The Fair Miss Fortune

This came at the right time for me. A light novel , with D E Stevensons characteristic humour and observation of life and character. I was surprised it was turned down for publication first time round, the plot of twins and mistaken identities has a long and distinguished literary history! A pleasant read in entertaining style.

I was so pleased when I heard that these lost novels were to be published and I've finally received them all. I'd read the two earlier reviews and wasn't expecting too much going by bookelephant (London) but I really enjoyed it. Granted the plot twist was obvious from the first without reading the introductory letters, but it didn't spoil anything for me. All in all it is a nice story with a comfortably satisfying ending as you'd expect from Miss Stevenson. As Jane Struthers (UK) said, it is light, easy and fun and I will be re-reading it, along with all her other novels, forever.

I'm a huge DE Stevenson fan, but this fell so far short of her best that I was disappointed. I'm afraid that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Lovely easy to read writer of good family stories light hearted and romantic with a touch of humour

DE Stevenson is undergoing a bit of a renaissance with the Miss Buncle books being published by Persephone, Mrs Tim of the Regiment out through Bloomsbury and this offering from Greyladies.Greyladies would have us believe that this book failed to find a publisher at the time because it was "too old fashioned" - and that is indeed what DE Stevenson's tactful agent suggested to her. However what the letters (reproduced at the front of the book) suggest is that no-one wanted to take it because it has a spectacularly silly plot (I won't tell you what it is, but if you want to preserve the surprise don't read the letters first - because they blow the gaffe!). However fans of Miss Buncle will find some of the same naive charm there as inhabits those books, and a more overtly romantic plot which makes it no surprise that when other publishers declined, her agent suggested Mills and Boon.I read it in a couple of hours and it made me smile - it has that lovely feeling of cosy good nature. But it really is a "lesser work" of a fairly light novelist, so dont expect too much...

There are times when I long to get my reading teeth into a meaty, thought-provoking novel and there are times when I yearn for something light, easy and fun. And The Fair Miss Fortune definitely comes into the latter category. D E Stevenson is one of those novelists who is able to create her own little world, and I love her humorous way of looking at her characters. Yes, the plot is a little far-fetched but I didn't mind that. I was agog to know how everything would be resolved and I was rather sorry to finish the book. But I felt better for having read it.