After a few false starts, I sat down with this breezy historical romance and finished it in one sitting. It started out a little unevenly, but by the time I was a couple chapters in, I was hooked on the story and didn't want to put it down. Set in England in 1804 during Napoleon's reign, the action moves from fashionable Bath to a beautiful estate in Dorsetshire on the coast of the English Channel and features Gwenllian ~ a smart, feisty, bluestocking, the unmarried sister of a featherheaded baroness ~ who literally runs down Daniel, a handsome, dashing gentleman rake of ten thousand pounds a year. Daniel finds himself inexplicably drawn to her (Gwen, not the baroness). Along with Gwen's cute pug Oliver, who seems to be able to read Gwen's mind and who sheds over everyone equally ~ aristocrat and servant, hero and villain ~ with aplomb, the couple dances around their growing feelings for each other even as a dastardly plot for the French to invade England heats up.

I got so wrapped up in the characters and the developing story that I lost all track of time, which is a great way to spend a chilly winter Saturday afternoon tho it sure doesn't get the chores done. Looking forward to more from Ms. Saville. ( )