Una-Mary Parker (1930–2019)

Time period: 1891-1910 in aristocratic England, a family of 9 girls and 2 boys comes to grips with the changing economy and the downfall of the great mansions along with social changes of class and marriage.
The Downton-esque novel seems a little soapy at times. The girls are naive and silly and their parents stereotypic. I was disappointed as the frontpiece makes it look more of a suffragette novel but little is done with womens' votes. The title- happy sister all to willingly changes her attitude when a lower class suitor arrives, the murderous heir is easily disposed of later in the noveland the illegitimate first born son is never heard from again after a big build-up: just some of the many all too apparent plot twists. I was pretty disappointed.… (more)