What I adore about Milan's books is that she doesn't just write a fluffy romance novel where a marquess falls in love with a fraudulent fortune teller, they have mind-blowing sex for half the book, and then they live happily ever after. There are actual stakes for her characters, and they are truly at odds with one another. The only way to achieve a happy ending is if one or both of them puts aside their crutches and open themselves up to vulnerability and love. This book was no exception. It had all of those elements. It also had one of the worst romantic leads I've read in a while, but I'll get to that.

Jenny is the mystery daughter of nobody knows whom, and you never find out. The important thing is that she has always been underestimated, and people assume the worst of her, due to her lack of parentage. As a result, she leans into this expectation by being a fortune teller. I wasn't a fan of how demonized her profession was. I'm not downplaying that she was a fraud. She totally was, but Milan made it sound like she was absolutely reprehensible for being a fake fortune teller and that all she did was lie and let people down. Maybe I'm reprehensible, but I really didn't find it to be that bad. It's not like she preyed on anyone or manipulated anyone out of more money than her typical fee, so I really didn't get all the loathing from both Jenny herself and the narrator. Honestly, if you're willing to spend all of your money on a fortune teller, I think that's on you. Not the fortune teller.

Aside from that, I really admired Jenny's resolve to not be a mistress or to not be dependent on Gareth. While I have never been in her shoes, I identified with her desires, and I thought they made her a strong yet complex character. Milan did a great job juxtaposing her desire for love and acceptance with her love of independence.

Then there's Gareth. The least romantic hero of all time. The guy just bursts through Jenny's door multiple times, and she was magically turned on by this. I didn't get it. He constantly negged her. He never had anything nice to say without instantly regretting it, and he was always saying the most atrocious things to people he supposedly cared about. I would have run in the other direction if I met him, but Jenny must really have magic powers because she stuck around. She could see just how tortured and lonely he was, and this triggered her nurturing side, I guess. She just couldn't help but help the wounded puppy. That's what their relationship felt like, and I could not get into it.

This is one of Milan's first novels, and I'm glad to say she gets a lot better from here. Gareth is pretty painful to read about, but you can definitely see the themes that Milan loves first get planted here. This isn't her best work nor her most memorable, but if you're a fan of her books, it's a good read to, at the very least, see where it all started. ( )

This is the first book in the Carhart Series, and also the first book I have read by this author. I quite enjoyed it. Gareth is a stiff, brooding, factual kind of man. While Jenny is open and free. I think they had wonderful chemistry right from the beginning. Ned - Gareth's cousin.. he was a bit of a whiner at times.. but even he turned out alright in my eyes. There was one point where Gareth says something to Jenny that I felt was kinda out of character for him.. didn't think he would have thought that.. but.. it wasn't a deal breaker for me.

I caught myself chuckling out loud and I often put my duties off to get back to reading.. all in all a good read and an author I am going to read more from!

Original Review posted at: http://paragraphsandpetticoats.blogspot.ca/ ( )

What a wonderful book! I had trouble putting it down - I wanted to read it as fast as I could and at the same time I didn't want it to end.
Jenny is a very wise and likeable person and the way she thaws Gareth is wonderful. Usually historical romance novels where there is such a big social gap between hero and heroine are unbelievable, but not in this case.
I can't wait to read the next book by this author. ( )

Oh jeez, I don't even know where to start! GAH. I guess I'll start at the front. First off, I LOVE the cover for this book, its absolutely beautiful. I love the use of color and again, its just gorgeous. Lets see, I love everything about this book. I love how creative Courtney Milan is in coming up with a truly unique story line. I have never read a book with a plot or story scenario quite like this one, and it works, I adored it. I love how rich each character is as well. From Gareth, to Ned, Laura, and Jenny; Courtney Milan wrote each and every one so you feel as if you know them personally, such as a long lost friend you have finally gotten to see again and you are listening to them tell you where they have been. It was perfect. I love the honesty each character emblazons and how you feel the emotions of each of them rolling off the pages. The plot is perfect, not to fast or slow, and contained critical information the whole way through, I never once though...'oh, why is that here'. I guess you are starting to get the point, this book is amazing. I also have one last bit of praise to impart. I was completely amazed at Courtney Milan's vocabulary skills, odd I know but she employed her skills well, I even had to bust out a dictionary...which was a GREAT thing. I didn't feel stupid while reading...which made me happy ( )

Two unforgettable characters go toe-to-toe in an exhilarating battle of wits.

Grim, humourless and scientifically-minded aristocrat Gareth is determined to prove to Ned, his cousin, that the fortune-teller Ned has been consulting for two years is a fraud. He's convinced that it will only take a few minutes to expose her. It doesn't.

The fortune-teller proves to be an intelligent, educated and articulate woman living on the brink of poverty. She gives as good as she gets and in no time Gareth and "Madame Esmerelda" are locked in extended but good-natured combat.

It's a pity that Ms Milan was unable to sustain the brilliance of the first half of the book. With several fascinating narrative threads rushing towards a climax, she applies the brakes and decides that she needs to explain the psychology of the main characters using extended narrator comments.

She has already adequately illustrated the personalities of the protagonists through their actions and dialogues, so this latter half of the book sags like a portly gentleman's stomach.

Fortunately the pace of the narrative picks up again and the book finishes with a splendid flourish. ( )