . .

Viscount Gavin Turley is convinced that love matches cause nothing but trouble. Still, after months of courting, he’s fallen for Miss Georgie Featherton. He’s passionate about her, in fact. But words of love are not an indulgence he will allow himself. When he presents Georgie with his marriage proposal, he will lead with his head—not his heart. His qualifications as a husband are excellent, after all. What could go wrong?

No sooner does Gavin kneel on one knee than Georgie’s heart goes aflutter with joy. Finally, the proposal she longed for had arrived. Yet Gavin seemed to be listing his credentials for a business partnership, not a romantic union. Without a declaration of love, Georgie can only reject his offer—unless the ladies of the ton, and Georgie’s grandmama, have anything to do with it. For sometimes it takes a wiser eye to see the love behind a guarded heart—and a clever scheme to bring it out of hiding . . .

Oh, and proof that authors have little say even when they give detailed information about what the H/H would wear.

 

#LordsofLondon #RegencyRomance #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFiction

Regency Trivia – Pantaloons

Pantaloons were extremely popular for wear during the day and for some evening entertainments. They were not considered as formal for evening wear as were breeches.

Pantaloons were made from linen and a knitted material. When the knitted material was used they were cut 2” smaller than the gentleman’s measurements. They covered the ankle and were held down by a strap that went under the foot. They could also be worn with boots or dress pumps.

After they went out of style there is a story about two older ladies bemoaning that they were no longer worn because you could immediately see a man’s interest when he wore pantaloons.

 

#RegencyTrivia #HistoricalRomance #RegencyRomance #HistoricalFiction

Regency Trivia – Men’s Breeches

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During the Regency there were three types of unmentionables men wore. The oldest—and the only one accept at Almack’s—were breeches. Breeches could be made in a variety of different fabrics, such as silk, wool, leather, and nankeen.  Breeches ended just below the knee and could be worn with either boots or dress pumps. They were essential wear for evening events until around the late 1840’s. Only gentlemen dressed in breeches were allowed in Almack’s. Buckskin breeches were de rigueur for riding, around Town, and in the country.

#RegencyTrivia #HistoricalRomance #ReadaRegency #RegencyRomance #HistoricalFiction

Regency Trivia – Ubiquitous Words – Check

As we’ve seen before, some words have been around for hundreds of years, but their meanings have evolved over time. ‘Check’ used as a verb is one of those words. Up until the around 1911 in the US, ‘check’ meant to stop someone from doing something, or to stop yourself from doing something, or to slow your horses. It applied to dogs losing a scent. To lose one’s wages, in short, there were many meanings.

However, around the time of WWI in the US ‘check’ began to be used to look in on something or to arrive and depart from a place such as checking into a hotel.

Therefore, during the Regency, ‘check’ was not used to look in one someone or something or to ensure something.

#RegencyTrivia #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFiction #RegencyRomance

Regency Trivia – Men’s Underclothing

During the Regency, underclothing was the term for underwear. Unmentionables were actually breeches or trousers, not underclothing. The meaning changed to mean underclothing during the Victorian era. Interestingly, a man’s shirt was also considered to be underwear. Ergo, if a man is running around wearing only his shirt, he’s running around in this underclothing. This was probably the reason banyans were so popular. One man even had his portrait wearing one. For their nether parts, gentlemen either wore their shirt tails tucked around their groin or drawers.

 

#RegencyTrivia #ReadaRegency #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalFiction