Love for Lucinda Book

This story was so utterly charming! It was very similar to Heyer's Cotillion, featuring a darling hero and a sweet, innocent country heroine, who find themselves engaged against their will. The romance was touching and the secondary characters were fun. This was a typical traditional Regency romance set in London, with balls, fancy dinners and proper ton etiquette and mannerism. It read much like a Heyer novel, and even had a reference to the Marquis of Alverstoke and his sister from Frederica, and a sub-plot similar to the misunderstandings in The Convenient Marriage and April Lady. It was all great fun, and I had a lovely time reading it.

Gil and Chloe have always been best friends, but neither of them had ever considered the other as a potential life partner. When Chloe gets thrown off her horse and Gil comes to her rescue, they are forced to seek refuge from a storm in a nearby cottage, and must spend the night there. This scene was actually quite funny, Chloe having decided to wrap herself in a bedsheet since her clothes were wet (and Gil, persuaded by Chloe, agreed to do the same). It doesn't prove funny for them however, when the cottage's owner unexpectedly returns to find them in this rather compromising situation. Lady Gilliland (Gil's mother) and Mr. Littlefield (Chloe's father) both feign outrage, but Lady Gilliland really sees this event as a heaven-sent opportunity to have them engaged, since she believes they are made for each other.

Chloe arrives in London after Gil has asked her to visit his sister Tish, whom he suspects is having conjugal problems. Chloe being such a kind and devoted friend, doesn't hesitate in trying to figure out what is wrong, and is determined to do what she can to help Tish. Only, Tish isn't the only one who needs help. The newspapers are full of the announcement of her betrothal to Gil! Furious, she goes to find him, and together they arrive at the conclusion that they are both extremely embarrassed and displeased with this turn of events, but that there is nothing they can do about it for the present, without kicking the devil of a dust.

Hence ensues a delightful comedic romp of two genuinely good people who discover their heart's desires through various struggles and confusions with jealousy, friendship and fear of rejection. The results are as satisfying for everyone as any Regency reader could hope. :)

I loved this novel so much that I immediately plunged into its sequel, The Fortune Hunter, which features the villain of this book, the notorious and devil-may-care Lord Rival, who is quite the sexiest, most heart-melting rake ever, as the hero. I was already half in love with him in this book (my other half preferred kind, sunny-tempered and pleasant Gil), and now I am well on the way of tumbling headlong into a lasting love affair. ;)



Gil and Chloe <3