Review: Long Live the King (Love & Inheritance Trilogy #2) by Fay Weldon

  Long Live the King (Love & Inheritance Trilogy #2) by Fay Weldon

Published May 6th 2014 by St. Martin's Griffin

(first published April 1st 2013)

Paperback, 368 pages

Series: Love & Inheritance

Genre: Historical Fiction
Heat Rating: Kissing

Source:  I got a copy of this book from the publisher  in exchange of an honest review.
Amazon | Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads

From the award-winning writer of the original Upstairs Downstairs—the second novel in an irresistible trilogy about an Earl's family and their servants at the turn of the twentieth century

As 1901 comes to an end, there is much to be grateful for: The Dilberne fortune has been restored, and the grand Dilberne Court, with its one hundred rooms, has been saved. Lord Robert's son, Arthur, is happily married to a Chicago heiress, Minnie, who is pregnant and trying to come to terms with her new role as lady of the manor and her charming but controlling mother-in-law, Lady Isobel.

As Lord Robert and Lady Isobel get caught up in the preparations for the coronation of Edward VII, they debate the future of their recently orphaned niece, Adela. Isobel and Minnie want to take her in; Robert and Arthur do not. While they argue, Adela runs away and joins a traveling group of spiritualists and has a life-saving run-in with the king.

With Long Live the King, Fay Weldon continues the magnificent trilogy that began with Habits of the House. As the award-winning writer for the pilot episode of the original Upstairs Downstairs, Weldon brings her deservedly famous wit and insight to this novel of love and desire, morals and manners.

Take a journey to the start of the twentieth century and into the year 1901. The series continues to fall the Dilberne family. Now that their fortune was restored, Lord Robert and Lady Isobel are trying to prepare for the coronation of King Edward VII.

Midst dealing with their own family issues, the Dilberne end up with their orphaned niece Adela – who is also said to be some kind of a princess. Adela lived with her parents, until one unexpected night her house burned down. Thanks to her maid's beau, Adela was saved. Her parents were the unfortunate ones that did not survive the raging fire.

So Adela ends up in the Dilberne household where Lady Isobel and her new pregnant daughter in law Minnie would like to take Adela in. Meanwhile, her husband and Robert and son Arthur want nothing to do with the girl and would much rather her mother side of the family fended for her.

Interesting story. Thought I have not read the first installment which is also about the Dilberne family – this one could be read as a stand alone. Unfortunately you do end up missing a chunk of information, especially what had happened to Dilberne fortune and how they came out on top. Also, from what I heard the first book is actually the better of the series.

Thought besides feeling a bit lost at times, Long Live the King did introduce several new characters that from what I also understand were not in book 1 – so their lives where easier to follow. Unfortunately, they did not really keep my interest. Outside of the interesting stories of what was going on in Dilberne household, the book was filled with too much fillers.

Even thought I felt sorry for Adela and the way she had been treated most of her life not only by her parents but now by her estrange uncle – I had a hard time connecting to the girl. The character to me did not feel very well rounded.

The pace of the story was a bit on the slowish side, but for those who really enjoyed Downton Abby and a relaxed paced historical will probably enjoy the amount of detail put into this work and the relaxed pace.

What I did like was some of the chapter that did feature the help. Thought this is suppose to be a downstairs, upstairs kind of book. I felt that it did lack in the downstairs department and felt it would have been much more interesting if there was more emphasis on it.

Overall, it was a good read with some really enjoyable chapters, but seemed to have fallen flat in the rest. I gave this book 3 stars instead of 2 1/2 because Weldon's writing over all was actually pretty constructive and great. Her choice of words was remarkable.