Review: Light, entertaining tale.....3.5
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 18, 2014
This was a nice counterpoint to some intense novels I've read lately.  Pleasant, enjoyable, without much angst to stir the pot.The author gave us a departure from the usual "rake doesn't want to be leg-shackled because he likes his freedom."  Our rake, Bane, will not marry because he refuses to sire an heir; he wants the line to die with him as the ultimate revenge against his murderous grandfather.Our wallflower, Merribeth, is on the verge of becoming a social pariah because she had been jilted.  I didn't really understand this; she wasn't actually engaged.  (Perhaps this was more thoroughly explored in an earlier book.)  In this one, it seemed to me that the understanding she had with Clairmore was only in her mind.  Puzzling.Bane and Merribeth meet at a ball and, subsequently, at a two-week house party.  The story really took off at this point and became very engaging.  The author did a beautiful job of drawing Bane's character and all his raffishness.  Great job.  Merribeth, though, didn't seem as well fleshed-out, though I still liked her.All in all, a pleasant read.  And I got a much appreciated, though unintended, laugh from Lord Andringham bagging two pheasants with a "carbine"! LOL  Startling, but it didn't detract from the story...just gave me a laugh.  The author might want to reconsider her firearms.