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Alice Chetwynd Ley
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The Jewelled Snuff Box: Romance and intrigue in Georgian England Kindle Edition

by Alice Chetwynd Ley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 2,195 ratings
A classic, best-selling pre Regency romance! For fans of Georgette Heyer, Mary Balogh, Jane Aiken Hodge and Jane Austen.

A young girl with a mysterious past finds herself unwittingly caught up in a scandal…

1802, England

Young governess Jane Spencer is travelling to London when stormy weather forces her stagecoach to make a stop.

Battling through the snow to a nearby inn, she discovers a man, seemingly lifeless, by the side of the road. Though he appears to have been set upon by highwayman, they have left next to him in the ditch a clearly valuable jewelled snuff box.

When the man recovers his senses, he is dismayed to find he has completely lost his memory.

Sympathetic to his plight, Jane promises to help him discover his identity. But as soon as they reach London he disappears, leaving Jane with the snuff box…

Who was the enigmatic man? Why did he disappear?

And what secrets are hidden inside the mysterious jewelled snuff box…?

THE JEWELLED SNUFF BOX is the first novel by Alice Chetwynd Ley: a traditional British, pre Regency romance novel with a twist of suspense and mystery, set in Georgian England.

‘a cracking good tale, well paced, well told, with believable characters and plot twists that seem organic rather than arbitrary. I would recommend it for those looking for an old fashioned good read’ - Regency Retro Reads

‘These vintage Regency romances hover somewhere between Jane Austen and the genre as we know it today. I really enjoy them.’ - Sonya’s Stuff
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  1. Print length
    178 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    May 13, 2018
  5. File size
    1.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07D2TT9QC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sapere Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 13, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 178 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1912546787
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 2,195 ratings

About the author

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Alice Chetwynd Ley

Alice Chetwynd Ley

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
2,195 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this well-written historical romance with a traditional Regency style, praising its superb pacing and ability to keep readers interested throughout. The book features great characters and is true to the period, with one customer noting its detailed descriptions of the era. Customers find it appealing and easy to read.

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StorylineRomanceWriting qualityCharacter developmentInterestHistorical accuracyAppealPace
109 customers mention "Storyline"109 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, describing it as a pleasant formulaic narrative with a good plot, though some mention that the book gets better as it progresses.

"...I suggest that this is a book for anyone who would like a sweet story about a young woman whose life is blessed after trials and tribulations." Read more

"...Overall, the story is light, and the writing style sound truer to the period than many others written by current authors, as this book is apparently..." Read more

"...After all, this book is 56 years old. But I had a great time reading it...." Read more

"This is a well written mystery. It contains enough plot changes to keep the reader trying to guess the ending...." Read more

62 customers mention "Romance"50 positive12 negative

Customers enjoy this well-written historical romance with a traditional Regency style, featuring charming romantic elements and intrigue.

"...Many things happen where there is danger many emotions & romance. You need to read this book it's really good." Read more

"...Of course, this is the old-fashioned style Regency romance so it won't be to all tastes, especially those who enjoy the sexier recently-written HRs...." Read more

"...selfish characters, helpful relatives and friends, and a mystery involving a love letter...." Read more

"...This quick read had hints of Austen, Bronte, and Heyer - with romance, hints of mystery, and the draw of the period setting to entice readers to..." Read more

49 customers mention "Writing quality"45 positive4 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, with one customer particularly appreciating the language used.

"I have always enjoyed the writing of Alice Chetwynd Ley. I read and owned many of her books years ago...." Read more

"...It was written during a different period in time and in a style that is no longer what readers expect when they read a romance...." Read more

"...Overall, the story is light, and the writing style sound truer to the period than many others written by current authors, as this book is apparently..." Read more

"So glad I discovered this author! Her books are well written, clean, and engaging...." Read more

32 customers mention "Character development"32 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the characters in the book, though some find them somewhat one-dimensional.

"...Her character development is outstanding. Her sense of human nature is spot on...." Read more

"...Her books are well written, clean, and engaging. The heroine is never a stupid, helpless creature making ridiculous decisions, and the plot keeps..." Read more

"...The writing is good, the characters engaging, and the plots, although predictable, hold my interest...." Read more

"...The H and h are both likable people who try to help others, even when it results in personal pain for themselves...." Read more

17 customers mention "Interest"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging throughout, with one mentioning it serves as a nice escape from modern day pressures.

"...This story engaged my attention well enough. I even got emotionally touched when the Earl revealed the truth...." Read more

"...Her books are well written, clean, and engaging...." Read more

"...the characters engaging, and the plots, although predictable, hold my interest. This one has a bit of a mystery along with the romance...." Read more

"...Otherwise, this is an interesting tale that will keep you involved waiting for the truth to out...." Read more

13 customers mention "Historical accuracy"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, noting it is very true to the period, with one customer highlighting its authentic detail and another mentioning how it delivers instances of "days of old."

"A charming, old-fashioned Regency that seems very true to the period. I liked the heroine, Jane, very much...." Read more

"...Bronte, and Heyer - with romance, hints of mystery, and the draw of the period setting to entice readers to dive into this story from the start." Read more

"...An easy and engaging read with well presented characters. A nostalgic read." Read more

"...She has a good grasp of the era, and while her stuff doesn't have the snap and crackle of a Heyer book they're very good." Read more

11 customers mention "Appeal"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book lovely, with one customer noting it's a good example of the Regency style and another describing it as a wonderful portrait of the era.

"A charming, old-fashioned Regency that seems very true to the period. I liked the heroine, Jane, very much...." Read more

"...No. What it is is good, clean fun! No graphic descriptions, just a light-hearted romance filled with miscommunications, somewhat one-dimensional..." Read more

"Chetwynd paints a wonderful portrait of the era, I enjoyed every moment of reading...." Read more

"...This, to me, was a good example of the Regency style." Read more

10 customers mention "Pace"10 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing, describing it as superb and quick-moving, with one customer noting it's a pleasant change of pace.

"...The pacing and story development is fine, except the ending, which is quite abrupt. To me it missed real closure...." Read more

"...It's a pleasant change of pace." Read more

"...The read was fast and fascinating.. You will enjoy this book. Also the love seemed very real, and I was glad there were no illicit descriptive of sex." Read more

"...Her plot is original and the pacing is superb, each character is fully fleshed out so you are in no doubt of their motives and actions..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Retired Librarian
    5.0 out of 5 stars I’m a fan of this author.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I have always enjoyed the writing of Alice Chetwynd Ley. I read and owned many of her books years ago. Georgette Heyer introduced me to the Regency genre. I have been a fan for many, many years!
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  • Texanne
    4.0 out of 5 stars A SWEET STORY FROM A DIFFERENT TIME AND PLACE
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is a really sweet story.

    A young woman who has fallen on hard times is mistreated by a mean and jealous woman. And then things fall into place for her and her life becomes better.

    It was written during a different period in time and in a style that is no longer what readers expect when they read a romance.

    Jane helps a stranger who has been injured and falls in love with him. He cannot remember who he is. Jane pays for him to go to London and see her solicitor so he can be helped. But, he disappears and she has no idea where he is or who he is.

    She must take a position as a companion and she finds that the woman who will be her employer, Celia, is a woman she knew from her boarding school. The woman is not a nice person. Celia was a mean spirited girl and she has not changed since she became a woman.

    Jane runs into the man, Richard, who was injured and he Is part of Celia’s life.. Celia is a beautiful woman who has had many affairs and believes she has played her husband for a fool. Her relationships are all based on what she can gain and who she can control.

    The story is interesting but at times I felt it got bogged down.

    This author was a talented writer and I understand why she was successful. Her character development is outstanding. Her sense of human nature is spot on. In short, she was a terrific writer about people from a different time and place.

    I suggest that this is a book for anyone who would like a sweet story about a young woman whose life is blessed after trials and tribulations.
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars A little over the top
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book was a so-so read. The writing style was a tad too dramatic for my taste. The heroine was too good to be true -- I just couldn't quite warm to her. The hero boarded on being a rather prissy fellow. I really found very little about him to be romantic despite his dark looks and broad shoulders.

    The heroine is a young woman fallen on hard times after the death of her father. She had to leave school and find employment. Her latest position is to be the companion to a titled man's wife. The coach in which she is traveling has to stop due to a snow storm, and the passengers are forced to walk up a hill to the inn. The heroine finds a man laying in the snow. He is taken to the inn and she nurses him during the night.

    The next morning the injured man cannot recall his name or what happened to him -- although it was evident he had been the victim of robbery and assault. The only item found near him was a jeweled snuff box (hence the title). The heroine convinced him to accompany her to London to visit her lawyer.

    The couple find a level of companionship immediately, and there is some attraction as well. He said he would wait outside while she spoke with her lawyer, but when a clerk was sent to fetch him, the hero had disappeared. The heroine leaves the snuff box with the lawyer.

    The heroine's new post is to be a companion to an old school chum who is beautiful as she is heartless. The lady's husband is older and an extremely jealous man. He seems to begin to have warm feelings for his wife's companion. The hero turns out not only to be the brother of another school chum but had also been involved with the wife of the heroine's employer. Of course that was before her marriage, but she had prevailed upon him to help her with retrieving a letter that would point to her infidelity.

    All is tied back to the snuff box and the hero regaining his memory completely.

    This is a very chaste love story. Nothing in it to raise your temperature in the slightest.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars E-Reader Romance
    Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Jane Spencer Tarrant her Mother died when she was very young. Her Father is in the Navy & away a lot. She is sent to Miss Leasome's Seminary. Jane meets Celia Walbrook & Letty Carisbrooke. Letty becomes her best friend. Unfortunately her Father dies fighting for the Navy against Napoleon,as a Captain. Jane has to leave early from Miss Leasowes. She no longer is in the higher echelon of society. She doesn't have the finances now to stay. She'll receive a small monthly amount from her Fathers attorney Mr Sharratt. She becomes A governess, as Jane Spencer in order to get the position that position ends & she's to become a lady's companion in London. Many things happen where there is danger many emotions & romance. You need to read this book it's really good.
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • LEP
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery man
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I thought that this book and The Guinea Stamp were the best books in those I've read so far by this author, and that is because there is a story behind them rather than just a love story. ACL is quite similar to Georgette Heyer in style. One fault she does have is that she uses the aristocrate's family names as their titles. That was not usual, sometimes it happened but not often, in most cases the title would be something else e.g. the Littleton family of Hagley, Worcestershire, title is Viscount Cobham (Lord Cobham).

    In this book, governess Jane Spencer is travelling to London in a sudden snow storm when her stagecoach is forced to stop. Jane finds a seemingly lifeless man in a ditch. Next to him is a valuable jewelled snuff box. When the man recovers, he has lost his memory. Jane promises to help him and takes him to London, where he disappears, leaving her with the snuff box. Who is the man and what mysteries does the snuff box hold? Unlike some of the other books, Jane is not a very young, silly heroine.
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  • Kindle Junkie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Jewelled Snuff Box
    Reviewed in Germany on April 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Jane is a kind, sober young woman, who has adjusted well to her reduced circumstances. Her lawyer's reaction when he learns of her new position as a companion to the Countess of Bordesly makes the reader wonder if something will go wrong there. The story held my attention throughout.
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  • Paola B.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Un oggetto prezioso
    Reviewed in Italy on April 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Una deliziosa romantica storia nel tempo di carrozze, cavalli e su e giù per le scale. Vivace e originale si legge tutta d'un fiato
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  • Mrs. Susan E. Reid
    5.0 out of 5 stars This lady's writing style is reminiscent of Jane Austen and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
    Reviewed in Canada on January 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    What a delightful tale. Beautifully written in the Austen style. Filled with historical accuracy and romantic substance in all its best forms. I will buy more of this author's works simply for the joy of escaping into a well written, good book.
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  • Tessa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
    Reviewed in Australia on July 5, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    What a wonderful story. This is the standard by which Regency Romance should be judged. It doesn't need erotic love scenes to keep you interested.
    It is a typical fairy tale of a story, poor governess (Jane) of good family is on her way to a job as a companion. The stage she is on is stopped in it's journey by heavy snow. On the way to a nearby inn Jane stumbles upon a man lying unconscious by the side of the road. Next to him is a jewelled snuff box which she picks up. Other than that the man has nothing of value on him having been robbed. Unfortunately he has lost his memory due to a hit on the head but Jane helps him at the inn and also to reach London where she intends to ask her lawyer to help him.
    Between the time she goes into the office and the time she comes out to get him, he disappears.
    Jane takes up her new post which, unbeknownst to her, is as companion to an old adversary.
    The twist and turns in this story keeps you glued to the page.
    Who is the unconscious man?
    Who is Jane really?
    Will she be able to get a new position away from her old adversary, Celia?
    I hope you can read this book with as much enjoyment as I did!
    Report

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