Review: Literary, etc Review
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 14, 2013
My hands have been itching to pick up a Megan Frampton book since I first saw the cover for HERO OF MY HEART. When the opportunity came to participate in the blog tour for WHAT NOT TO BARE, I couldn't pass up the chance.Lady Charlotte Jepstow likes color and more importantly to dress as if she's had an accident with a painter's palette. Despite being an heiress she has yet to capture anyone's interest and reluctantly enters her third season. Her mother is desperate to see her wed and goes as far as to arrange a marriage with a widower who needs a mother for his children. What her mother didn't anticipate was the arrival of Lord David Marchston. The moment David enters the ballroom, she's happy to introduce her daughter to him. David is enchanted with the woman he believes to be Charlotte until he's corrected. He dismisses Charlotte from his mind until he receives direct orders from Lord Bradford to court Charlotte. David reluctantly begins to court her and he's surprised at how much he likes her. Everything is going according to plan, but Charlotte has a secret! She's been enlisted to write a fashion advice column while her friend is away. David and Charlotte are keeping secrets, but what does the future hold for Mr. Gorgeous and The Abomination?I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this! I usually tread carefully with new authors especially those who write historical romance because it can either be hit or miss. I find most new authors don't properly research the era they are writing and most plots are too modern. While the language in WHAT NOT TO BARE sounds a bit too modern, it is nevertheless a solid read. Frampton combines sections of Charlotte's advice before chapters so pay attention to those since they provide a bit of insight to upcoming chapters. It is well written and overall a fun read. You'll find yourself laughing over Charlotte's observations and snarky thoughts.As for characterization, we have good character development. I adored Charlotte and I want to be her friend! While she's aware of what people call her, she doesn't back down. There are a few times when she concedes and dresses the way society expects her to, but she's the first to admit she feels like a fraud. Charlotte really did the steal show. David was a bit flat and he really does shine when he's with Charlotte. I did like him especially when he realizes Charlotte is beautiful despite the way she dresses. We have a small cast of secondary characters including Charlotte's best friend Emma, who stays primarily in the shadows since she leaves London to help her sister. Charlotte befriends Anne, who very much surprised me! I really liked the friendship they developed and for a moment I was worried for Charlotte, but Anne really came through and was a good friend.What I really liked about WHAT NOT TO BARE is the open lines of communication between Charlotte and David. Frampton could have easily relied on the same old clichés using lack of communication and misunderstandings for the conflict. I kept thinking about David's orders and how he couldn't wait to go back to India and then I'd think about Charlotte's reaction when the truth finally came out. I'm glad I didn't have to read about Charlotte's heartbreak and instead we had two characters who are front and open with each other. If I can take a moment to mention the reason David is back in London. He had an affair with Lady Radnor, a married woman, and there was a huge scandal in India about it. He's sent back to let the gossip die down and he realizes he made a mistake. I won't go into details regarding the merry widow and if she makes a scene, but all I will say is, I liked the way Frampton handled the situation. Overall, I'm a bit disappointed that a few characters did not play a larger role, but in hindsight, this story is about David and Charlotte and both of them becoming comfortable with their given nicknames in society and with themselves.Megan Frampton's WHAT NOT TO BARE is delightful! If you're a fan of historical romance, you'll want to add this to your reading list.**This review is posted on my blog**