The Last Dollar Princess by Linda Bennett Pennell: A Book Review

The Last Dollar Princess
Author: Linda Bennett Pennell
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Release Date: 2022
Pages: 365
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: It must be said. Scandal follows her family like an ever-faithful hound. No matter how hard they kick it away, it comes slinking around time-after-time. Although her relatives are obsessed with social position and the opinions of others, heiress India Elisabeth Petra De Vries Ledbetter is determined to live life by her own terms, family expectations and society's demands be damned.

Reared away from the social whirl of Gilded Age New York, India would prefer a life of philanthropy in her native Appalachia, but Mother and Grandmama have far grander plans. They believe Mrs. Astor's old 400 are ready to overlook the past and that an advantageous marriage will cement their place in society once more. In fact, they have already selected the prospective bridegroom. The only problem? No one consulted India.

With captivating insights into the human spirit and heart, The Last Dollar Princess leads us on a riveting quest for self-determination through the most elegant and glamorous settings of the early 20th century. Perfect for fans of Marie Benedict, Daisy Goodwin, and Julian Fellowes, this sweeping work of historical fiction will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.

My Review: India Ledbetter wants to be in charge of her own life and dreams. However, her family has other plans. They plan to marry her to a nobleman. However, India does not want to marry him. India will do anything to stop her family from making their plans come to fruition. Will India marry the English lord or will she forge a path of her own choosing?

I adore India. She is a strong-willed woman. She is very rebellious and is determined to defy her family’s expectations and society. Therefore, it was fun to see how she tries to ruin her family’s plans. I also love her relationship with Charlie, her noble suitor. At first, they were not interested in each other. Later, they become friends and much more. They had a cute ‘will they or won’t they’ romance. Thus, their slow burn romance was the best aspect of the novel. It reminded me of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Their romance was very sweet, charming, and satisfying. From the moment they met, I kept rooting for the two of them. I was not disappointed.

Overall, this novel is about love, social class, and family. Some characters were extremely annoying, especially India’s ambitious mother and grandmother. However, I did like the other characters. The story was very simple and is a straightforward romance. There were many historical details that I like in this novel, especially the Gilded Age and the coronation of George V. Thus, The Last Dollar Princess is a very captivating, light, and romantic read! For those that love historical romances, this is not a novel that you should miss! I guarantee you will not find this a disappointing read! I recommend this novel for fans of Shaye Muir, Roseanna M. White, and Jen Turano!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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