Series: The Footmen's Club, #1
Traits & Tropes: hidden identity; heroine needs to marry for money; hero is titled
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England, 1814
Publication Date: 06.30.20
Heat Level: 3/6
Rating: 4/5
Former Navy Commodore Lucas has just inherited his late brother’s title, Earl of Kendal, and now finds himself the target of every matchmaking mama in town. He wants a wife who wants him, not his wealth and title. This desire, along with plenty of ale, leads him and his friends to a brilliant plan: they’ll use their friend’s house party, full of debutantes, and pose as servants to get an idea of which lady’s are genuine and which are less than above-board. After all, there’s no better way to determine a lady’s character than by observing how she treats the help.
Miss Frances Wharton has no desire to ever marry and is only truly interested in the discussion of politics. But her family is destitute, and she doesn’t wish to disappoint her mother, so she agrees to attend a house party where she’s meant to snag a wealthy husband. The arrogant man her mother has chosen for her is so odious Frances is determined to do everything in her power to dissuade him, including acting like a complete termagant. When this behavior necessitates an apology to the house staff, she finds herself feeling an unlikely and passionate connection with a footman. But when she learns her footman is truly the earl whose politics she finds despicable, Frances has no idea what to believe in the midst of so many lies.
This was a fun romp and much lighter than I’d been expecting. While some parts were a bit tedious, I did love the concept of these noblemen pretending to be servants and at least Lucas’ motivation was to find someone to truly love him, not just for a lark. I found Lucas to be charming even in his deception, but I do think the farce went on just a bit too long. The ending was satisfyingly dramatic, but felt rushed and I wish Lucas’ backstory came out as a result of actual conversation between himself and Frances, rather than her hearing it from his friend. Frances’ stubborn refusal to hear Lucas out, even a little, was frustrating as it was pretty clear she would’ve condemned herself to a miserable marriage just out of spite or a misplaced sense of pride. Along these lines, Frances’ immaturity was very annoying and her interest in politics seemed quite random. I would’ve liked to know why and what inspired her concern for the plight of the working class. She just seemed very out of touch with reality, especially given her own family’s circumstances. I also didn’t really understand what exactly these two really bonded over, but they wound up being cute together in a very lightly infatuated sort of way. This book wasn’t quite on par with some others I’ve enjoyed from this author, but this was a fun concept and I’ll likely continue the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/4189133105
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3134682427
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