CHASING LADY AMELIA – Maya Rodale
Keeping Up With The Cavendishes
Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-238676-2
July 2016
Historical Romance

London – 1824

Lady Amelia Cavendish, newly a Lady compliments of the fact that her brother is the new Duke of Durham, is chaffing at the restrictions placed upon her and her siblings. Born and raised in America, Amelia is used to more freedoms to be herself. Learning the rules imposed by Society in London is frustrating, and she is determined to find a way to simply be herself. Her aunt, the Dowager Duchess, is equally determined to make ladies of her three nieces and to find good matches for all of them.

At a prestigious affair, Amelia, uncomfortable in her tight shoes and feeling angry at the fact that she must dance with some odious young men who are only after her dowry, takes the offending slippers off. Unfortunately, another suitor asks her to dance. She knows enough etiquette to understand that she cannot turn him down so she does the only thing she can think of – she faints. Sadly, this event reveals her stocking feet, and it all goes downhill from there.

Alistair Finlay-Jones is back in England after six years avoiding dealing with his uncle. But as the man's heir, when Alistair is ordered back to London, he returns. It seems the baron, his uncle, expects Alistair to wed. And the perfect match would be one of the rich American girls who are making such a fuss in the ton . Aware that he must start being responsible, Alistair knows what he must do. But he is already acquainted, by chance, with the youngest sister, Amelia, for he found her wandering, well staggering, down the street just last night!

It seems Amelia's family thought that a touch of laudanum would ease the stress of the night's events. What it did was to allow her to awaken when everyone was asleep and to slip out of the house to have an adventure. When she wakes up the next morning in a strange bed, with a strange man appearing as she gets ready to leave, Amelia takes advantage of the man's good heart and demands a day out in London.

The second book in the Keeping Up with the Cavendishes series is a delightful romp that had me smiling at the antics and conversations between Amelia and Alistair. While light-hearted most of the time, there is the underlying fact that Alistair is hiding a secret, as well as the fact that his mother was Indian, something his uncle disapproves of. The day out in London is an eye opening treat for Amelia, as well as Alistair, for different reasons.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fun-filled novel. Amelia and Alistair are refreshing characters, and her family is a combination of a serious need to fit in and very American naiveté.

Jani Brooks