About the Book
Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother's old school friend, a duke--with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she's heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marlow, her brother's new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.
When Marlow accidentally discovers and mails one of the letters to her unwitting confidant, Miranda is beyond mortified. And even more shocked when the duke returns her note with one of his own that initiates a courtship-by-mail. Insecurity about her lack of suitors shifts into confusion at her growing feelings for two men--one she's never met but whose words deeply resonate with her heart, and one she has come to depend on but whose behavior is more and more suspicious. When it becomes apparent state secrets are at risk and Marlow is right in the thick of the conflict, one thing is certain: Miranda's heart is far from all that's at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.
My Thoughts
I'm in love. This author is worming her way onto my favorites list and this is only her debut! After loving the prequel
A Lady of Esteem I couldn't wait to read this book, which turned out to be amazing! The author did a fantastic job of mixing the beauty of the time period, with splashes of humor, and rounding it out with a mystery that kept me guessing. I loved Miranda's character, a strong and free-minded woman, she had been forced to keep it all locked away in order to be the perfect lady her mother wanted her to be. It was such fun to see her start being herself and opening up. Ryland was a brilliant hero, I loved how protective he was and how he did whatever needed to be done. It was adorable how hard he fought to win Miranda over and I loved how perfect they were together. I enjoyed getting to know the rest of the Hawthorne family and I can't wait to read each of their stories. Also Ryland's staff was fantastic, their unconventionality and relationships with Ryland were quite amusing. The bit of mystery kept me intrigued until the very end and it was very well done. Everything about this book was amazing and I loved it! Even after I finished I kept wanting to go back and read more only to have to remind myself that it was done. Needless to say I am anxiously awaiting the release of book two! Please do yourself a favor and get your hands on this book!
Meet the Author
Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Computer Science but always knew she wanted to write. Kristi is an RWA Golden Heart contest winner, an ACFW Genesis contest winner, and a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for Excellence winner. She is a founding member and the coordinator of the Regency Reflections blog and lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at
www.kristiannhunter.com.
I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
