Impetuous Innocent

Miss Georgiana Hartley is just back from Italy, having lived there for many years with her father who is now deceased. Her cousin is determined to compromise her so she flees to a nearby estate, that of Lord Alton, not knowing that he is a bachelor. She has a plan to become a lady’s companion or maybe a governess, he’s determined that she will find a life, however when he sees her with his sister he discovers that he is actually falling for her.

It’s an interesting story and I liked how she often was quite stubborn and determined for herself. Refusing to bow to demands from other people she’s a great character, without being out of step with women of her time. The two of them were great fun to read about and the convoluted ways show more they had to resolve the story I found entertaining. show less

This "cheesy romance novel," as I call them, reminded me a bit of a Georgette Heyer book I read earlier this year called Friday's Child. Laurens is a writer I read often and this is the first of hers that has reminded me of Heyer. There is no sex in this book. That might have been part of it. The woman in the book is 18 and innocent of course. She grew up in Italy with her father, who just died. The man that falls for her is a Viscount, who she asked for assistance from when she ran into some trouble. She tends to get into scrapes and does not realize it.
The difference between the Laurens book and the Heyer book is character development. Heyers characters are so much fuller than Laurens. It was still enjoyable as far as I was concerned. show more It was a pleasant quick read. show less

Charming, on the innocent side.

Georgianna Hartley, newly arrived from Italy, turns up on Dominic's doorstep, literally, looking for help.

Dominic Ridgely has no plans to marry, just a revolving door of mistresses from the ton. But Georgianna stirs something in his heart.

Wonderful change of character for Dominic, Georgianna's transition from Italy to English life is nicely done.