The Nobody

I purchased this on a friend's recommendation and I thoroughly loved it! Farr is definately a reader to watch! The Nobody is a wonderful romp that no Regency reader will want to miss. It featured beautiful prose, with very well-written characters and an interesting plot. I plan to order her back list now.

Caitlin Campbell, daughter of an impoverished mere Mr, is enjoying a Season in London as the guest of her aunt, the widow of a baronet. However, although she's made friends with an earl's daughter, there are others who consider her a mere nobody. It is the consequence of hearing the Lady Elizabeth refer to her as such at a ball that Caitlin is walking home alone late one night. A strange man crashes into her, running away from some footpads, and as a ruse to evade his pursuers he grabs Caitlin and kisses her senseless.At a subsequent entertainment, Caitlin recognises her assailant as Richard, Lord Kilverton; and to her mortification he recognises her too. He begins to tease her, and she realises just how attracted she is to him - and he to her. But Kilverton is betrothed, and to the same Lady Elizabeth who looked down her nose at Caitlin.How can Richard and Caitlin find love, when betrothals are - for a gentleman, at any rate - as sacrosanct as marriage? Can Richard's sister Serena help at all? His irrepressible friend Ned? Or Caitlin's demure and shy sister Emily? (Plenty of secondary romances in this delightful novel!)There is also a further issue to resolve: just why was Richard being chased in the first place, and why does he keep falling victim to accidents? Could it be that his life is in danger? And why?Diane Farr is another Regency writer whose books I would order without question, without waiting for reviews. Her books are, without fail, witty, sparkling, romantic and very much in character for the period. She's been likened to Georgette Heyer, and with good reason. This book, her first, is a stunning debut, and deserves all the praise which has been heaped upon it....I can thoroughly recommend Diane Farr, and if you like this book you'll certainly like her others!

What a great debut novel from Diane Farr! Its fun, witty, there is sparkling conversation, and wonderful little historical touches which don't intrude into the story and good story line to boot. I think Farr has got a natural talent for writing really good mass character scenes - the opening scene to this book which is around the Breakfast table was hilarious.The story is about heroine Caitlin, or Catie who is propelled into London society but does not make a hit at all - in fact she is referred to rather scathingly as a nobody - however a chance encounter in the darkened street with a rakish gentleman changes everything. The man turns out to be Lord Kilverton and there is a definitely a spark between these two, but he has been rash enough to betroth himself to serpent tongued and socially high-brow Serena. I loved the story and Farr's light handling of it. Mind you, I've never enjoyed laboured angsting or modern heroines dressed up as Regency Misses who pepper some romances. I think Farr captures the age and the humour of the sort of Regency I like. Light, good-humoured fun - and with a hero and heroine I really enjoyed.

Ms. Farr is a treasure. She knows the regency and, even more wonderful, her characters seem actually to be from the period. They think and feel and behave in accord with the rules and preoccupations of that long ago space in time. And they fall so delightfully in love.

After struggling through some of the worst Regency romances (by Hendrickson, Heath, to name just a few) this was truly a refreshing and wonderful book. Thank you Ms. Farr for researching the era properly, for having an actual plot befitting this era, and especially for your sense of humor so well portrayed by your principal characters! This "tongue-in-cheek" style was delightfully humorous but didn't cross the line into just plain meanness as some other supposedly funny writers have done! Please give us MORE!! And More!! Everybody who likes Regencys MUST read this one!!THANK YOU!!!!