Dartwood's Daughters

Beautiful twins, a dashing but notorious nobleman and a poet provide the ingredients for this entertaining Regency romance. Evelina and Amelia Dartwood have never been separated for more than a few hours until their father, antiques-collector Sir August Dartwood, decides to go to Naples to excavate Roman ruins. He takes Eve with him but has to leave Amy behind because of illness. While her sister and father are away, shy, bluestocking Amy is bullied by Aunt Seale into an engagement with arrogant and outspoken Lord Barras, who terrifies her. Returning from Italy, the more assertive and outgoing Eve decides to impersonate her twin and act so rudely that Lord Barras will cry off. Meanwhile, Eve has become engaged to poet and Cambridge professor Thomas Perry. After various contretemps, the two obviously mismatched couples find the right partners and all ends well. Baldwin ( Arabella and the Beast ) pens a lively tale with attractive characters and a reasonably good eye for period detail, although a subplot or two might have added welcome texture to the predictable story line. ( Aug. )