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In 1823 at 7 Mayfair Street in London, Latimer More knows he has found his love of a lifetime in Jenny McBride. However, the poverty stricken Scottish lass cannot believe he even remotely cares about her. Like his family and the other tenants, Jenny finds it impossible to believe that someone as successful in business and with women like Latimer could love a pathetic orphan like Jenny.

Jenny has other problems to deal with besides an alleged mooning suitor. She owes rent and her landlord wants her to barter sex as payment. She refuses his offers, but Mr. Bucket is not a man that easily accepts any denial of his pleasures. Can Jenny turn to Latimer or is he faking affection to get into her boudoir?

THE ORPHAN is a fun regency romance that follows the story of two middle class types. Latimer is a heroic individual, but THE ORPHAN belongs to the title character Jenny. Her struggles with Bucket while debating whether Latimer is her savior or a leap from the frying pan into the fire make the tale. The return of the Shakespearean- spouting ghost adds humor as Stella Cameron provides a fresh look at the era with an engaging yet simplistic tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 19, 2002

Labeled "England's Most Daring Lover" by his aristocratic peers, Latimer More of 7A Mayfair Square was hardly expected to fall for a pretty--and penniless-Scottish lass. But Jenny McBride's optimism and spirit intrigued the mysterious entrepreneur, as did the beauty's insistence on pushing him away. Yet, from the desperation and haunted look in Jenny's green eyes, Latimer sensed that a dangerous secret lurked just below the surface and that there was much more to her denial of him than met the eye . . .

Summary

Latimer More, lodger at 7A Mayfair Square and widely known as "the most daring lover in England," has finally found the woman of his dreams--Jenny McBride. But what startles everyone--Latimer's fellow tenants, his family and even Jenny--is what an educated man of business sees in a poor, orphaned milliner's assistant. However, Latimer has looked past the surface--past the demure protestations and patched clothing--and seen the fiercely independent and generous soul within the auburn-haired Scottish lass.

Latimer may be sure of his intentions, but Jenny has her doubts. Can she trust a man with the sort of reputation Latimer has with the fairer sex? Surely he is only toying with her and intends to toss her aside after he has tired of her? Moreover, even if Latimer is serious and Jenny were to accept his marriage offer, it would mean revealing the hold that the vile Morely Bucket has upon her.

The odious slumlord, Bucket, presses Jenny, behind on her rent, to offer up sexual favors in exchange for canceling her debts. Jenny has resisted so far, but Bucket has become more and more forcibly persistent as time has passed. Jenny believes that if Latimer were to find out that she was involved in such sordid goings-on that his interest in her would quickly vanish. But Jenny doesn't know Latimer More well enough. He does find out, and it only intensifies his resolve to free the valiant waif from the clutches of the archfiend Bucket--but not before enlisting the aid of everyone at 7 Mayfair Square.