The Dirty Frog

thrown in:) Romance, a mystery, a war story, a family in dire strats-even a comical donkey and Pekenese named Manderian. Very likable heroine-who is the backbone of her family. Many well written side characters as well. If you like traditional regencies-including the fact that they are clean and more about love than sex-then I think you'll like this story. 4 stars!

SHE WANTED A HUSBAND NOT A HERO. . . "Herefordshire was the home of Valentina Ashford's half-cousin, Charles de Michel, whom she only knew by reputation. Nevertheless, it was there she went in a desperate attempt to provide her remaining family with a place to live. Having finagled Charle's reluctant agreement, Valentina concluded he more than lived up to his disagreeable reputation. Still, there were moments when she glimpsed another side of him and could not deny his charm. Though rumours about her cousin's allegiance to England were rife, Valentina became his staunch defender. When Charles was finally apprehended and subsequently tried, the result convinced her she had been right to have loved him all along. She had refused to believe he would never come back or that he risked his life to set her free." The title refers to the fact that the hero, Charles de Michel, is half French and therefore during the Napoleon wars has a dubious reputation in England. Tina goes to him in desperation looking for a home for her family which has been left destitute by her dead father's gambling debts. Reluctantly Charles agrees with the provision that they begin restoring the decrepit family estate, Wyenott Towers which Tina disparages upon first sight with the comment, "Why not tear it down?" But with no choice, she agrees to the bargain and the Ashford family begins the arduous task of cleaning and repairing the long neglected house. And learning about their mysterious cousin and his beloved mama. But there is danger in the neighborhood as a highwayman has been holding up the Royal Mail coach, the English countryside is suspicious of all foreigners and de Michel has a personal enemy who will stop at nothing to bring him down. Veryan spices this one with her trademark humor and suspenseful ending. The bantering between the hero and heroine is delightful and Charles de Michel is as honorable a hero was Veryan has ever created. But...there is a lot going on and a short page count in which to resolve it. I think if this had been a longer book, the ending would have felt less rushed. There is also a slight deus ex machina plot twist that helps the hero out of a tight spot plus a separation of the hero and heroine that I didn't care for. Overall, I liked it but it's not quite up to Veryan's longer Georgian books.