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Sep 15, 2011BethHMW rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Lady Hero Batten knows exactly how to fulfill her duties as the daughter of a duke, and as such is very pleased with her engagement to the Marquess of Mandeville, a leading parliamentarian. However, when she encounters his younger brother, Griffin, Lord Reading, whose reputation as a rake is well-known, he upsets her dutiful approach to life. As the two bicker, they discover a deeper passion and discover that opposites may be more complimentary than they had ever thought. Hoyt's historical romances are always enjoyable. As the second book in the Maiden Lane series, characters from the previous novel crop up but reading the first book isn't necessary to enjoy this one. Hero and Griffin's romance is enjoyable and although some of the conflict surrounding their relationship seemed poorly explained and existed only as a stumbling block before the inevitable happy ending, the plot trips along so quickly that it's easy to just enjoy it. The supporting characters are well-developed and not just cardboard figures to fill out scenes. And as always, the fairy tale Hoyt has created to frame her main narrative is nicely crafted and serves as an excellent means of foreshadowing. Not the best of Hoyt's historical novels, but enjoyable nonetheless.