Stevie‘s review of A Lady’s Guide to Ruin (The Birch Hall Romance Series, Book 1) by Kathleen Kimmel
Historical Romance published by Berkley 01 Dec 15
I’m a sucker for mistaken identity capers, although they often rely on a suspension of disbelief: either early on when the reader is expected to go along with the idea that none of the main characters know the difference between the imposter and the person they’re pretending to be, or towards the end of the story when we discover there’s a secret reason why these two apparently unrelated characters look so similar. In the case of this book, I was particularly intrigued by the imposter having escaped from Bedlam, so I took my chances with a brand new author.
Joan is an accomplished con artist, who claims that she rarely has to steal, when her marks will eventually give her what she wants willingly; however, her brother and his new accomplice don’t like waiting to receive their ill-gotten gains, when they can carry out less sophisticated acts of thievery. When a job goes wrong, the two men avoid arrest by placing the blame entirely on Joan and claiming she acted out of insanity. Joan is incarcerated in Bedlam, and her claims not to be mad are taken as further evidence of her condition.
Always resourceful, Joan manages to escape from Bedlam, acquires new clothes and pockets the diamonds her brother has left lying around following his most recent crime. While she’s figuring out how to sell the jewels, she is accosted by a young woman who thrusts a letter into her hands with instructions as to where it should be delivered before disappearing in a coach. Thoroughly confused, Joan then encounters the prospective recipient of the letter – Martin, the Earl of Fenbrook – who assumes she is his anticipated visitor – now actually en route to Gretna Green.
Joan intends to tell Martin and his sister who she really is – as soon as she’s had a chance to eat and rest, but her brother comes looking for her. Believing the ruffian to be a danger to them all, Martin sends the ladies to his country estate, promising to join them once he’s finished his business in London.
Martin is a very reluctant Earl. The second son, his elder brother ran away some years before their father died, and is believed by many to be dead, but Martin is determined to find him and then relinquish the title and estates so he can get on with his previous life. He finds himself attracted to the woman he believes to be his cousin – when she’s not pretending to be a simpering fool – but can’t take any action until he knows what his position is in relation to the earldom. Meanwhile, his sister has been a semi-invalid since the death of her fiancé, but may be ready to rejoin society with a little encouragement from Joan.
I really enjoyed the way all the characters fitted together – not just the main cast, but all the supporting ones too. I’m a little unsure of how Martin can give up his title once he’s claimed it – there are provisions in place for such eventualities as vanishing heirs, as well as historic examples of long and complex lawsuits when a title is supposed to have been wrongfully claimed – but maybe we’ll see more about that in later books.
Joan is very good at playing roles, although slightly flummoxed to be doing so without having had a chance to learn about the family she’s deceiving beforehand, and we also meet several dastardly villains whom our protagonists have to outwit. I’m very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Grade: B
Summary:
A romantic debut starring a reluctant earl and the beautiful thief who has put them both in danger—and stolen his heart…
Joan Price is a wanted woman. A thief and a fugitive from the mental hospital where she was falsely committed, she’s now on the run from her former partners in crime. But luck must be on her side—just when it seems all is doomed, she runs straight into the arms of Martin Hargrove, Earl of Fenbrook, who mistakes her for his distant cousin, Daphne.
Lord Fenbrook has no intention of marrying, and certainly doesn’t consider his notoriously scatterbrained cousin a prospect. But her flighty persona seems to hide something far more intriguing—a secret self she trusts with no one. And Martin is determined to earn that trust…
When Martin’s sister discovers Joan’s charade, they strike a bargain: Joan can remain within the safe walls of Birch Hall, as long as she doesn’t allow Martin to fall in love with her—for their flirtation would surely ruin them both. She’s convinced she poses no threat to his heart, but she’s beginning to realize that her heart may be the one in danger. Especially as he seems very set on seducing her…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
