Lady Olivia refuses to repeat her siblings’ scandalous mistakes. Instead, she will marry the lord rejected by her sister and help with his good works. When he resists, Olivia forms another plan: win his lordship’s admiration by helping his illegitimate best friend find a bride.
There are a rather large number of convenient coincidences and, as is often the case in historical romances these days, the sexual encounters are described at far greater length than the plot requires; but the humor is witty, the protagonists are likeable, and their willingness to change to accommodate each other in an equal partnership not only hard earned but admirable in the Victorian, or indeed any, Age. Recommended.
Instead of the airless feel that sometimes defines Victorian-era stories, this book feels more like a freewheeling road trip rom-com where two opposites learn just how deeply they attract ... The story and the writing are as fun and vibrant as the book’s protagonists, and while the happily ever after is a given, it really is all about the madcap journey they take to get there.
Amiable leads and clever dialogue mitigate the predictable plot ... Frampton does not break any molds here, and her critiques of Victorian convention feel somewhat worn, but this is a serviceable romance with decent repartee.
