REVIEW: The Frog Earl by Carola Dunn
Escaping into the countryside to nurse his wounded pride and heart, Simon Hurst encounters the lovely but eccentric Mimi (half English, half Indian and all mischief) who promises him three favors—then only grudgingly doles them out. If he can capture that last one—that kiss—before she learns the truth about his identity, he should transform into an earl once again.
Dear Ms. Dunn,
I got this book, first published in 1992, unaware that it has a few issues that some readers might find unappealing. The heroine, Mimi (short for Lakshmi) Lassiter is a biracial daughter of an English Army officer and an Indian daughter of a Rajah. What might be offending is the fact that Col. Lassiter was part of a force that put down an insurrection by her father and that Lassiter stayed, fell in love, and married the man’s daughter. So yes, colonialism and that’s pretty much all that is addressed about it. But it seems that Lassiter loves India, adored his wife, loves his daughter and supports Mimi’s wild schemes and stratagems. I ended up liking the Colonel as he treats his staff well, loves his daughter, and he gives generously to orphans. But YMMV about his past.
It is gadflies that start the main romance in the book. Hero Simon, a retired Navy captain, has arrived home as his father’s heir after the death of Simon’s older brother. Simon is not tall, is stocky, and having been on a quarterdeck for years, bluff and not quite up to snuff by the standards of Society. After overhearing what a “diamond of the first water” plans for him, he shrugs off London and heads out with a cousin to their mutual Aunt’s house for Simon to learn estate management. It’s there that he comes across Mimi hard at work on one of her plans.
The plan involves tadpoles and beyond saying that the life course of the tadpoles ties into Simon’s transformation in Mimi’s eyes from a frog to a prince, that’s all I’ll say about them. Mimi takes good care of them, along with an abused puppy from a nearby estate (which, if one hadn’t already formed an opinion of the Pell family, would be all most people would need to form a correct one). Mimi is a delight. She’s forthright, honest, kind, and a BFF to Harriet, the daughter of the Vicar. Mimi is constantly devising plans to push her unwanted suitors back to Harriet. Simon’s top-of-the-trees cousin finds himself staying and getting involved with the various dances, musicales, picnics, and a memorable cricket game that included not only Mimi, Simon, and Harriet’s four youngest siblings but also Harriet who just can’t stay out of the fun.
But everyone is looking to be loved for themselves rather than their money or position. In reality, they are already but it will take until the end for courage to be screwed to the sticking point and truths to be revealed.
This is a charming book. If readers can’t get past the now sticky aspects, then I can understand but oh, you’re missing out. Mimi might be stunning but she also has a heart of gold and is constantly alert to help others while making it seem as if that person is the one doing her a favor by accepting. Her father’s staff love her (though Cook demands that the tadpoles be kept in the scullery) as well as Simon and Gerald’s aunt plus Harriet’s family. Mimi’s ancestry is used as a gentle way to separate the wheat from the chaff with the English who sniff or listen to her sitar playing with frowns on their faces shown as the ones missing out on knowing a fabulous person.
Simon, who traveled the world during his naval duty and enjoyed his time wandering through Bombay, listening to the languages, and fell in love with Indian food, asks Mimi intelligent questions about her homeland and reminisces about his time there. I enjoyed how unaffected, sensible, and steady Simon is. The Navy has sharpened his natural leadership abilities and he genuinely cares about those for whom he has a charge. It’s his dismay that his father and elder brother haven’t been properly looking after the family’s estates and tenants that gets him carefully studying estate management. But he’s now determined to find a woman who wants him for himself rather than his position and wealth.
The main relationship is one that begins with a bit of mischief, moves into friendship, and then on to love. The secondary romance is a “class differences” that also moves through friendship, respect, and then he/she’s the one. “The Frog Earl” is mostly lighthearted fun. I did think Mimi’s switch from trying to pair off Simon (whom she knows as a bailiff) with her friend to wanting him for herself got muddled and a bit lost but overall I liked this a lot. B
~Jayne
AmazonBNKoboBook DepositoryGoogle
This does sound charming, Jayne. Thanks for your review.