A fun romp that’s rich in nonsense

A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting

By Sophie Urwin, HarperCollins, $32.99

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.. .. .. .. .. .. Kitty Talbot needs money, and fast. Like most young women in her time, she has no way of earning her own as men are the only rightful owners of money and property. But she and her many sisters are about to be made homeless now her parents are dead and she needs to weedle her way into London society.

She thought she had things sewn up when she was to marry Charles Linfield, a man of substance, but the book opens with him jilting her and she and one of the sisters head to an aunt's home to find themselves another husband.

It's all about what they earn, and there's one thing standing in her way — Lord Radcliffe.

I'm not a fan of period drama, but this is a fun romp and a rather intriguing look at how women survived in the 1800s. If you're a Bridgerton fan, this is ideal fodder. It's rich in London society manners, characters and family nonsense. — Linda Thompson