The Lacey Chronicles #1: The Other Countess

Very very close to perfect but I felt like there was something missing that I couldn't put my finger on.Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime is the daughter of an alchemist who travels all across England spending nobles money in the attempt to make gold out of nothing. Despite her title they are quite poor, only surviving off the generosity of those who pay her father and allow them to stay in the hopes that he will make gold.William Lacey, Earl of Dorset has just inherited that title from his late father. His father has left them penniless after employing Ellie's father and spending most all their money on the quest to get gold out of nothing. Because of this Will absolutely abhors Sir Arthur Hutton, Ellie's father, and by association, Ellie, both of whom he hasn't seen in many years, not since he kicked them out after his father died. As a result Will must go to court and find a rich young lady to woo and wed so his family will have money to go with his title.Circumstance and coincidence bring them both to Court at the same time and they meet again. This time Will has no idea that the lovely young Spanish lady is actually Ellie, but she remembers him quite well.Enter Lady Jane Perceval and her brother Henry, who has quite a reputation. Jane is the one who Will decides to try to court, knowing her family is quite wealthy.Ok so I really really liked this book. I really liked Ellie and Will and Jane and Cecil. I was pleasantly surprised that Jane wasn't the stereotypical haughty rich lady trying to scheme and plot to get an eligible young man. In fact even though she knows her duty to marry she is quite tired of the whole thing and becomes good friends with Ellie after they meet at court. I loved Ellie and Will's relationship and the way it grew. It was very sweet. I can't say enough good things about this book and almost want to reread it right now.

Great book! If you like Historical fiction this book is AMAZING! I read it as an "outside reading project" in one of my classes and ended up reading the whole series, it's really fantastic! Without giving away too much, the main girls father is an alchemist who has fallen out of favor with many important families because alchemy is expensive. One such family is in a state of ruin because the late husband/father was so engrossed in alchemy that he let his estate fall into ruin. Fast forward to when the alchemists daughter remeets the son of the ruined man.

Niece loves these books

I love this book! Came a day early and is in perfect condition! Can’t wait to read it!

I absolutely loved this book. I have a hard time finding a good Elizabethan era book to read anymore since a lot of them are just respinning the lives of the main players of that period. But in this one it's almost a completely new cast with just some glimpses here and there of famous figures.So it was a new story, set in a time I love, but without me going into it knowing the people and the way things play out.There were two points I thought tripped me up. Near the beginning, Will makes a statement about how education is wasted on a woman. But never again does that come up. From that point on he seems completely fine with educated women and I thought the original remarks should've either been cut or there should've been a moment where we see Will reconsidering his beliefs and changing them.And then I thought Will's switch from preparing to throw the alchemist and Ellie out to having them stay was sudden. I mean, he was really angry that they were there. Said we need to get rid of the pests. Stormed down their in a dudgeon and had no qualms about telling Ellie they needed to leave and soon, despite knowing that she's not her father and they had nowhere else to go. But a small altercation with Ellie where she tells him that makes him completely okay with them staying and his attitude towards them became a lot more positive.But the rest of the story was amazing. Ellie is a countess who has nothing but an empty title to her name. She's dragged around by her alchemy crazed father, living off the not so much kindness, but similar madness of strangers who think her father is on to the secret of gold.They're first kicked out of their home when Will takes over after his father's death and there's a good amount of bad feelings between the two families. Years later, Ellie and Will meet again, only Will doesn't recognize her. Eventually he figures out who she is and there's some backlash from that.Half of the story is geared towards their time at court and bumping heads, and the last half is where the real romance swoops in as they're now in a more settled environment.One of my absolute favorite parts about this is how Ellie and Will realize what is best for them isn't what's best for Will's family, and try and put Will's family first. It makes me admire both of them more for not being like "Screw everyone else." They weighed their actions, attempted to go other routes, and I really liked how the whole thing played out. (trying not to give stuff away!)There's also this touch of humor throughout and that was handled well. I love seeing even the slightest bit of humor in fiction because a book that brings out emotions like that in me already rate higher.I had a few things I wanted to see at the end, but I'll just have to go get book 2 now!