A Fine Gentleman

Eden’s low-key, satisfying fifth Jonquil Family Regency (after As You Are) embraces romance between a staid barrister and a Spanish beauty. Mariposa Thornton seeks the help of London barrister Jason Jonquil to review her deceased father’s will. She belittles Jason at every turn, and he is exasperated by her behavior. But she is playing up her hot temper as a distraction so that he won’t guess her true purpose: searching for her father’s English family. Mariposa has survived the horrors of Napoleon’s war in Spain, and she is much more resilient than she initially appears. As Jason comes to realize that Mariposa isn’t the silly woman she pretended to be, he begins to admire her, and their mutual attraction builds. As they traverse the countryside searching for Mariposa’s family, she gradually reveals her innermost secrets and hidden vulnerabilities. The gentle love between Mariposa and Jason will appeal to fans of less explicit stories, and any romance reader will appreciate the complexity of their relationship. (Apr.)