Fast read. The main character is a little bit of a brat. There isn't a ton of plot here, but it was a pleasant read. Perfect palette cleanser after a couple dark & depressing books. ( )

A lady does not climb barefoot down rose trellises to engage in fisticuffs with ruffians in order to save street urchins. But Gillian Ames is no lady. In order to escape a domineering hypocritical reverend, Gillian poses as her dead half-sister Amanda Wyndham to enjoy her Season and gain a rich husband despite her illegitimacy. The Earl of Mavenford, her guardian, is determined to make her behave like a lady, but he finds himself drawn to her mischievous ways even as she exasperates him.

Gillian is a fun character, and the rules that Stephen forces her to tack up by her bed are highly amusing. The bickering and general fireworks between the protagonists are fun, but I found it difficult to believe that they were in love. The realization that exasperation was in fact affection was not explored fully enough for me. I would have enjoyed more tenderness or at least a little more delight in needling one another. I'm not sure what was missing exactly, but the spark didn't really ignite.

It was a fun quick read but nothing spectacular. ( )