Kasey Michaels (1943–2023)

fabulously mysterious...with delightfully droll interludes!

A return to Regency England with the threat of a Bonaparte inspired invasion all too real!
A family's investigation into its duplicitous, treasonous and debauched past, relating to an organization called the Society.
Leading the investigation here is Valentine Redgrave, youngest brother of the Earl of Saltwood. Michaels describes him as 'outwardly dangerous as a dandelion.' Delicious!
Enter Miss Daisy Marchant, 'governess-on-a-mission.' show more The two come into contact at a house party held by Lord Charles Mailer, debauched martinet, cad, and possible member of The Society.
Daisy wonders, 'Was Valentine a badly needed ally, or an exceedingly clever foe?'
Valentine mistakenly believes Daisy is a government spy sent by Downing Street. He is not amused.
Mystery and darkness surrounds The Society. It's membership, it's purpose, it's monthly meetings. Young women are disappearing, wives have died in odd circumstance. All grist for the mill.
As some mysteries are resolved others wait like patient serpents waiting to take their place.
Some of the characters have a definite touch of Heyerism, but with descriptive sexual encounters. Valentine's grandmother, Trixie, keeps reminding me somewhat of the older Duchess of Avon. Daisy is definitely akin to one of Heyer's steadfast heroines.
I loved the repartee between the Valentine, Daisy and Piffkin, Valentine's valet.

I must confess that when I first began reading this I had to leave the story after just a few pages. It seemed too confusing at the beginning with the hierarchy of depraved ancestors who were members of a secret, diabolical, hellfire club that continues still--minus the Redgraves. . Somehow I lost my way. I am unsure as to whether it was me or the start of the novel.

Fortunately for me, I decided to return and I'm glad I did! Guess what?
This time the story all hung together so much more precisely and delightfully than I anticipated that I am now a convert. I am addicted to the family's story and am rushing off to savour the rest in the series.

A NetGalley ARC show less

While Sophie has spent the past few years since her mother’s death learning how to “dazzle” people from her mama’s journals, Bram was being the best damn stick-in-the-mud he could be in order to regain respectability for his family name. And just when he thinks he’s finally gained some respect back for the title, Sophie shows up on his doorstep armed with a monkey, a parrot, a grouchy maid, and the ability to “dazzle.”

Sophie’s “dazzle” sometimes drove me nuts during this show more story and her obsession with wanting to make everyone around her happy equally frustrated. The thing that saved her character from reaching Disney princess standards was that she has a temper and isn’t naive. Despite the way she acts in public Sophie doesn’t wear rose tinted glasses about her life. She doesn’t believe in love, because she had to watch her mother weep after every one of her guys left. In turn Sophie doesn’t think too highly of men, but she isn’t a man hater. She likes them, she just doesn’t expect much from them. Sophie’s also probably one of the most sex savvy historical heroines I’ve seen in a while. She’s a virgin, yes, but she’s also read every single one of her mother’s journals which apparently go into detail about what she did with all her guys.

I almost felt bad for Bram in the story, because Sophie has a kind of whirl wind effect. Here he is just trying to be the dullest member of the peerage and she just sweeps into his house with a couple of exotic pets, a man hating maid, and all her “dazzle.” Then within five minutes of their meeting she warns him about her “dazzle” and tells him not to fall in love with her.

Anyway, this story would’ve been incredibly boring if it hadn’t been for how Constance and Bram’s father died, because that part of the plot was the launching pad for pretty much everything that happens. I loved that it was made into the foundation of the story, because Michaels could’ve just used it to throw the characters together then pushed it into the shadows in favor for something else….. You know, at the end of this I was almost wishing that Michaels had a prequel to this story, because I loved Constance and Bram’s father and the stories of some of the odd things they pulled were great. show less

Sometimes a witty, happy diversion is just what you need in your reading life. That it would come, as most romances do, with a guaranteed happily ever after is icing on the cake. Kasey Michaels' newest Regency-set historical novel, A Scandalous Proposal, the first in The Little Season set of books, is just such an entertaining delight.

Cooper Townsend is known as the hero of Quatre Bras and although no one is quite certain exactly what that means and rumors abound, everyone in London society show more knows that he was given a title, lands, and an income by the Prince Regent for his heroic actions. Even without the particulars, these three gifts are enough to make him the target of matchmaking mamas and their daughters and the toast of the town. But Coop's getting more than a little tired of all the adulation and flirting, wanting nothing more than to fade into obscurity. It appears that someone is very invested in not letting this happen though as short chapbooks telling of his supposed exploits are being published anonymously, adding to his acclaim. Then a blackmail note threatening a final chapbook, exposing his actions and the truth behind them, which no one is supposed to know, arrives and Coop has to get serious about stopping this threat. At the same time, Dany Foster's sister, the Duchess of Cockermouth, also receives a note from a blackmailer, threatening to expose her ill-advised correspondence with a man not her husband. Dany wants to help her sister, deciding that Marietta needs a hero to help her recover the silly but incriminating notes and eliminate the threat of exposure. So it is fortuitous indeed when she literally bumps into Coop in the street. Intrigued by the red-haired, forthright young woman, Coop is drawn to help Dany help her sister, despite his own misgivings. When Dany and Coop join forces, they discover that they are both working against the same blackmailer and that they look forward to their collaboration much more than they should given the stakes they are facing.

The entire course of the novel takes place over a very brief space of time and yet this shortened timeline doesn't seem to make it feel frantic or accelerated (although perhaps it should, at least to some extent). Despite that, this is a romping, madcap sort of novel. Coop and Dany fall in love with an indecent sort of haste but they don't have time for some silly misunderstanding to keep them apart or to break their sham engagement. Instead, the reader is treated to glee-filled banter and a growing appreciation for the happiness they feel in each others' company. In a nice change of pace, the mystery of who the blackmailer is gives the novel its narrative tension. The scandals are only scandalous in the context of the story's time so it's not hard to retain the good feelings both Dany and Coop inspire in the reader. That they can actually work together without manufactured strife is also a breath of fresh air. The novel is fun and frothy, perfect for Regency fans who appreciate a slightly different twist on their favorite stories. show less

Amanda has the personality of a minx but the heart of a survivor. She does what she has to in order to protect her sanity but doesn't think through the execution process of her plans. Her character had many contradictions, she has naivety that hints at immaturity but a wisdom born of necessity and she can play a hoyden like nobody's business. Jared was gallant, trustworthy and border on dangerous with his wicked personality and his tempting good looks but when he cared he didn't hold back show more from expressing that. The Belligerent Miss Boynton is an adventurous saga of courage, humor and heart that is a showstopper and a welcome edition to regency. show less