I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.
Kate Archer writes sweet Regency Romance. Her current novels (A series of Worthy Young Ladies) features six Society matrons who have no daughters to bring out and marry off. They feel the lack sorely, so they have formed “The Society of Sponsoring Ladies.” Each of the matrons is tasked with identifying a worthy young girl who needs launching, and who cannot, for a variety of reasons, depend upon a mother of her own. (See my review of Book 1 - The Meddler.)
Book 5 - The Jilter is being released today!
In this novel, the matron is Lady Featherstone, a Viscountess, who is known among her friends for her devotion to solving mysteries – all in good fun. She adores the monthly gatherings at her friend Lord Ryland’s home, where a mix of people gather to hear details of often gory crimes, then put their heads together to try to solve them. Once a year, Lord Ryland holds a mystery ball with a similar theme, but the mystery is a constructed one, or at least one where the answer is already known to Lord Ryland. The person who solves the mystery during the ball wins a prize. Lady Featherstone has won it two years running. Now, she turns her attention, slightly, from solving mysteries to match-making.
The young lady is Prudence Copeland, daughter of the Earl of Copeland, a distant cousin of Lady Featherstone. He is a widower. Prudence is a retiring sort of girl, content to stay in the country and care for her father, who is not particularly well. But now there is a crisis. A stranger has come to their village, a Lord Luckstone. Ever since his arrival, he has claimed to be betrothed to Prudence with her father’s blessing. A complete falsehood. But the man tries every day to gain entrance to the house and has spread his false claim all through their town. The earl wants his daughter removed to the safety of London, and asks Lady Featherstone for help, on the basis of their slight acquaintance.
Lady Featherstone hastens to fetch the girl.
When Lord Ryland hears of this, fearing something dangerous is afoot, he chases after her and offers assistance. Upon meeting Prudence, he’s quickly smitten.
Lord Ryland is an imposing, powerful man. His odd hobby is actually a vocation. When he was just a boy, his father was murdered by highwaymen. Ryland has devoted his life to bringing the murderers to justice. While searching for them, he has helped solve or prevent many other crimes.
Prudence arrives in London and acquires suitors quickly, Lord Ryland chief among them. Unfortunately, Prudence is now gun-shy because of Luckstone’s overbearing manner. She wants a mild-mannered man. And Lord Ryland frightens her as much as he attracts her. There is another who seems to her more suitable, a Mr. Clamarin, who is in Lord Ryland’s circle and who has insinuated himself into Ryland’s crime-solving activities. He’s very gentle and kindly. But, she discovers, he is also cowardly and lacking in societal niceties.
What neither Ryland nor Prudence knows is that Clamarin and Luckstone are in cahoots. And it isn’t Prudence they are pursuing but a piece of jewelry they suspect is in her possession. But they have to steal the jewel quickly because it appears Ryland is closing in, and preventing one crime might solve the mystery of another.
Ryland’s pursuit of Prudence is very sweet (a little patronizing, but sweet.) Prudence grows from a timid and traumatized debutante to a more confident and strong young woman, surer of what she wants.
This is a pleasant, quick Romance with likeable protagonists, stumbling villains, and a kind supporting cast.
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