Light-hearted Regency romp. James Tremont, Duke of Parkerton, is accidentally mistaken for a solicitor but he doesn't correct the mistake, instead he takes on the job of matchmaker for Elinor, Lady Standon. This is definitely part of two series, the three Lady Standon books and the Langley sisters and their cousin Pippa.

If at all possible, read the Bachelor Chronicles as a set to enhance your enjoyment.

One by one the supporting characters realize that the solicitor helping Elinor is actually the Duke, resulting in much humor.

James Tremont is tranformed from stuffy reclusive Duke to a lively engaging lovable sort of fellow. Elinor is given a second chance at love after a bleak first marriage.

Stunning conclusion with lots of excitement and suspense, a real break from the earlier light-hearted tone of the book. ( )

I really liked this book, up until the end. I wanted something more from the ending. I wanted a sense of closure from the fall out of the mistaken identity. ( )

An enjoyable story of mistaken identity, but this does not work well as a standalone. I had read none of the preceding novels, so spent the first 70 pages or so in complete confusion.

I liked it that the hero/heroine were older than the typical HR.

( )

This is the 7th book in the Bachelor Chronicles series by Ms. Boyle. Please be aware that this review might contain spoilers. Sorry. :-)

Before reading this book I had not read any of the previous book's in the series. While this can be read as a stand alone book. It will help the reader to read the previous book in the series to understand what is happening.

While Elinor is trying to get married to save her sister from a disastrous marriage set up by her step-father. She falls in love with who she thinks is a solicitor. She does not know that she is talking and asking a Duke to help her find a husband.

While Mr. St. Maur does not admit to Elinor that he is a Duke he allows Elinor to think he is a solicitor that has came to help her fellow housemate Lucy, Lady Standon.

While there are 3 Lady Standon's living in the house on Brook Street in London. Elinor is just one of the Lady Standon's that is trying to get married.

It is hard to follow the book fully unless the reader has read the previous books in the series it is still a good stand-alone read. ( )

Fieldnotes:

2 Conveniently Deceased Very Bad Spouses
1 Very Bad Guardian
1 Mistaken Identity due to Sartorial Shabbiness
1 Masquerade Ball
1 List Containing 2 Unfortunate (though Eligible) Matrimonial Prospects
1 (Formerly) Stodgy Duke Thoroughly Miffed at Being Excluded from Said List
1 Very Intentionally Spilt Tea
1 Very Improper Picnic
1 Very Improper Gown
1 Gambling Hell of the Very Worst Sort
Numerous Carriage Thefts (with Disastrous Consequences)
Several Meddling Servants

The Long Version:
James Tremont, Duke of Parkerton has always been the sensible one of the madcap Tremont family. Indeed his scandalous brother Jack (yes, ladies, Mad Jack of This Rake of Mine fame) might even insist he was stodgy. But all that changes when he encounters the widow Lady Elinor Standon - who mistakes him for a solicitor and insists he help birth a litter of puppies in her linen closet. Thanks to his brother's sartorial shabbiness and Felicity Langley's Bachelor Chronicles, James is soon hired to glean what knowledge he can of eligible dukes as matrimonial candidates for the lovely lady. Only to discover that he himself didn't make the list!

Mistaken identities! A masquerade! Picnics! People spilling tea on one another in an attempt to keep them from spilling the duke's identity! A duke endearingly bad at driving constantly stealing his brother's carriage! This book - it has all kinds of things that I adore. I loved that Elinor falls for James while she is convinced that he's a solicitor - and therefore can't marry him because she needs a lord to stand up to her sister's guardian. And that he can't simply 'fess up to being a duke because he's been burned before by a relationship - but not in your typical historicals "OMG all women are EVIL because one I had a thing for hurt me and I WILL NEVER LOVE AGAIN" way. In fact, he's quite the opposite. James never expected to fall in love again, and he certainly never expected it to turn his life topsy-turvy and have him behaving like the rest of his crazy family. But when he meets Elinor, he's intrigued, he's smitten and he's giddy as a schoolboy rather than angsty. And I LOVED it. It was sweet and happy and funny and full of sparking sexual tension. And no angst!

This book. It is not angsty. If you wish for angst, seek elsewhere. This book is fun and frothy and bubbly and sweet. If it were a cocktail, it would be a Bellini. ( )