My Lady Mischief

If you are like me, you have found that Valerie King's regency books are either hit or miss. This book is definitely a hit.The characters are lively and likeable (and actually like each other!--such a refreshing change from many regencies). The plot is forward-moving and never boring. The romance is excellent, with great sexual tension.What I found most intriguing with this book is the political philosophies expressed. Ms. King plays with her characters' idealogical views and gives a realistic opinion to the hero and heroine. The hero is a classic liberal (autonomy and individualism) and the heroine is a classic civic republican (social justice through community efforts). The issues they address are historically accurate but still relevant to today's political discussions. Ms. King cleverly integrates these political views into her story and shows the pros and cons of each position. Only at the end of the book does it seem that she sacrifices her characters' solid political leanings for a feel-good compromising ending (and hence why I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5).Overall, however, I recommend this book. The subtle political discussion makes the book extra interesting, but the book also can stand alone on its characters, plot, and romance (if you are not in the mood to delve into a political debate and just want a good story).