Only loosely connected to the rest of the series, you could read the rest of the series and miss this one without a problem, or you could read it as a stand alone without reading the others. It doesn't entirely play within the rules of likelihood (or the social structures of the time...) but if you're able to set those aside it was a nice little story. ( )

From my LibraryThing secret santa. Novella so super quick read. ( )

Excellent novella! Loved the character of Lizzie. Will definitely go back and read the series from the start. ( )

Lighthearted, romantic novella, which managed to capture all the regular intrigue and challenges of a usual regency romance, in a compact form. Very enjoyable, and I love a main character that would rather read than... well, anything.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )

Oliver Berwick didn't want to attend the house party that his niece was dragging him to. He especially didn't want to come face-to-face with Lady Catrina Windingham - a woman whose first season was ruined when Oliver and his friends had given her the nickname of Wooly Breeder. Lady Lizzy Troutt, Catrina's sister also didn't want to be party of a party. Although her husband had been dead for over a year she still dressed like she was in mourning. Only, she really had no reason to mourn her husband because he had never truly been a husband to her. He'd packed her away in the country and went to live with his mistress.
When Oliver walked in to the house the first person he sees is Lizzie and something clicks (for him at least). Later, Cat enlists Oliver to help her sister come back to the laughing fun girl she had been. She wants to see Lizzie wed again. Oliver accepts the challenge to cheer up her sister but he also wants to see Lizzy married - to him!
This is a quick and fun read. Oliver is one of the good guys, not a rake or a scoundrel but someone who is truly interested in a lady and willing to let her be her own person. If you like any of Eloisa James books, you'll enjoy this story. ( )