Tangled Reins

It's fun to go back and read earlier books from a favorite author. Sometimes it's a reason to be grateful that the writer has changed their style, but not in this case. Stephanie Laurens' debut novel is a light-hearted romp through Regency England.

Miss Dorothea Darent has no intentions of ever getting married -- she considers herself not comely enough and definitely past marriage age. Then she is kissed [most improperly] by the Marquis of Hazelmere, a notorious scoundrel.Dorothea will go to London because her grandmother Lady Merion is to present her and her sister Cicely. In London she meets up again with Marc Henry, the Marquis of Hazelmere and his friends -- Lord Fanshawe [who promptly falls for Cecily] and Hazelmere's cousin Ferdie.Lord Hazelmere helps foil two abduction attempts of Dorothea and enlists his numerous friends to watch over Dorothea when he is called away from London.Their tangled communications are definitely made more so when it is hinted to Dorothea that Hazelmere is keeping Lady Helen Walford as his mistress. Oh horrors, and she gives him the cut direct.This is a story you will enjoy reading and don't forget to read the follow up, "Fair Juno" --- both books are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- and just a note - that both stories are reprinted in "A SEASON for SCANDAL".

This is one of Stephenie Laurens' early works which are all good. In fact, I much prefer her early Regencies which are great fun to read because of its humour and subtlety. They have the Regency feel. My only complaint is that they are all out-of-print and hard to get. If you see one, grab it.