Book Review: Miss Lattimore’s Letter by Suzanne Allain

MISS LATTIMORE’S LETTER
GENRE: Regency Romance (Clean & Wholesome)
PUBLISHER: Berkley
RELEASE DATE: August 10, 2021
PAGES: 271

The woman who never made a match of her own is making matches for everyone else in this hilarious Regency era comedy of manners.

Sophronia Lattimore had her romantic dreams destroyed years ago and is resigned to her role as chaperone for her cousin. Still, she cannot sit idly by when she becomes aware that a gentleman is about to propose to the wrong woman. She sends him an anonymous letter that is soon the talk of the town, particularly when her advice proves to be correct. Her identity is discovered and Sophie, formerly a wallflower, becomes sought after for her “expert” matchmaking skills.

One person who seeks her out is the eligible and attractive Sir Edmund Winslow.  As Sophie assists Sir Edmund in his pursuit of a wife, she wishes she could recommend herself as his bride. However, she vows to remain uninvolved while aiding him in his search (especially since the gentleman surely does not return her affections).

But when her long-lost love and Sir Edmund both seem to be interested in courting her, Sophie can’t figure out if she’s headed for another broken heart­­ or for the altar. How can she be expected to help other people sort out their romantic lives when her own is such a disaster?

If you’re a fan of Jen Turano’s Gilded Age romcoms, I’ve got a Regency author you need to try too! Miss Lattimore’s Letter by Suzanne Allain brought several of Turano’s madcap adventures to mind, along with Jane Austen’s Emma and a dash of Georgette Heyer. It’s always refreshing to find a clean read I can recommend from a general market publisher, and I’ve really enjoyed several that Berkley is releasing lately!

Reading Miss Lattimore’s Letter was delightfully like watching a play unfold in front of me, not surprising given the author’s background in screenwriting, and I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as the characters’ antics and vivid personalities stole the show. Much like Austen’s Emma, Sophie has some maturing to do as the story begins – particularly when it comes to meddling in other people’s relationships. This is also the source of much of the book’s endearing wit and humor, however, and the author makes Sophie so likable that you (and the other characters) can easily overlook her misplaced meddling. In other words, Miss Lattimore’s Letter – while certainly not a retelling of Emma – is a nod to all of the best parts of Austen’s own erstwhile matchmaker with none of the frustrating parts.

Sir Edmund may not be a Mr. Knightley – or a Mr. Darcy – but he shines all on his own. His easy banter with Sophie, his feelings for her (you easily get the impression that he feels much more strongly for her than he shows outwardly), and his integrity are all things that put him in the ‘swoony hero’ category for sure.

Bottom Line: Miss Lattimore’s Letter by Suzanne Allain is full of wit, hilarity, and of course romance. The setting of Bath almost becomes a supporting character at times, and Regency romance readers will find much to smile about during their visit on these pages. A hodgepodge of Austenesque personalities make up the actual characters in this novel (the setting of Bath, notwithstanding) who experience heartwarming growth together, and it’s difficult to imagine the story without each of the players. I found the author’s writing voice to be delightful and warm, and I could easily envision the scenes playing out in front of me. Hold on to your bonnet & reticule for some madcap mayhem to close out the story – a perfect choice for Jen Turano & Jane Austen fans!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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Suzanne Allain is a screenwriter who lived in New York and Beijing before returning to her hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, where she lives with her husband. She makes frequent visits to Los Angeles for work, but one of her most memorable trips was to London to see her script Mr. Malcolm’s List: Overture being filmed.

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