Miss Prim

MISS PRIM was, for me, a wonderful surprise. It was my first Jane Myers Perrine book, but it certainly won't be my last. I am a confirmed Regency romance junkie and found this book to be engaging and refreshing. From page one I found myself drawn into a delightful adventure peppered with spies, chases, and a mysterious baby, not to mention the enchanting interaction between the two main characters. It was a fun read filled with clever insight and plenty of humorous twists. Highly recommended! Enjoy...

When Lady Louisa Walker, neatly coiffed, in lace cap and modest dress, arrives at the home of her sister to care for a mysterious infant, she doesn't think that her world is about to turn upside down. However, upon arriving, she almost immediately finds herself in a very compromising position with her long ago love, William Rathe, Viscount Woodstone. Who would put William in the rooms Louisa had always used as her own? Why is William at her sister's house in the first place? And why won't he leave? Louisa's sister and brother-in- law are not at home and no one is saying just exactly where they are. And as for sweet, precious Beatrice, the baby Louisa is to care for-who is little Bea? Who are her parents? Where did she come from? Way too many questions, and not nearly enough answers. When Louisa is attacked by a ruffian while walking the grounds, she tells William. William says the man is merely a vagrant, but that doesn't ring true to Louisa. As she begins to discover the truth about what is really happening, Louisa finds herself plunged into an adventure she would never have believed possible. And little Miss Prim, as William calls her, finds in herself the heart of an adventuress. As for William, who at first seems to Louisa to be nothing more than a dissipated rake-is he really a patriot of the first order who risks life and limb to save his beloved England from the French? We discover, along with William and Louisa, that things, and people, are not always what they seem to be. These two fell in love with each other when they were young-too young. Now the time may be right for both of them-if they survive. This is a tale of patriotism and heroism, a fast paced chase through the heart of England, as Louisa and William race to avoid being captured by villainous French spies. The spies know the truth about little Bea-she holds in her tiny hand a key to England's intelligence network. Louisa is not exactly experienced in the art of espionage, or of evading those sneaky and nefarious spies, but she is a very fast learner. And she is brave. Once she decides that she is going to protect the baby and help William, she will not be deterred, despite William's ideas to the contrary. Along the way in their fast and furious ride, Louisa and William meet some fascinating characters who enlist in their cause. After all, gentry are not the only ones who can be patriotic! Jane Perrine's fast, unrelenting pace so effectively captures the spirit of the pursuit, I found myself unable to put this book down. She seamlessly blends the suspense of the chase with Louisa's gradual realization of her own inner strength and William's rediscovery of the girl he fell in love with as a mature, intriguing woman. Once again, Jane's subtle humor paints this tale with a light and sparkling brush and affectionately portrays this very special hero and heroine who, though they fell in love too soon at first, are finding love much better the second ti