Review: An enjoyable, short journey into Regency romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 14, 2011
Chastity is the low-born heiress to an extremely wealthy shipping company.  Her father's failing health has put their company in danger, and it's up to Chastity to find a solution.  She determines she has no choice but to marry Mr. Highster, an older gentleman with ties to trade routes.  However, she cannot seem to solicit his attention.  When Chastity sees her neighbor, Lucas, across a crowded ballroom, a plan begins to form in her mind.Lucas, a.k.a. the "Matchmaking Baron," has had 6 fiancees in the last 6 years.  Each one has jilted him to marry another.  The odd thing is, Lucas doesn't seem to mind overly much.  It seems he still hasn't found the "perfect" woman for him.  Then Cecilia approaches him with an absurd idea, wanting him to pretend to be her fiancee so Mr. Highster will notice her.  The more time he spends with Chastity, the more he realizes he doesn't want to let her go when their ruse is over.This fast-paced novella is what fans of Regency romance are looking for.  One of the story's strengths is the dialogue between Lucas and Chastity, which is delightfully witty and historically appropriate.  There are many heated kisses and searing gazes, but there are no sex scenes, adding to its appropriateness for those who are offended by many current Regency romances.In short, it's a heartwarming and entertaining romance packed into a short novella.  (I read it in one sitting.)  If you haven't read the first in the series, I highly recommend it, although An Illicit Engagement is fine as a stand-alone novella.