Miss Caroline Ritter's reputation has been thoroughly ruined, and her prospects are dim for London's Regency social scene. In order to support herself, she has hired on with the Distinguished Academy of Governesses. Her first assignment is to use her talent for flirtation to mold Jude Durant, the earl of Huntington, into a marriageable suitor.

If still waters run deep, then Jude must be very shallow indeed. Or is he? On the surface, Jude appears flippant to the extreme, making waves on the ton. Little does Caroline know that Jude has an agenda, a very dangerous one at that.

Dodd has written a charming romp through the English ton. A dash of intrigue and danger spice up a comedic tale of rags to riches. Colorful characters light up the drizzly gray London streets in this delightful tale.

The romance feels a little forced as Caroline's choice to be with Jude the first time seems to come out of nowhere. I would like to have seen more go into her decision than public humiliation earlier that night. The seduction of her charge seems contrary to the values she holds in regards to her reputation. There is more to personal power than sex, as Caroline believes at this point. This lowers her standing in my eyes.

Aside from the aforementioned jump in values, I believe the story stands on its own. Dodd has a clever way with words that can engage the reader despite a few bumps in the story.

All in all, I recommend this as a fun read.

-C.W.

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