Lemoyne House, 2009. 220 pages. Romance
The Honourable Mr. Jeremy Malcolm is searching for a wife, but not just any wife; one who will meet the qualifications on his well-crafted list. But after years of searching, he's beginning to despair of ever finding this paragon. Until Selina Dalton arrives in town. Having been scorned by Mr. Malcolm, Julia Thistlewaite invites her friend Selina Dalton, a vicar's daughter of limited means and a stranger to high society, to London as part of a plot to exact revenge on Mr. Malcolm. But when Mr. Malcolm begins judging Selina against his unattainable standards, Selina decides that she has some qualifications of her own. And if he is to meet them he must reveal the real man behind the list.
I read this book with my book club, and it was delightful! It's what I call a cotton candy read: light and sugary, with nothing to heavy or serious. Was it predictable? Perhaps, but maybe that's part of the appeal. I also feel that, while Mr. Malcolm was a little arrogant, he didn't deserve all the backlash he got. Julia was a terrible friend, and Selina truly got the short end of the stick. While lacking in historical accuracy, this was a gentle, fun, light-hearted romp that avoided the tragic miscommunication that seems so common in this genre.