What I've Read This Week Part I

What I've Read This Week Part I . . .

A Christmas Courtship by Carola Dunn, Karla Hocker, and Joy Reed -- Regency Christmas novellas

In The Christmas Party by Carola Dunn, Miss Prudence Figg alias Seraphina Savage is a novice actress appearing in a Christmas theatrical at the Marquis of Easthaven's Christmas party. When she meets the son of the Marquis, Lord Rusholme, she finds the handsome, teasing man attractive but knows that men like him only want one thing from girls like her. Rusholme is determined to seduce Miss Savage and turns on all his charms to win her over but she proves to be the most prudish actress he's ever met. His mother has other plans and he's determined to escape the marriage noose for as long as he can. Even though Miss Savage seems to reject his favors, she's good with his young nieces and nephews and refreshingly honest. He can't help but feel a growing attraction to her. The hero of this story ruined what could have been a sweet, charming romance. He sets out to seduce Pru sight unseen merely because he's bored with his mistress and he thinks actress is synonymous with lightskirt. The clues are all there that Pru isn't what she seems and he even realizes that to some extent but still persists in trying to win her over. The secondary characters are rather stereotypical but one of the young ladies reveals hidden depth which I liked. The last half of the story is better than the first. There's far too much quoting from the play within the story but the romance is nicer. The only character I really liked was Pru. I liked how she tried to make a better life for herself. She was a bit naive at times, but strong at others.

Under the Mistletoe by Karla Hocker is a companion to another novel but stands alone as a short story for the most part. It's darker than the usual Christmas story. The heroine, Susan Cavendish, is just out of mourning for her late husband Frederick, but she feels guilty for NOT mourning him in her heart. Frederick was cruel and abusive and now she fears he's still alive. Susan's belief is based on voices and noises heard in the walls behind the secret passageways. Frederick's cousin Andrew is eager to help Susan. He is not so secretly in love with her and wishes to marry her and protect her. Susan isn't sure what she wants. She's never had the chance to find out. When her best friend Elizabeth Rowland, Duchess of Stenton, arrives, Susan hopes to find the answers she seeks. Elizabeth arrives with her ghost, Annie Tuck, a former nursemaid, who falls in love with Andrew! Annie is jealous of Andrew's feeling for Susan but when danger strikes, she must decide whether to put her feelings aside and help Susan or hope Andrew will join her in the spirit world forevermore. I didn't really like this story. Frederick was a despicable, horrific man and everyone turned a blind eye. There's not much back story to explain how he got that way when his mother seems perfectly nice. The plot is a bit too Gothic for my tastes. I felt very bad for Susan that she never had the chance to figure out who she is or what she wants out of life. While Andrew is a very worthy hero, I think he should have kept his feelings to himself for awhile longer. This story is for those who enjoy realism blended with Gothic mystery. This would be a better story for Halloween than Christmas. The ghost seemed really familiar to me but I can't find a record of having read the story she  first appears in. It's possible I read that or even this story before and forgot.

The Christmas Beau is a lighthearted story about a young girl, Melanie Hartman, in her first season who dreams of marrying her neighbor, Lord Colby and traveling to Italy. When her brother brings home a friend from London, Mellie is aghast that an uncouth savage Scotchman should be allowed to speak to her. William McCraig proves to be conversable, chivalrous and a big help in a crisis. When he asks for Mellie's hand in marriage, she's horrified but he is a very persistent young man. Will Mellie get to marry the man of her dreams? I liked this story best of all the three in the collection but I did not like the heroine. Melanie is spoiled, selfish and really really rude. Her mother should have corrected her behavior. The Colby gentlemen are cads and Melanie refuses to see her beloved Lord Colby as he really is. Her realization comes a little too late for me. I loved Mr. McCraig. He's so funny and charming. The crisis scene had me smiling and laughing throughout. He didn't deserve Melanie and would be better off with her younger sister Nina. Nina is a much nicer girl.

These stories are a little long for an anthology and they lack the heartwarming nature of some of the other Regency Christmas stories I've read. This one isn't tops on my list.

What I Read This Weekend

What I Read This Weekend . . . 

Spellbound Hearts : Three Bewitching Tales of Regency Romance by  Jo Ann Ferguson, Karla Hocker, Joy Reed 

This collection of tales centers around Halloween and is perfect light reading for this time of year.

In Spellbound by Jo Ann Ferguson, Faye Wynchwood is asked by her dear friend Venetia to cast a love spell or else Venetia will die of a broken heart like the other women in her family. Faye is cautious. She doesn't like anyone to know she's a witch and she doesn't really consider herself one, despite the tales in the village. She knows the folklore and remedies her great-aunt taught her but she does know how to help her friend. When she discovers that her friend's true love is from the family that has persecuted the Wynchwoods for centuries, she's torn between loyalty to her family and her desire to see the handsome, teasing stranger who caught her stealing dirt from his estate. This story is a little too cute for my tastes. In everything else I've read, witches don't cast love spells. That never goes well. The excuse here is that it only works if the two hearts are willing. Cassidy St. James is an alpha hero and he's a little too in control for my tastes but I can see Faye's attraction to him. The plot was resolved in a weird way and I didn't quite understand it. It goes with the magical theme but seems strange given the rest of the story. It's not a bad story and I liked it, I just didn't love it. 

The characters in A Soul of Indiscretion by Karla Hocker are already married but the idyllic honeymoon period is over and after ten years, Philip and Amanda can't seem to get along. Philip feels Amanda is indiscreet and will ruin his political aspirations. Amanda doesn't like Philip's political mentor and fears the man will make her husband compromise his beliefs. Philip, an ex-clergyman, believes he is firm in his convictions. While staying at Philip's family's crumbling, spooky old manor home on an island in Northumberland, Amanda hopes they can repair their marriage, but Philip isn't sure what to do with her. when his eccentric and mysterious Aunt Sybil arrived (when she was believed to be dead), she forms her own opinions about the couple's relationship. As All Hallows Eve approaches, a sinister feeling is in the air. Can the couple reconcile before the pagan holiday's evilness ruin everything? This story is too sad and gothic for my tastes. Philip is a lot like Mr. Darcy. He's annoyingly stuffy and proper and believes himself to be right. Amanda is more like Elizabeth, lively, friendly and believing herself to be a good judge of character. On every other page it seems Amanda is weeping and she can't get Philip to stop and talk things out with her. He annoyed me so much. I liked Aunt Sybil the best. She provides some comic relief for this story. The ending was rather unusual and very strange. It's a good tale for Halloween but not my favorite.

Moonlight Masquerade by Joy Reed features two best friends who couldn't be more different. Minnie is flirtatious and forward and Susan is shy and reserved. Susan sometimes wishes she could be more forward like Minnie. Last Halloween, she shared a sweet flirtation and tender kisses with a masked gentleman at the Squire's Ball. She longs for the gentleman's kisses again, but she believes her true love is also the man Minnie has her sights set on marrying! Susan wishes just for once, a gentleman would see her and not Minnie. Perhaps she'll have a chance at the Squire's ball, if only she dares let go of some of her reserve. This is my favorite story in the collection. I can relate to Susan. My Junior High best friends were Minnie and I was Susan. I immediately sympathized with Susan and loved her instantly. I hated Minnie. She's a lot like Lydia Bennet and I found her only slightly less irritating. Her love interest isn't much better. He's similar to Mr. Bingley but dim-witted. Susan's romance is so sweet it will make you sigh. Her hero is worthy of a swoon or two. I guessed who he was right away but I understand completely why Susan didn't. Her feelings came as a surprise to her and the romance develops gradually. Even though it takes place in only one night, the pacing of the story feels just right and makes the romance sweeter. It could have been a little longer to be more realistic but I liked it a lot.

What I Read Recently UPDATED

What I Read Recently . . .

Lord Yates and the Yankee by Joy Reed -- Regency Romance

Lord Vincent Yates is bored. He's infamous for his exploits but they've become boring. His Mama is after him to marry and secure the secession but Vincent can't bring himself to marry any of the simpering misses of the ton. He came close to marriage once, with the lovely Desdemona who is now married to one of Vincent's closest friends. Mona seems to want to resume their old flirtation and Vincent is tempted. To alleviate boredom, he decides to pop in on his sister's literary salon for the famous American author Samuel Locke. Vincent finds himself enjoying the lively novels and looks forward to meeting Mr. Locke. Vincent then makes the acquaintance of Miss Constance Locke, daughter of the author, and she takes him to task merely for being an Earl. Vincent has never been so shocked in his life but realizes that her argument is valid and enjoys a lively debate with the young lady. He's soon interested in seeing more of her to show her that not all Earls are dissipated wastrels. Constance is a pragmatic Yankee bluestocking who despises the wastefulness of the aristocracy. She's surprised and pleased when she meets Vincent and eager to spend more time in his company. She tells herself she must not fall in love for Vincent can not be serious and he stands for all she hates, plus there's the little matter of her fiance Will back home in Boston. This story is a take on Pride and Prejudice. Constance even has "very fine" dark eyes. I couldn't resist this novel about a Yankee bluestocking, being one myself (with dark eyes), but the story didn't quite live up to my expectations. I really liked Constance. I could easily see myself saying some of the things she says, just not in public! Once her motivation for speaking out was revealed, I conceded that I probably WOULD have behaved exactly the same. I admired her outspokenness and her ability to revise her opinion. (Unlike someone who's good opinion once lost is gone forever.). My problem was with Lord Yates. He's 35 and acts more like 25 or younger. Vincent is known as a dandy, a tulip, a pink of the ton and his speech is peppered with "What?," 'Pon rep!" and "By Jove!" I kept hoping that as he matured, he would drop the silly dandy speech  but he never did. His ridiculous speech pattern was cute as first but grew annoying after awhile. Georgette Heyer knew how to use it sparingly for her sidekick characters so it remained funny and fresh. I did like that Vincent wanted to change for Constance, but his transformation happened quickly and we were mostly told about it and didn't see much of him on his estate. The story stalled and dragged on after that. It's not long in terms of Zebra Regency novels but feels long and repetitive. I disliked that Constance was engaged to someone else already. That's the primary factor that kept the hero and heroine apart. As a result, there's not much courtship or many really sweet moments.The story would have been better without the fiance. This could have been a cute novella instead of a mediocre novel. I would recommend it but it's not one for the keeper shelf. 

The Duke and Miss Denny by Joy Reed -- Regency Romance



Miss Judith Denny has come to keep her older sister company in London. She senses something is not quite right with her sister's marriage and she might be able to mediate and fix things. Judith's sister stages a big come out for Judith, something which the practical vicar's daughter does not want. Lady Fanny Spicer offers all sorts of advice for her little sister and when Judy takes that advice a bit too much to heart, she ends up accidentally snubbing a Duke! The Duke of Ashland is astonished at being snubbed by a nobody when he was merely trying to be helpful. He's determined to meet this girl and find out why she snubbed him. When Judith realizes her mistake, she apologizes in her plain spoken manner and quickly endears herself to Ashland. He loses his heart to his new friend and he is determined to make her his wife. That is, if their meddling relatives don't interfere! Judith has doubts about becoming a Countess and makes up her mind to refuse Ashland, should he offer, though it will break her heart. She hadn't counted on the depths of his feeling or his determination, however. What should she do? This is a nice, quiet little romance. Nothing much happens except a lot of talking. It gets bogged down a bit with Judy's self-sacrificing act which goes on a bit long. What happens after that is exactly what I would have suggested. I liked the details in that part of the book more than the beginning and I felt that part should have come earlier and ended sooner. It dragged on a bit too long because it got weighted down with details and Fanny's subplot. The story won't keep you guessing but it will please lovers of sweet romances. I really liked Judy. She's very kind and caring but not obnoxiously good. I like the way she speaks her mind and makes her own decisions. Ashland is an average hero. He's bored with Society, tired of being hunted by matchmaking Mamas and their daughters and enjoys the fresh breath of air Miss Denny breathes into his life. 

Desperate Measures by Candice Hern -- Regency Short Story (free E-book)

Miss Lydia Bettride is desperate. Her Mama is after her to choose a husband but the man she loves doesn't love her back. Geoffrey Danforth is one of her brother's friends and treats her like a sister. What's a lovesick maiden to do? Enlist the aid of another friend of her brother's to play the suitor to make Geoffrey jealous. When Philip cries off and lets Geoffrey take his place, Lydia doesn't know what to do. She comes up with a brilliant solution that will hopefully have Goeffrey in her arms in no time. Her plan seems to be working too well when Geoffrey awakens her budding sensuality. Will they or won't they get together in the end? This story is dreadful. It could have worked as a longer story but the length makes the action happy too quickly. The backstory comes a little too late after characters are mentioned but not explained who they are. The romance heats up quickly and is more sensual than I expected. The sensual scene is plopped in the story without really exploring what it means to the characters. They very briefly talk after that and then the story ends. It's all a bit too quick for me.  There's no time for character development or a slowly developing relationship. The hero and heroine already know each other so that the story can proceed right to romance. I prefer a more slow burn type relationship that begins in friendship and ends in a proposal. This author has gotten rave reviews from clean Regency fans and I hope her non-free, full length novels are better.

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Unexpected Miss Bennet by Patrice Sarath -- Austenesque

This sequel to Pride and Prejudice is all about Mary, the awkward middle Bennet daughter. She's bookish and uncomfortable in social situations. Now her two eldest sisters are happily wed and Lydia ... well, the less said about her the better, Mary begins to wonder what will happen to her. She discovers that her old comforting Fordyce's Sermons is no longer the balm to her soul it once was. It even seems as if Fordyce didn't know young women at all! Mary's whole world is shaken by her new found revelations. Jane and Lizzy hatch a scheme to "do something" about Mary. While Kitty enjoys London with the Bingleys, Mary is sent to Pemberley to stay with the Darcys. She discovers unexpected friendships, hardships and joys as she comes of age and discovers that she is the unexpected Bennet. This story is a wonderful continuation/spin-off of Pride and Prejudice. It focuses primarily on Mary with a little bit about the other characters. I liked the focus on Mary who is the forgotten sister. I can relate to her shyness and bookishness. While I can't relate to her sermonizing and her reasons behind it or some of the decisions she makes, I can empathize with her. She's entirely likeable and sympathetic. She's not a drama queen middle child but a quiet one, lost in the middle. She's not a girl anymore and she faces and uncertain future and is determined to meet it on her own terms. Her suitor is very unexpected as well. I liked him a lot. The romance is very quiet and not really very present. It's closer to a meeting of the minds, as Georgette Heyer would call it, but not. Those looking for grand sweeping passion and heat, look elsewhere. Mary remains true to herself. That is what I loved most about this novel, that the characters were all true to Jane Austen's creations. Each one, except Mary, acted as they had at the finale of Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Collins is especially spot-on obnoxious! There is one exception, whose personality turns out to be a welcome surprise and an unexpected friend for Mary. There are a few minor bumps in the story but I enjoyed the story so much I forgot that some things were mentioned once or twice and never again. This is Mary's coming-of-age story and she grows and changes as a result of her experiences and reflections on them. Another wonderful thing about this novel is that it captures the tone of Jane Austen's writing while not copying it exactly or writing from an 1813 dictionary. The novel reads more like a young adult book than a classic Jane Austen novel but I liked the style. The writing flows smoothly and is easy to read. Janeites from teens on up will enjoy this wonderful story. I hope to read more from this author in the future. I would like to see Kitty, Georgiana and Anne's stories told.

Midsummer Moon by Joy Reed -- Regency Romance

Miss Jane Reynolds is spending the summer in the country with her Aunt Cordelia and  cousin Cynthia while her Aunt Daphne with whom she usually lives in Bath, tours the battlefields in Europe with Aunt Cordelia's husband. When they learn that an eccentric elderly neighbor died and left her estate and fortune to her nephew, Sir George Overton, one of the most eligible bachelors in London, Aunt Cordelia and Cynthia, who is just Out, get the matchmaking bug. When headstrong Cynthia persuades Jane to visit Sir George's estate grounds before he arrives, Jane has misgivings but goes along with the plan. Then, during a moment of madness, somewhat disheveled, they come face to face with Sir George himself. Embarrassed, Jane is sure Sir George, a notable dandy will have a disgust of her, but instead she finds a man with a sense of humor similar to her own. Rather than sell the estate right away, Sir George seems inclined to stay on for the summer and one of his reasons seems to be Jane. Jane thinks a pink of the ton such as Sir George could never be interested in a plain, shy spinster such as herself. There's nothing more on his mind than idle amusement. He must be more interested in the lusty widow chasing after him, but if so, then why does he pay so much attention to Jane?  As the midsummer moon approaches and Jane's family hosts a masquerade ball, she soon learns how lovely plain Jane can be. This is a lovely, sweet story. The characters and plot are largely original which is very refreshing. Sir George is neither a rake nor a Corinthian. He's not even an Alpha hero. He's known as a Dandy and rattle but his sense of humor shows him to be well-read and intelligent, traits that will endear him to any romantic reader. Jane is an original heroine is well. She can be shy and tongue-tied at time, something I can relate to very well. The relationship between the heroine and hero develops really nicely. They get to know each other and really connect. There's no major chemistry or fireworks but there is a lovely friendship based on mutual interests that develops into more, which I absolutely loved. There are lots of chuckle out loud moments, especially during a dinner party. The detailed descriptions the Priory and gardens are amazing. I felt like I was walking along with the characters. My only complaint is that the story goes on too long. The big misunderstanding happens late in the story and feels out of place at that point. It's obvious what happened and Jane's reaction was so out of character that that part of the novel felt forced. Newcomers to the genre who love the fashions of the period will find this novel a good place to start. Long-time fans of the genre will love this well-written, intelligent, sweet story. It's not quite one for the keeper shelf, but definitely one of the better Zebra Regencies.  

What I've Read Recently... Regency edition

What I've Read Recently... Regency edition . . .

Julia and the Master of Morancourt by Janet Aylmer -- Regency Romance

 Julia Maitland is being pressured by her family to choose a wealthy husband soon. Her family has fallen on hard times lately : first, her only brother died fighting Napoleon's troops in Spain; then, the local bank failed and Papa lost his investments; after that, Papa's health began to decline. Julia is willing to please her family but she is not too happy about either of the prospects her parents have chosen for her. Mama wishes Julia to marry Dominic Brandon, an Earl's heir and cousin to Julia's best friend Emily. Papa prefers Jack Douglas, the son of his friend Harry, a self-made man. Julia doesn't know Dominic at all, she likes his younger brother Freddie though, and Jack prefers farming and animals to people. Julia's headstrong younger sister Sophie seems to get along well with Jack, but Julia doesn't feel they have anything in common. She prefers conversing about books with Jack's younger brother, Kit. Though she would like to marry for love, she would at least prefer to have some degree of common interests and friendship with her husband. Kit Douglas may be the one to steal Julia's heart; certainly he seems interested, but he is a younger son, a wounded soldier with no prospects. When her Aunt Lucy in Bath sends for Julia, her Papa agrees she needs a break and so Julia heads off to fashionable Bath and leaves her past behind her. Traveling with Emily, she learns some shocking secrets about Dominic. In Bath she meets a man who claims to know Dominic and lets slip an interesting piece of information about Dominic. Julia and Emily are perplexed and determined to discover the truth. Then Aunt Lucy's old friend dies and her heir, Christopher Hatton, writes to Aunt Lucy to come to Dorset and choose a souvenir as a memory of her friend. At Morancourt, Julia receives a huge surprise and discovers some surprising secrets about herself and her suitors and uncovers a mystery. Will the path to true love lie in Dorset? Can she ever find perfect happiness? The title of the book is a pretty big spoiler! Even so, it's still a good story. The period details are amazing and the settings are perfectly described so I felt like I was there. Any newcomer to the Regency genre can easily learn about the social customs of the  about herself and her suitors and uncovers a mystery. Will the path to true love lie in Dorset? Can she ever find perfect happiness? The title of the book is a pretty big spoiler! Even so, it's still a good story. The period details are amazing and the settings are perfectly described so I felt like I was there. Any newcomer to the regency genre can easily learn about the social customs of the day. It's obvious Janet Aylmer has done her research. The writing style is also very accessible. She captures the tone of the era without being overburdened with copying Jane Austen's every word. The writing style is a bit dry though and the characters never really come to life. It lacks Jane Austen's wit and gentle humor. The story is a blend of traditional and sweet Regency styles. The plot is a bit slow to start with but picks up about 2/3 of the way through. The mystery plot could have started sooner. The ending is a bit rushed and I wish the book was a bit longer. The characters are interesting and likeable. Julia is a sensible heroine who acts and thinks appropriately for her time. The other two sisters are two-dimensional but they don't factor much into the story. Julia's mother is also a bit stereotypical but her Papa is not. The romantic lead is wonderful! He's kind, caring, romantic and really connects with Julia. I enjoyed the development of their relationship and how they worked together to solve a mystery. I would recommend this to Janites and those who love the old-fashioned sweet and traditional Regencies.

Mr. Jeffries and the Jilt by Joy Reed -- Regency Romance

The Honorable Mr. Raymond Jeffries is visiting his aunt at the fashionable watering hole of Shelton-On-Sea. He's bored and longs for intelligent company and is trying to steer clear of the matchmaking Mama's. When he learns the notorious jilt, Caroline Sedgewick is also staying in Shelton-On-Sea, he is intrigued. He vaguely remembers meeting her in London and his curiosity and sympathy are aroused when he learns she has most recently jilted a man he knows to be a scoundrel, Robert Cullen. Caroline is hiding out with her friend Lady Katherine. Caroline has her reasons for doing what she did and is embarrassed to be the talk of the town. As she gets to know Mr. Jeffries she comes to believe he may be the one to capture her heart at last, but she couldn't let him saddle himself with someone so notorious. Mr. Jeffries admires Caroline's plain speaking and her witty conversation. He feels like her knight in shining armor. The more he sees of her, the more he longs to make her his wife, but his aunt doesn't approve based of gossip and hearsay. If he can only get Caroline to trust him enough to tell him the truth and see that they belong together. Then there's Cullen who isn't used to being told no. Will he succeed in winning over Caroline again? Mr. Jeffries is the type of hero any girl would love to swoon over. He's pretty much perfect. Caroline has a few flaws but mostly she's a nice girl. I felt very sympathetic towards her but by the end of the book I wanted to strangle her for her self-sacrificing attitude. The story has some good dialogue between the hero and heroine and there are a few amusing moments that come primarily from the secondary characters. This is a nice, light, sweet romance. It's not fabulous but it's not bad either. I wouldn't put it in my top ten category but I would recommend it to fans of the sweet Regency style. 

What I've Read This Week

What I've Read This Week . . .

The Baron and the Bluestocking by Joy Reed -- Regency Romance

After learning that her mother has spent their last penny, Elizabeth Watson discovers that an elderly man she never met has died and left her a large bequest. Mr. Lucius Atwater left Elizabeth the money because he so enjoyed a book she wrote on the Second Punic War (Ancient Rome). There are two conditions, however. The first: Elizabeth must use the money to write about ALL the Punic Wars, the second: Mr. Atwater's nephews may feel entitled to the money. Elizabeth feels uncomfortable taking money that rightfully belongs to someone else, but after meeting Mr. Atwater's disagreeable sister-in-law, Elizabeth changes her mind. Mrs. Atwater is determined to get the money for her wastrel son Gilbert and nothing will stop her, not even lying about her nephew Julius's view of the matter. Lord Julius Atwater has decided to remain neutral. He believes his uncle's will should be honored. He becomes fascinated with Elizabeth based on his aunt's description and when they finally meet, she exceeds all expectations. She makes him want to be a better man. However, Elizabeth wants nothing to do with Julius whom she believes is her enemy. She thinks his charming manner is a ploy to lure her into doing what he asks. Julius is determined to woo in spite his aunt's scheming. Elizabeth isn't too interested. She's more focused on  thwarting Mrs. Atwater's plans and protecting herself from fortune hunters. As the toast of the town, Elizabeth can take her pick of men, or not, if she so chooses. She finds herself the object of attention of Lord Steinbridge, a wealthy Marquess but she can't stop thinking about Julius.

This story could have been told in 100 pages or so. Instead it drags on for 250 pages before reaching the inevitable conclusion. I wanted to like Elizabeth because she's a bluestocking but I couldn't like her. Her behavior is childish and immature. She is too old to be so naive. She also seemed to forget about condition #1 in her obsession with getting the better of Mrs. Atwater. Julius is also stupid and boring. Little of the story is told from his point of view so the reader does not get a good sense of who he is. There's some kissing, but no real chemistry between them. This is a fast, light read which may please fans who are looking for something a little different, but for me, it wasn't quite good enough.

Crossed Hearts by Monette Cummings -- Regency Romance

Miss Miranda Drake is happy in the country living with her companion "Sammy" and writing Gothic novels for profit and fun. When her publisher has exciting news for her, Miranda decides to take her London cousins up on their offer to visit. Lucy Owens is making her comeout this Season and can't wait for Miranda to come and enjoy the delights of London with her. Her younger siblings, Diana and Giles, are also excited to have someone new in the house. The only person who does not seem thrilled to have Miranda and Sammy in town is Captain Jonathan Murray, an army friend of the Owens' older half-brother Charles. Jonathan is home on invalid leave and he has his reasons for disliking Miranda on sight and his feelings increase when he sees her in the company of a mysterious man accepting money before sneaking into the house. He'll be darned if he lets the sweet young Owens children be corrupted by this wicked woman and does his best to send Miranda packing. Though Miranda and Jon often quarrel, they can't help feel an attraction for one another. Jon is urged by Princess Esterhazy to take a different approach if he wants to win over Miranda. Meanwhile, Miranda is hard at work at her latest novel, featuring Jon as the hero or the villain - which is it? A serious misunderstanding between Jon and Miranda threatens to ruin Miranda's happiness as well as her writing. Miranda may have to compromise her ideals if she wants to be with Jon and he has some lessons to learn before he can find happiness. This is a pretty light, quick read though it's long for a Regency. The plot is very different from the usual light romantic fare and I felt the story suffered because of it. Jon's misunderstanding is REALLY unfounded and implausible. I couldn't stand him and felt he needed a good slap in the face. I really liked Miranda but I wish she had a bit more personality. The story is told from the omniscient (all-knowing) viewpoint which is unusual for this genre but it still doesn't make the story any more interesting or realistic. This is not one of my favorites. The description on the back of the book is a lot more interesting than the actual plot.