This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.Expected Release Date: June 1, 2001 (Reprinted September 1, 2010) (Available Now!)
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Jove
Author’s Website: http://www.ameliagrey.com/
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy
Mirabella Whittingham is engaged to be married. Unfortunately, her would-be husband has been gone for six long years, making his fortune in the Americas. An arranged betrothal, she’s never actually met her wayward fiance, but overheard him speaking to her father years ago, saying that he would return for her when he was “old and gray”.
Mirabella’s best friend and cousin has quietly taken her own life after discovering that the man she thought she loved had discarded her and left her not only ruined, but also with child. Determined to find the vile man, Mirabella sets out on a personal quest to discover his identity. The only clue she has, however, is that the man in question has a thick scar on the right side of his neck — a part of a man’s body that no proper miss would ever have the opportunity to observe outside of marriage.
Having resigned herself to the fact that she will never have a chance to marry, especially not for love, she has little care for her reputation, and seeks out the culprit in the only way she knows how — by narrowing down a list of possible suspects based on clues from her friend’s diary, and allowing these gentlemen to kiss her in the garden. These chaste and occasionally distasteful kisses allow her to discreetly slip her finger inside of their cravats to see if they have the scar in question.
Meanwhile, her missing fiance finally returns to England. While initially intending to break off the match, Camden soon realizes that his family’s financial situation gives him little choice but to continue on as planned and marry the chit. Resigned to his fate, he approaches Mirabella’s uncle at a ball and request an introduction. Unfortunately, Camden’s timing could not be worse, for Mirabella is in the gardens with yet another suspected seducer, and is caught in a passionate embrace.
Disgusted by her behavior, Camden initially berates her, but Mirabella is unapologetic — after all, Camden has exposed her to gossip and ridicule for six long years with his absence, so if anyone should be explaining their behavior, it would be him.
The two soon agree to continue the pretense of a legitimate engagement, for not only would her reputation suffer if her engagement was broken so soon after Cam’s return to England, but his family is in debt and cannot risk having creditors panic with the realization that the money from Mirabella’s dowry will never materialize.
Undaunted, Mirabella vows to stop kissing gentlemen in gardens out of respect for Camden’s reputation, but refuses to stop her secret investigation into the man behind her friend’s suicide. But when she soon finds herself falling for Camden’s heated glances and delicious kisses, will the cost of her investigation finally be too much?
Overall, I found this one quite enjoyable. While it was a bit predictable at times, and honestly, Mirabella needed to be locked into her room for her own good on occasion, I couldn’t help but admire both her spirit and her courage. I also liked that Camden was willing to own up to his own mistakes, despite a bit of occasional arrogant male blustering, as well as the fact that both were willing to make sacrifices for their families.
In then end, this was a fast, fun, and tasty read, and I would highly suggest that fans of regency romances snag this one while it’s still free on Kindle.
4/5 Stars
