A Matter of Classby Mary Baloghreviewed by Cheryl SneedJanuary 2010, 208 pages, Publisher: Vanguard Press, ISBN: 1593155549 Back Cover Blurb: Reginald Mason is wealthy, refined, and, by all accounts, a gentleman. However, he is not a gentleman by title, a factor that pains him and his father within the Regency society that upholds station over all else. That is, until an opportunity for social advancement arises, namely, Lady Annabelle Ashton. Daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, a neighbor and enemy of the Mason family, Annabelle finds herself disgraced by a scandal, one that has left her branded as damaged goods.
Besmirched by shame, the earl is only too happy to marry Annabelle off to anyone willing to have her. Though Reginald Mason, Senior, wishes to use Annabelle to propel his family up the social ladder, his son does not wish to marry her, preferring instead to live the wild, single life he is accustomed to. With this, Reginald Senior serves his son an ultimatum: marry Annabelle, or make do without family funds. Having no choice, Reginald consents, and enters into a hostile engagement in which the prospective bride and groom are openly antagonistic, each one resenting the other for their current state of affairs while their respective fathers revel in their suffering. So begins an intoxicating tale rife with dark secrets, deception, and the trials of love-a story in which very little is as it seems.
A Matter of Class is one of the most delightful novellas I've read in ages. Balogh takes two people of different social classes and weaves her magic, producing a true love story while not straying from the social mores of the time. However, I do have one major concern.
Reginald Mason is the son of a wealthy coal merchant who has visions of breaking into the polite world, if not personally, then through his son. Reggie was raised in a large home next door to the Earl of Havercroft's country seat, and though Reggie was raised as a gentleman, his family has never been accepted by the snootier folks in the neighborhood. When Reggie begins to sow too many wild oats and is dressed down by his father, he takes delight in relating that the earl's daughter is no more paragon than he.
Lady Annabelle has recently run off with the family coachman. She was caught and returned home, but is now ruined, her soon-to-be finalized betrothal to a wealthy marquess a thing of the past. This is especially unfortunate, as the earl was counting on the marriage to get him out of his financial difficulties. Mr. Mason, on the other hand, is delighted and proposes to the earl a marriage between their recalcitrant children.
To say more would be to give away too much of the story. Suffice it to say that Reggie and Annabelle are full, interesting characters, their steps toward love perfectly choreographed and the ending a wonderful surprise that had me going back to the beginning to start reading all over again.
A Matter of Class is a perfect little gem of a story. I adored it. But, while I do not hesitate to recommend the story, I do find myself having reservations about recommending it, based solely on its marketing and packaging. A Matter of Class is novella length - shorter even than a Traditional Regency of which it is very reminiscent. But, it is being sold in hardback format and with a hardback price: $15.95. My frugal bent shies away from spending that amount of money on an hour or two of reading pleasure - though it is very pleasurable.
So, there is your caveat emptor warning. In all respects, save price, A Matter of Class is an ideal little love story.
Reviewed by Cheryl Sneed, January 14, 2010
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