Goodness, the Haute Ton has been taken over by a horde of nearly-unbelievable characters of late.  Not gonna call any names, because some of them actually have very enjoyable stories. But . . . 

     While we all want stories that bring a fresh new twist to the Good Old Beau Monde, that doesn’t mean we want to throw out any connection to reality. Between the cross-dressing gypsy queens pirates and the long-lost Earls who turn out to be Queen Caroline’s love child with Boney, we are ranging pretty far from the “historical” in “historical romance.” (Ok, I made up the Caroline/Napoleon love child, but I keep expecting to pick up a book with that plot!)

     Which leads me to the reason I liked Alyssa Johnson’s Nearly a Lady. No bizarre historical revision, no outlandish characters. Just a sweet, believable story about a young lady, a handsome hero, and the Haute Ton. It makes one remember why we all love Georgette Heyer.

     Winnefred Blythe is a country miss with no particular expectations. She, with the help of her friend and companion, Lilly, runs a down-at-heels farm that just barely provides for their needs. Seems Freddie’s father, showing extremely bad parenting skills even by the standards of the Regency nobility, left her in the guardianship of one Lord Engsly, a singularly irresponsible individual. Without his knowledge, Lady Engsly, showing remarkable greed even by the standards of the Regency nobility, has been diverting the funds that were meant for Freddie and Lilly.

     All this changes one day when Lord Gideon Haverston arrives with good news.  Gideon’s brother has inherited the title, and along with it, responsibility for Freddie. There will be money enough to fix up the farm, even buy new boots occasionally.  Huzzah!!!

     But Lilly, for reasons of her own, wants a London Season, and tomboyish Freddie is compelled to go to town as well. Ms. Johnson gives us delightfully descriptive language and appealing characters as she tells us about the journey, Freddie’s experiences in London society, and how Freddie eventually finds her happy-ever-after with Gideon. (Who by the way, has painful secrets of his own, which only Freddie’s good sense can ease.)

     No gypsy pirate queens, no cross-dressing Earls, not a long-lost love child anywhere in sight. But if you are looking for a good, believable story about likeable characters who are true to the conventions of the Regency genre, you won’t go wrong with Nearly a Lady.

~ Donna