Newmarket Match by Anita Mills

Read For:
ROR Spring Challenge
1000 Regency Challenge
RYOB Challenge


Synopsis:

A SPORTING PROPOSITION

Miss Harriet Rowe felt she had little to offer her step-cousin, Lord Richard Stanton. The dashing viscount was the most handsome gentleman in London, with a bevy of beauties pining for his attention, while Harriet, a shy country miss, had only the stuffy Mr. Edwin Thornton as a suitor.

But Harriet did have one thing to give a man who already had her heart without knowing or caring. She had the money to lend him for a racehorse he desperately wanted but could not presently afford.

That made them partners in the pursuit of gold and glory on the racecourses of England. But it still left Harriet a mere spectator in the sport of love unless she kicked over the traces and made a reckless run for romance....

My Review:

A excellent old fashioned "high drama" Regency by Anita Mills. Filled with horse racing, hateful relations, "misunderstandings" tragic accidents, fun servants, and redemption. 4 stars!

The Wild Rose by Rebecca Ward

Wild Canadian lady meets a high-in-the-instep earl.

This is my second Rebecca Ward-she is quickly becoming one of my favorite Regency authors. 4 stars!

A Christmas Charade by Karla Hocker

Read For:

1000 Regency Challenge

RYOB Challenge

The Christmas Reading Challenge

ROR Winter Challenge

2nds Challenge

Synopsis:

Elizabeth Gore-Langton was hardly in a position to refuse to accompany Lady Astley to the Christmas party at Stenton Castle. After all, a paid companion must follow her employer's wishes. It scarcely signified that Elizabeth would be forced to face the man who had unknowingly broken her heart years ago during her first season. Most likely, the Duke of Stenton wouldn't even recognize her. But once she looked up into his dark piercing eyes, she knew this was a man who forgot very little..and forgave even less. Well, she was no longer a blushing schoolgirl, and the dashing duke would soon find that a broken heart, once mended, could be formidable, indeed! Clive Rowland, Fifth Duke of Stenton, was in no mood for a holiday gathering. But the Christmas gala would provide the perfect cover as he investigated reports that French agents were doing a brisk trade in stolen documents along the Sussex coast. It would be devilishly difficult to play the host while tracking down traitors, but Clive was up to the task--provided he kept his wits about him and didn't get distracted by yule logs and Chirstmas folderol..or the delightful charms of the disturbingly familiar Elizabeth. The little minx was hiding something, to be sure, and she was about to learn that he liked nothing better than unveiling a lady's secrets!

My Review:
A cute Christmas Regency set in the "house party" storyline that involved several couples and characters stories (hence the larger than normal 350 pages for a traditional Regency).
The love story was about a C+, the mystery about a C-, and the "ghost story" a B+. All together the book rates about 3.5 stars. Recommended if you like a book that covers multiple characters. Cute read.

Snow Angel by Mary Balogh

Read For:

Winter 09 Challenge

RYOB Challenge

1000 Regency Challenge

Synopsis:

Young and beautiful Lady Rosamund Hunter had known the tenderness of love in her all-too-brief marriage to a much older, kind and gentle husband. Yet she had never been touched by the fires of the heart.

The handsome dashing Earl of Wetherby was supremely well-versed in the pleasures of love. Yet even the most exquisitely enchanting of his partners in passion had left him unmoved.

The reserved Rosamund and the rakish Earl had a great deal to teach each other - if only they could persuade the other to learn...

My Review:

An average Mary Balogh book-which is still way better than most other writers best works. The hero was a little too "wishy-washy" for my tastes towards the end of the book but otherwise I enjoyed the storyline. As usual, Balogh's Regencies are VERY erotic for the genre-but always well done and always hot, hot, hot. Mary Balogh knows how to write sexual attraction:)

4 stars.

Unfinished-Just Say Yes by Myretta Robens

Zebra Regency Romance: 2005

Synopsis:

Where you least expect it. . . Weary of London's social whirl, Geoffrey Dorrington, Earl of Cheriton, longs for the simple life -- and what better place to experience it than on a relative's country estate? His plan to pass himself off as the steward succeeds... until the day Miss Cassie Hartwell smiles at him. Damn it all -- the vicar's daughter is far too charming for her own good -- and his. He will have to tell her who he really is...

. . .There is love Cassie sees no reason not to talk to the friendly steward on the neighboring estate. After all, Geoffrey is well-bred, kind to animals, full of fun, and amazingly handsome. Even if her social-climbing mama expects her to marry well, Cassie has other ideas. And love is in the air...

My Review:

Sorry-this one's a stinker-implausible storyline, very inaccurate historical details and one dimensional characters. I quit it at about 50 pages in. This one was one of Zebra's last published Regency line romances-and it shows. From the poor writing, to the horrible "chick lit" style cover they were obviously trying to cash in on in 2005, you can see why the line went under.

Falconer's Hall by Jacquelyn Aeby

Falconer's Hall

Jacquelyn Aeby

Candlelight Regency Series #193

1976

Read For:

ROR Fall Challenge

RYOB Challenge

A Thousand Regency Challenge

Synopsis:

Young Eleanor was a friendless orphan one moment, and in the next, she was a glittering heiress mistress of Falconer's Hall torn between two very different men!

My Review:

A fairly good vintage Regency, very much "old school". The heroine, Eleanor, was raised by the Falconer family after her parents are killed in a carriage accident. But in her 22nd year, the Falconer patriarch, the matriarch, and Charles, the son Eleanor was to marry all die (though Charles was presumed dead in the battle of Waterloo). So Eleanor plans to take the packet ship back from Belgium to England as her funds are gone and having no family she hopes to find a position as Governess or companion. Before her trip, she is begged by an elderly man, who is dying, to chaperone his granddaughter Annabella back to England to meet the family she never knew at Gavinoaks.

When they arrive she meets the hero, Robert Gavin, the Earl on Penbury-your typical arrogant town gentleman who is grudingly enlisted to help with his newfound niece Annabella and is shocked when his mother, who knew Eleanor's mother, asks her to stay and help as well. In the meantime, Eleanor learns that since there is no family left, the Falconer's left Falconer Hall and estates to her-going from penniless to an heiress in one fell swop.

Falconer Hall was a bit over dramatic and was a old timey Regency that falls into the idea that the heroine is so "thankful"to have the Earl take all her cares from her in relation to running Falconer Hall-because all woman just dream of having a big strong man to take over all the worries for them, right? LOL. Oh well, it was written in 1976 and it shows:) But in a way, the high drama and sexism is kind of charming in a "thank God we don't think that way anymore" nostalgia.

In all, a quick, campy Regency read with at the very least a beautiful cover:)

3 stars.

A Ghostly Charade by Sheila Rabe

Read For:

RYOB Challenge

Synopsis:
When her sister summoned her to Grayson Hall a fortnight before All Hallows Eve, Lady Caroline was understandably intrigued. It seemed a ghost was stalking the corridors of this home, and Carolines wit and bravery were urgently needed. Always the most level-headed of women, she was certain the phantom was merely an earthly mischeif-maker bent on frightening her sister out of marrying into the Grayson family. And the rather suspicious reappearance of the darkly hansome Damien Grayson, Long presumed dead, supported her theory. But she soon wondered if the perils posed by spectres might be preferable to the unnerving effect this flesh and blood stranger seemed to have on her heart!

Brooding and arrogant, Damien was the family's black sheep. Why,even his very name meant demon! When he made his way back to England to find his house in an uproar and his brother betrothed to a fortune hunter, his mood was little improved. And who was this beautiful widow who suspected him of chicanery of the lowest order? He would enjoy both proving her wrong, and playing a few tricks of his own. At the All Hallow's Eve ball, he'd need no disguise to play the devil...or the rake!

My Review:

2.5 stars-I finished it but I had to push myself to. The mystery was obvious from the beginning and it was painful to watch the "smart heroine" never get a clue throughout the 300 pages until she has to have it pointed out to her. The hero was interesting but the heroines belief that he was the villain was a mood killer to say the least. Not recommended.

The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer

Read For:

ROR Fall Challenge

RYOB Challenge

Synopsis:

THE RUNAWAY

Behind lovely Penelope Creed was the lavish life of a brilliant London heiress, and a proposed marriage to a man she loathed.

Ahead, tantalizing, was the shimmering dream of a love she had known once--and lost.

And with her in flight across a landscape of excitement was a man like no other she had known--the handsome, cynical, sophisticated Sir Richard Wyndham. They had met by accident, been drawn together by danger. And now only his masked emotions and the shifting impulses of her own wild young heart would tell what their destiny would be...

My Review:

This was my first Georgette Heyer and definitely not my last. I can see why she's considered the "Grand Dame" of Regency Romances. The Corinthian is a comedy/action storyline with the now classic "girl passes herself off as a boy" storyline. But this time the hero knows she is a woman from the start and goes along with the ruse, as the heroine is running from a forced marriage to her cousin, and with the disguise the hero can escort her across country without a abigail in tow.

Heyer's writing is very humorous as well as slyly scathing towards the hypocrisy of the ton. I wish there was more romance between the leads but their comical interaction more than makes up for it. This story was also enjoyable as the vast majority takes place as the couple travels from inn to inn, unlike most Regencies that dwell in the glitz and glamour of routs and balls.

4.5 stars.

The Wicked Earl by Margaret McPhee

Read For:

Summer Reading Challenge

RYOB Challenge

Synopsis:

The very proper Miss Langley does not know what she has done to encourage the attentions of a lord, only that they are most unwanted and very improper! So when a handsome stranger saves her from his clutches, Madeline is too relieved to suspect that her tall, dark defender may have a less than respectable reputation….

My Review:

A very good Regency Romance. The heroine, Madeline, is an average "on the shelf" older daughter of an genteel but impovrished family. So she is surprised when a Baron seeks out her attentions. The reader learns though that the Barons intentions are not honorable and are in fact perverse. When the Baron corners Madeline, a stranger appears and rescues Madeline. She learns that he is the Earl Tregalles, dubbed "The Wicked Earl" because he was accused of evil himself. So who does Madeline trust when she's is about to be forced into an unwanted marriage with the Baron?

This Regency read very much like a Johanna Lindsey or Catherine Coulter. Interesting characters, "misunderstandings" and loads of sexual tension throughout. The love scenes are passionate though more were needed to please me. The hero, is dark, brooding and misunderstood, the heroine very insecure though she gains courage throughout the storyline. All in all, a quick, enjoyable "high drama" romance.

4 stars

Beguiled by Susan Spencer Paul

Read For:

Summer Reading Challenge

RYOB Challenge

A beautiful Regency Romance. I really enjoyed this romance. The storyline was unusual as the heroine was disabled. She is partially deaf and has a large speech impediment caused by a horrendous incident as a child. The hero is an all around good guy. Wonderful secondary characters too. Recommended-4 stars.

Fortune's Child by Rachelle Edwards

Read For:

RYOB Challenge

ROR Summer Challenge

Synopsis:

Everyone knew they'd make the perfect match-or perfect enemies. Lord Rossington returned to London to brazenly ask for the hand of the lady he had jilted nine years before. Now all England stood agape, which would falter first, and no one, not even they, knew whether it was love or hate that possessed them..

My Review:

Pretty good "old school" Regency. The story is of the "second chances" storyline. The heroine, broke off her betrothal with the hero nine years before when she found out her father had lost his fortune gambling, though she never shared that with the hero. Fast forward, nine years later, when the two meet again and the hero offers to marry the now spinster heroine-but it's to be a marriage of convienence-as he needs help with his son, who has become terribly behaved after his mother's death six months before.

Overall, the story was good-fast paced, and well written for the period. The hero is very much of the "dark, brooding" variety, and doesn't open up until too late in the book, in my opinion. There's sexual chemistry is between the two, but no passion-this book is pretty much "G" rated in relation to love scenes. That wouldn't have been a problem, but like many romances written in the 80's, the author sadly felt the need to introduce one scene where the hero slaps the heroine late in the book. If it would have occured earlier in the book, I would have quit right there, but it's so late in the book that I went ahead and finished the story, even though that "soured" me on the book after that.

2.5 stars for a pretty good book up until that point.

The London Belle by Shirley Kennedy

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
A to Z Challenge
Summer Challenge

Synopsis: Lady Jane Sperling is the eldest daughter of the Earl of Hedley, and in her third season. Her finicky nature and scholarly pursuits have prevented her from complying with her family's wishes to wed her off to some wealthy old man. But now her father's gambling debts have put the entire Sperling fortune in jeopardy...To help the Sperlings, Lord Dashmont offers Jane employment - as a companion and tutor for his son, who still grieves over the death of his mother. Wary of the notorious rake's true motives, she reluctantly agrees. And as Jane helps a frightened little boy emerge from his shell, her actions also melt the heart of her employer. But can she trust Dashmont - a disreputable rogue and gambler - enough to fall in love with him?

My review: This book is a perfect example of how good writing can overcome even the biggest dislikes. When I started the book, I quickly learned that the heroine was a vain, spoiled brat who thrived on being the "belle of the ball". Likewise, the hero seemed a bit of a cad-more concerned with his personal pleasures of gambling and cyprians than his son. Normally, I'd quit the book right there as these are personal "peeves" of mine. But the whole story does a 360 degree turn early on-turning both characters worlds upside down. In doing so-we see both characters grow and mature. It had moments of "Lizzie and Darcy" that I really enjoyed-both had preconceived notions of each other but both cannot fight their attaction, and in so doing, find out how wrong they were about the other. This Regency is very romantic and a bit "sexier" compared to most Regencies, but still MUCH tamer than other Romances-still a "PG" rating on the love scenes.

All in all, a very good Regency-Recommended-4 stars.

Prospero's Daughters by Nancy Butler

Read For:
Summer Challenge
RYOB Challenge
2nds Challenge
What's In A Name Challenge
Themed Reading Challenge
A to Z Reading Challenge


All in all, a very good Regency. Likeable hero and heroine-both are "scarred" in their own way. The hero, mostly emotionally and the heroine physically. Unusual storyline that the heroine cannot walk and has been forced in seclusion by uncaring relatives. The heroine meets the hero quite by accident. I liked this one. Recommended-4 stars

An Eligible Connection by Elsie Lee

An Eligible Connection
Elsie Lee
Regency Romance
220 pages
rating 4 stars

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
New Author Challenge
Read Your Name Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge 2009




Synopsis: AN ELIGIBLE CONNECTION 1974 ISBN:0440128218 Society called it The Season, she called it a slave auction and refused to be sold...She never had vapors, never played the coquette like her ravishing sister Almina, "The Dark Incomparable" of London's haut ton. Fanny Cherill's flame-colored hair was a hopeless liability, her cheeky wit and daring thoroughly unladylike. But everything changed on the night handsome Lord Waterbury stole into her boudoir to capture her heart--and her reputation!

My Review:
this was my first book by this author. I wondered why Elsie Lee's Regencies are on so many's Regency fans wish list and now I know why. This author is great. She really knows how to write the flavor, the language, slang and feeling of the period. An Eligible Connection is the story of Fanny, who at 16 has been taken away from her governess and country home to live in London with her family. Her older sister, who is Fanny's opposite-dark haired, beautiful-an "Incomparable" for two seasons.
Fanny's family basically ignores her, leaving her alone with the servants nearly every day. One night alone, because of a small house fire, Fanny meets the hero, Charles, after she screams for help and he climbs into her bedroom to save her. Charles, thinking the petite redhead is much younger than she is (he thinks she's about 12), he's instantly captivated by her spunk and zest for life. He offers to take her about town, to a balloon ascension and the zoo, still thinking she's just a lonely child stuck in London without friends. This is where the adventure starts.

For those who love a fun Regency ala Georgette Heyer or Marion Chesney, I think you'll enjoy this book.
4 stars.

The Indifferent Earl by Blair Bancroft

The Indifferent Earl
Blair Bancroft
Regency Romance
215 pages
Rating-3.0 stars

Read For:
A to Z Challenge
RYOB Challenge
Spring Challenge
New Author Challenge
Romance Club Reading Challenge

Synopsis:
Before Abigail Todd can collect her inheritance, she must honor her grandmother's last wish-to complete a series of tasks with the Earl of Langley-and hopefully fall in love in the process.

My Review:
Overall, a cute Regency that ran about average throughout, picking up a bit the last 30 or so pages.

Interesting premise of an American spinster of 28 who runs an Academy for girls in America when she learns of inheriting a cottage in England. To fully inherit, she must complete a series of eight tasks from Clarissa, who Abigail learns is her grandmother whom she never knew about. A famous courtesan who lived her last 40 years as a kept woman of the heroes Grandfather. Abigail coincidentally is the spitting image of her grandmother.

I would have given this book more stars if there would have been more romance. For a book with a major character being a courtesan, there is surprisingly very little sexual chemistry.

Overall though I enjoyed The Indifferent Earl and I'd recommend this book.
3 stars.

Highland Love Song by Constance O'Banyon

Highland Love Song
Constance O'Banyon
Rating 3.5 stars
322 pages

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
A to Z Challenge
New Author Challenge
Chick Porn Challenge
Serial Readers Challenge

Synopsis: Lady Arrian DeWinter, daughter of the English duke of Ravenworth, was determined to escape the highland castle of Warrick Glencarin. For her senses were perilously near surrender to the very man who held her as a pawn in a family feud. And escape she did, though she left behind her heart to a man who dared not believe he’d won it.
Betrothed to Ian MacIvors, lovely Arrian struggled to despise her fiance’s enemy. Yet all she longed for was Warrick and the chance to soften his bitter anger with her loving touch…

My Review: Highland Love Song was my first book by this author and after finishing it I'm happy to say not my last. Written in 1993, HLS is very much an old school "bodice ripper". Meaning the storyline is fairly interwoven with scandals, high drama, kidnapping, family saga and an emotionally charged storyline. Be forewarned, this story is all drama and no "light" moments.

Highland Love Song is actually book two in the DeWinter Saga, though I read it without knowing of the first and still enjoyed the book. Though I'll now go back and read Arrian's parents story in Song Of The Nightingale. Arrian and Warrick were good lead characters-the heroine was not too flighty, and the hero, while brooding and dark, was no brute.

Miss O'Banyon's forte seems in her writing fleshed out secondary characters, and HLS was full of great ones. The best were MacTavish, Arrian's Aunt Mary, and her brother Michael-who is the hero in book three in the series, Desert Song. The love scenes were so so and few and did detract from the storyline-if they were better this would have been at least a four star book. If you enjoy connected family sagas like Lindsey's Mallory's or Laurens Cynster's, then I think you'll enjoy this book.
3.5 stars.

The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany

The Rules of Gentility
Janet Mullany
Regency Romance
Rating 3.75 stars
279 pages

Read For:
RYOB Challenge
2nds Challenge
A To Z Challenge
Chick Porn Challenge
Romance Reading Challenge








Synopsis: Regency heiress Philomena Wellesley-Clegg has rather strong opinions about men and clothing. As to the former, so far two lords, a viscount, and a mad poet have fallen far short of her expectations. But she is about to meet Inigo Linsley, an unshaven, wickedly handsome man with a scandalous secret. He's nothing she ever dreamed she'd want—why then can she not stop thinking about how he looks in his breeches?

Having read, and loved, Miss Mullany's first book Dedication (Signet Regency Romance), I eagerly read Rules of Gentility and for the most part was not disappointed.

This fast paced, funny and in moments, touching, Regency Romance is told in the traditional "Comedy of Errors" style. Ms. Mullany throws in every tried and true Regency plot device in biting satire form while bringing the reader back to the hard reality of Regency life by introducing the common, yet not talked about subjects such as adultery, affairs between "quality" and the working class, often resulting in "by blows",homosexuality, and the subjugation and idea of the times that women of all classes were basically non entities at the time.
Philomena and Igino grow and mature as lovers and as humans by the stories end.

A little more Romance needed as well as a silly, and not thought out "villain" at stories end brought the book down at bit but it was still quite good.
Looking forward to more from this author.
3.75 star-recommended.

Duel of Hearts by Elizabeth Mansfield

Duel of Hearts Elizabeth Mansfield Regency Romance 219 pages Rating 1.5 stars.

Read for:
RYOB Challenge
Winter 08 Challenge
A to Z Challenge
Chick Porn Challenge
What's In A Name Challenge


My Amazon Review:
cliched, cloying and annoying Regency Romance...., January 31, 2009
Synopsis:
LOVE'S DARING GAMBIT . . .
"There's No Time To Explain!" Sarah said. "Come and sit down beside me. Quickly!" She pulled him to the sofa. The door had been left open so that anyone passing would be bound to see them.

Sarah placed his arms firmly around her waist. "Now Edward, try not to be too shocked. I want you to kiss me."

"What?" Edward gaped at her. "You can't mean."

"Yes, I do!" She threw her arms around him and lifted her face to his. "Kiss me . . . as if you really mean it!"

My review:

Duel of Hearts is based on that tried and true storyline of the shy heroine, secretly in love with the hero, but he loves another. The heroine, as a selfless act, pretends to be lovers with the hero to help him ensnare his "true love", the heroine's twenty year old cousin.
While I've seen the story done before, this particular telling was one of the worst. The book spends more time on the hero's love interest-the heroine's vain, stupid and mean cousin, than on the heroine. The heroine is a door mat, and gladly allows herself to be a door mat to everyone including the hero. In modern terms, she's a complete wuss, never standing up for herself or her love.

The hero is not much better, liking the hero one minute, than berating and belittling her the next. Any "love" in this romance literally happens the last five pages of the book. No kidding!
The only beautiful thing in this novel is the beautiful cover art.

Totally skipworthy-1.5 stars. ”

A Place For Alfreda by Elizabeth Chater

A Place For Alfreda by Elizabeth Chater
Regency Romance
4 stars
186 pages

Read For:

• RYOB Challenge
• A to Z Challenge
• New Author Challenge
• Chick Porn Challenge
• Winter 08 Challenge
  

My Amazon Review:
Accurate, enchanting vintage Regency......,

January 9, 2009

Synopsis:
She went from rags to riches in the blink of an eye. Alfreda never felt like she belonged, but when she discovers that she was switched at birth and is the rightful heir to an Earl's estate she is flabbergasted. Nobody ever expected this mousy, plain girl to be of noble blood, especially Mark Savage. Mark has always infuriated Alfreda with his ceaseless mocking, but now she sees a spark of love deep within his eyes.

But the aristocracy isn't all it's cracked up to be, someone isn't pleased with Alfreda's new position and they will do anything to ensure her demise. Can Mark's love and Alfreda's unstoppable will save her?

My Review:
This author is a prime example of why I love the old Regency Romances. Miss Chater, who was also one of the original writers of Science Fiction (Lee Chaytor),also had a popular Regency career in her 70's. Miss Chater, who was also an English professor, obviously studied Regency England thoroughly. I've never seen another of the tradition Regency romances (besides the genre greats) that's so chock filled of Cant,or slang of the era, as well as lifestyle and convention.

The author's impressive vocabulary was delightful-a delicious break from the sometimes monosyllabic monotony of several "modern" Regency writers who shall remain nameless:). Miss Chater's writing is like Belgium Chocolate after weeks of Hershey bars-a gourmet's dream come true.

The story brought to mind Harriet Smith of Emma, "a girl of unknown parentage". Alfreda was raised by a spinster in the country, just like Harriet. But unlike Harriet, the townsfolk believe that Alfreda is a by-blow, an illegitimate child of nobility. Surprisingly, she is exactly the opposite-she is the legitimate child, but since she is a female, she's hidden away and her father's son with his mistress is put in his place.

What follows is a charming, fun and fast paced Regency tale full of delightful secondary characters. The romance is traditional-no love scenes, just a few kisses and the requisite sexual tension.

The end storyline goes a bit wonky, hence 4 stars, but A place for Alfreda is a Regency Romance I'd still highly recommend to fellow fans of Austen, Heyer, Chesney, and Balogh.
4 stars.

"Almost" Challenge #3

Ah, yes, yet another bad book that I couldn't finish. This one was for Readers Of Romance Winter Challenge. #3-A book with a "D" Word in the title. Back to the drawing board.

My Amazon Review:
too lusty for a lady...., December 19, 2008
Synopsis:
Awaiting a welcome death after a duel, Lord Henry Langdon hides in a stable--and is discovered by a young gentlewoman. Despite his protests Miss Elisabeth insists on nursing him back to health, though as far as Lord Langdon is concerned, he is not worth saving. Jilted as a young man, he swore off love long ago and turned to a life of gambling, drinking and dissolute pleasures. To his surprise, Elisabeth's tender touch brings healing and hope. Lord Langdon is enthralled by her beauty--and ready to give his heart to her forever. But how can he explain his past? When Elisabeth discovers the dark scandal that shadows him, Henry must convince her that he has changed his ways--for a future filled with the love of one woman only...

my review:
from the great cover and interesting synopsis, I had high hopes for this traditional Regency Romance. This was one of the last "traditional" Regencies that Zebra published and from this story I can see why. This book did not hold to any of the tenants of a traditional Regency. First, the book was way to sexual and flirtatious. No Regency man, and especially no Regency gentlewoman, would have behaved this way. Even a Rake. Groping, touching, kissing, leering-in any other style romance maybe, but not in this sub-genre.

Finally, for someone who supposedly studied Regency England, the author has many huge, gaping gaffes,flaws, and mistakes to what was acceptable for the time period. Again, if this would have been, let's say a fantasy, paranormal, or even a "thicker" Historical set in the time, these gaffes may have been overlooked. But not in a traditional Regency Romance-it's like seeing a football player in a tutu-it can be done, but nobody wants to see that.

1 star for a good cover. Not recommended.