A delightful romantic comedy from a debut author. After a whirlwind romance. Lady Violet Audley and Lord James Audley got married and lived happily ever after for about a year. As a result of a huge fight, the two have been living separate lives for the past four years. After being called to James' side, only to find that she wasn't actually needed, Violet is determined to strike back. Violet decides to be struck with consumption in order to incur James' concern. James quickly sees through the ruse, but plays along leading to increasingly ridiculous ploys, neither one of them ready to call it quits. For the first time in four years, the two are paying attention to each other, and they are having trouble remembering why they no longer together. This is full of witty one-liners, appealing secondary characters (maybe a lead-in to novel two?), and some delicious sexual tension. Any lover of historical romance will gobble this up in one sitting.

Pretty funny. Could’ve been funnier actually. I like absurd, screwball comedy, and this didn’t get that crazy, but I liked it. Good cast, which I expect to see in subsequent volumes, though no series has been officially planned. Give it a shot.

1812, In Regency England Lady Violet Grey is 18 years old “with a respectable fortune and unimpeachable bloodline” and quite curious in nature. Warned by her mother that her curiosity would only ruin her.

It seems as her ruining process starts with Jeremy Overington, Marquess of Willingham and “notorious rakehell.” Before she knows, his mouth is covering hers. Then over the Marquess’ shoulder, she sees the most handsome man she’d ever seen. In “a shaft of light,” she recognizes the handsome face to belong to Lord James Audley, the second son of the Duke of Dovington.

1817, Violet Audley has been married for 5 years and estranged from her husband for 4 years. Her consolation are her two friends, Diana and Emily. While having tea with her friends, Violet receives a message informing her of her husband’s fall from a horse.

Afterwards, Violet with her friends plot different scenarios to attract Violet’s husband back to her.

I knew this was going to be a frivolous read and I picked this book for its humor. The prose and humor are superb. This part deserves 5 stars.

However, the plotting and the game between husband and wife get tiring. After a while, it’s like – come on, enough is enough. I understand we’re dealing with aristocrats, who have plenty of time for such games, but still I couldn’t take it after a while. The plot gets 3 stars.

So how do you rate phenomenal prose and humor, but annoying plot? Compromise is 4 stars.

What a fun twist on a traditional historical romance. All the typical tropes and elements are there, but the element of deception (that isn't really deception) gave the whole thing a fun turn.

Great title. Fun plot setup. I wish it had leaned harder into having its characters rise to the silliness of this premise. James and Violet do try to one-up and aggravate each another, but part of me wanted it to be bawdier and kookier all around.

The biggest problem I have with historical romances is that the characters have to be human anachronisms. No Victorian sense of religion, ethics or morals, or class attitudes are allowed to creep in, because modern audiences would hate everything about that. Usually the only one allowed to be psychologically Victorian is the bad guy.

So it's better to think of historical romances as fantasies instead. From that point of view, James and Violet are cute, their romance charming, but their war STILL really needed to up the ante. What about a nice laudanum prescription or some leeches? Cod liver oil? Laxatives? Victorian medicine such amazing quackery, so it's a huge loss that Waters didn't go all the way down that rabbit hole. (Though neither of her characters ever bother looking up consumption's symptoms, either.) Rumor has it that some doctors treated female patients diagnosed with "hysteria" by, uh, handily providing <i>la petite mort</i>, if you know what I'm saying.* Total missed opportunity!

*So lots of articles say that's an urban legend, but this is a fantasy we can do what we want.

A funny rom-com of husband and wife trying to outwit each other while standing stubborn on a years-old argument. Sweet and worthwhile read!