Deborah Goes To Dover
The Travelling Matchmaker Series – Book V
M C Beaton

Robinson (Constable and Robinson)
24 February 2011/ ISBN 1849014833
Historical Romance1800 Dover and environs
Amazon US || UK

Reviewed by Rachel A Hyde

Hannah Pym has arrived at the uncomfortable truth that she is in love. The object of her unrequited affections is her late employer’s brother, Sir George Clarence, the man who took her for ices at Gunther’s when she first received her legacy. Perhaps the cure for this malaise is a bit more traveling, and as spring is in the air, a trip to the seaside town of Dover seems a good idea. Of course Hannah is destined to involve herself in more matchmaking, as tomboyish Lady Deborah Western needs to understand that being in love with a handsome earl is more fun than sporting activities with her brother.

Expect another heady mix of well-researched historical setting, exploration, romance, laughter and sheer entertainment as you open this fifth entry in the series. As well as the romance, there are now several series strands to enjoy, such as footman Benjamin, Hannah’s own romance, and even the machinations of Lady Carsely. Like the book before, this is another story where the coach journey itself is quite short and the exploits take place in a variety of locations. I think my favorite aspect of this highly enjoyable series is the humor, which is actually very funny and adds to the feeling that Ms Beaton has almost created a new sub-genre of historical romance. With plenty of asides about the customs of the day and some good descriptions of places, I am always surprised to see that I have actually read a rather short novel. Writers of overlong doorstops ought to read this series to see how to fairly stuff a book with incident, humor and all good things.