Review: If you're a fan of true Regency romance, skip this one
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 07 5, 2012
I love Regency romances, and have read everything from Jane Austen to Julia Quinn.  This book did nothing for me, except make me both frustrated and confused by all the 5-star reviews.It begins with our heroine, Gigi (short for Eugenia, but I still couldn't get over the nickname), meeting her friend in the stables to discuss a scandalous romance she'd read about a princess and a privateer. She doesn't know Dominic (a handsome and eligible duke) is hiding in the hayloft.  The minute he sees the beautiful young--and I do mean YOUNG--girl in the pirate hat, he's stricken with lust.  Meanwhile, Gigi proceeds to bemoan her upcoming Season and talks about what a handsome devil Dominic is.  Her friend makes her swear a ridiculous oath that if Dominic proposes to her, she'll accept his proposal.Dominic, who has sworn off marriage for years, is now determined to marry the beautiful pirate-girl, and he begins by going to London to formally meet her.  Their encounter in a bookstore was ridiculous.  Dominic adopts this strange, slurred accent that was so hard to follow. I could never imagine an aristocratic, regal duke speaking in such a manner.  And for what reason?  Has he never seen a pretty girl before?  Ridiculous!  Fans of Regency romance like reading stories about dukes, because they are usually controlled and aloof.  Dominic seemed weak and stupid.It wasn't humorous to me at all.  Rather, it was boring and terribly annoying.  I enjoy witty dialogue between the H and h, but there was very little dialogue between Gigi and Dominic.  They decide they're in love from a distance (which is lust, not love).  I couldn't believe the young, virginal Gigi would behave so wantonly toward him.  That's so far out of character (and time period) as to be insulting to the reader.  Another hard pill to swallow was her mother's behavior.  No mother of the ton would have intentionally put her daughter in a compromising situation.  Rules of society were very strictly followed.  Along the same lines, someone should explain to modern-day authors who attempt to write in this period that a "special license" for marriage was not used without consequence.  If a man truly cared for his bride's reputation, he would begin with a courtship, followed by a proposal and an adequate period of engagement before the marriage banns and ceremony.  Gigi and Dominic do not even know each other and both behave like impatient, whorish idiots.If you're looking for a well-written Regency romance, there are many others to choose from.  If you want a "delicious" Regency with some heat, I would recommend Quinn's Bridgerton series.