Another delightfully frivolous tale from Perpetua Langley, wherein Lady Mulholland continues on her majestic way to marrying off all seven off her daughters, in strict order of seniority, naturally. Book 1 saw Violet happily paired off, so now it’s the turn of Rose, and that’s a bit problematic, because only the boldest man will do. No milquetoast suitor need apply. But happily such a man has been found, a friend of brother Henry at Oxford, and since he owes a favour to Violet’s husband, off he goes to Chemsworth Hall, happily unaware that he has been earmarked for Rose.

A series of misunderstandings leaves Rose seriously underwhelmed by Edwin Hamilton’s boldness, and leads him to believe that several members of the family are quite mad. How Edwin rediscovers his boldness and comes to understand that Rose is not mad at all is a joy to read. Every page is laugh-out-loud funny, and every character delightfully eccentric, not excluding the butler, housekeeper and footmen. I would be hard pressed to name one as a favourite, even, for they’re all wonderful.

It’s all dreadfully silly, of course, and anyone expecting a conventional Regency romance might be disappointed, but if you’re in the mood for the light-hearted and whimsical, this might just hit the spot. There’s a fair sprinkling of Americanisms, although nothing too terrible, an overuse of shall instead of will and one very bad historical error (no, a peer can’t disinherit his heir from the title, ever). Notwithstanding that, I loved it (what can I say, I’m a sucker for any book that makes me laugh out loud). Five stars.