About the book: Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother's old school friend, a duke — with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she's heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marlow, her brother's new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.
When Marlow accidentally discovers and mails one of the letters to her unwitting confidant, Miranda is beyond mortified. And even more shocked when the duke returns her note with one of his own that initiates a courtship-by-mail. Insecurity about her lack of suitors shifts into confusion at her growing feelings for two men — one she's never met but whose words deeply resonate with her heart, and one she has come to depend on but whose behavior is more and more suspicious. When it becomes apparent state secrets are at risk and Marlow is right in the thick of the conflict, one thing is certain: Miranda's heart is far from all that's at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.
My review: Don't you just love the cover of this book?! I think it's beautiful and it really matches the story inside it!
I really enjoyed reading this regency romance! There's plenty going on in this one with Miranda, Marlow and, of course, Miranda's mother who is very specific about how a lady should act and her younger sister who is just coming out.
Miranda was a fun character, she's just on the cusp of being considered an old maid and she's kind of getting to where she doesn't really care what others think about either her wardrobe or her actions. I loved the way she had been writing to her brother's friend Lord Marshington, secretly for many years and that she had a whole box of letters to him. That becomes even more fun for the reader when we find out his current identity.
Marlow is her brother's new valet, well...sort of. He is an undercover member of the ton, a spy for the regency. Which of course Miranda has no idea about, and her brother knows all about. This becomes very fun when he comes across a letter basically to himself written by Miranda and proceeds to tell her that he mailed it.
I loved all the comical little things in this one. Things like the letters back and forth between Miranda and Lord Marshington, their game later in the book is really funny, too! If you like regency romance, pick this one up, you won't regret it!
I was able to borrow this book from my local library.Labels: clean regency romance, Kristi Ann Hunter
