Review by Booklist Review
Owen Monroe has one month to find a bride or else his father will cut off his allowance. Since Owen relies solely upon his father to finance his life of wine, women, and song (well, not so much the song but definitely the women and wine), he has no choice but to comply. What is especially annoying is that his father has already chosen the woman he wants Owen to marry: Lady Lavinia Hobbs. Up until now, Owen has had no problem convincing women to do what he wants, but Lavinia is proving to be surprisingly immune to his charms. So when Lavinia's younger sister Alexandra offers to help coach him in the ways of winning Lavinia's heart, Owen happily accepts. What Owen doesn't know is that Alexandra has been in love with Owen for years, so any help she might offer may turn out to have some unexpected results. This entry in Bowman's Playful Brides series is another diamond of the first water with its beguiling blend of engaging characters, witty dialogue, and a graceful writing style.--Charles, John Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Bowman's Playful Brides Regency series (after The Irresistible Rogue) is inspired by classic works of literature; this charming fifth episode draws on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Lord Owen Monroe, heir to the Earl of Moreland, is one of London's most well-known rakes until his father orders him to settle down. The earl expects him to woo Lady Lavinia Hobbs, eldest daughter of the Duke of Huntley, a woman who, though beautiful, has a reputation for being somewhat of a shrew. Lady Alexandra, Lavinia's younger sister, has been in love with Owen for years and fears that he will be forced to wed her sister. In an effort to spend more time with Owen, she asks him to help make her a success in London's ballrooms, and in exchange, she will help him win Lavinia's heart. But some of the suggestions she gives to Owen will cause Lavinia to dislike him more, and Alexandra hopes that he will turn to her instead. The cleverly executed reappearance of characters from earlier installments adds allure to the innocent romance and carefully orchestrated seduction. Readers will be especially drawn to Alexandra, a refreshingly open and honest woman. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In love with one sister, betrothed to the otherwhat's an earl to do? Usually when sisters fight over a beau, they're both mad for him, but that's not the case for the Hobbs sisters. Lady Alexandra has quietly carried a torch for the roguish Lord Owen Monroe since her teens; her older sister, Lady Lavinia, can't stand him, but her father has arranged for them to marry. Owen has no interest in marrying either, but his father tells him he must not only marry Lavinia, but woo heror else lose his allowance. After a case of mistaken identity, Owen stumbles into an agreement with Alexandra: she'll tell him how to win Lavinia, and he'll help raise her profile on the marriage market. Soon, Owen is as besotted with Alexandra as she has been with him, but the arranged marriage loomsunless Owen can find a way to marry the sister he truly loves. In the fifth book in The Playful Brides series, Bowman's characters are a bit flat, with spoiled Lavinia barely kinder than Cinderella's stepsisters and Owen bearing the tight breeches and confusion of the average Regency hero, but they're still endearing. Luckily, the plot and ending are satisfying, and Alex earns her place among the ranks of perfectly awkward romance heroines. A sweet and simple Regency story of unrequited love, requited. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
