Review: good in parts, but middling overall
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 18, 2013
"The Reluctant Countess" is a fun read if not very extraordinary. The decision to pull in and complete a secondary romance between best friends of the main characters is a good one. Both Stephen and Amelia are integral to the development of the plot and are well-balanced and delightful characters in their own rights. Vella is also adept at creating characters with satisfying depth and complexity. The one seriously weak point is the run up to the ending. Sophie and Amelia's abduction, their attempts to fend off their attackers with muskets, and their subsequent escape are overwrought and, at points, downright silly. But overall, I'd say that this novel is worth the read.