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AND THE MISS RAN AWAY WITH THE RAKE by Elizabeth Boyle

AND THE MISS RAN AWAY WITH THE RAKE

by Elizabeth Boyle

Pub Date: March 26th, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-06-208908-3
Publisher: Morrow/HarperCollins

When his nephew puts a lovelorn ad in the paper on his behalf as a prank, Lord Henry Seldon never expects to find someone he might consider his soul mate; unfortunately, she’s a Dale, sworn enemies of the Seldons.

Lord Henry Seldon, possibly the most sober and sensible Seldon ever born, is not amused when his nephew, the Duke of Preston (who is barely six months younger than he) buys an ad in the London paper, from a sensible gentlemen seeking a sensible lady for correspondence and possible matrimony, and directs the replies to Henry’s address. But he is shocked when one of the letters actually resonates with him, and he finds himself falling in love with Miss Spooner through a series of exchanged letters he signs Mr. Dishforth. However, as events unfold, it soon points to the possibility that his beloved Miss Spooner is none other than Daphne Dale, of the detested Dales, sworn enemies of the Seldon clan for centuries. At first determined to deny their mutual attraction, Henry and Daphne sway to the strength of their feelings for one another, but their families prove to be further obstacles to their happiness. Boyle’s second installment in the Rhymes With Love series is a light, fun read with a cute and intriguing storyline that combines a Romeo-and-Juliet–style arc with a twist on a Cyrano de Bergerac–esque correspondence confusion. For the most part, Boyle's writing is smooth and well-paced, the characters are engaging and authentic, and the dialogue is witty and does a good job grounding the characters and moving the story forward. However, there are some slow moments, and a pet dog at times gets in the way of the flow of the plot rather than enhancing it. 

The book charms and entertains, and the hook is unique and fun, earning a few extra points for originality: a good bet for historical romance fans.