Innocence and Impropriety

Author: Diane Gaston
Published: March 2007 (Harlequin)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 8/10

Ah, forbidden love. Jameson Flynn, secretary to the Marquess of Tannerton, is required to aquire Tanner's latest mistress. The Vauxhall Gardens singer, Rose O'Keefe has captured Tanner's attention, and once Flynn hears her song, he's fallen as well. But falling for Rose isn't an option, as Flynn has higher aspirations than being secretary to a marquess. He'd like to work in the government, or serve royalty, and he's definitely qualified to move up. Tanner has the connections to get him one of these coveted positions, so Flynn decides to put his career before his heart.

Rose, living with her father and his doxy (a horrible harridan of a woman), is being pushed to becoming Tanner's mistress, as he will protect her from other men and line the pockets of her father and the doxy. She's been told that the marquess could make or break her career, and with his sponsorship, she could sing in King's Theatre, a long-standing dream of Rose's. She knows she'll have to accept Tanner, who's known to be generous to his mistresses, but is torn because she has feelings for Flynn.

Because Flynn's handling the negotiations to acquire Rose, he spends a lot of time with her, supposedly singing Tanner's praises, but he and Rose fall even more deeply in love with each outing. Gaston writes these lovely, heartbreaking moments for them, where they're together for just a moment, but duty makes them step away, like when they dine with Tanner and one of Rose's friends in Vauxhall. They switch partners on the dance floor and Rose and Flynn waltz this perfect and passionate waltz, only to have Flynn escort her back to Tanner's side afterward. Despite trying to keep his distance, Flynn can't help caring for Rose, even arranging Tanner's gifts to truly suit her. For example, Rose isn't the kind of woman who craves jewels. Instead, Flynn arranged singing lessons for her at King's Theater, and she knew that he was behind it, not Tanner.

One annoying thing: With all the time and conversation spent together, Rose never mentions that she's never been with a man before. It's not like she had to say that she was a virgin, but she could've said she's never been a man's mistress. But that was part of the book's conflict, and it was resolved quickly enough when Flynn gets over it. I think he was more upset that he had almost given a virgin to Tanner (but that was before Rose wanted him for just one day before she officially became Tanner's mistress) than the fact that she hadn't told him about it.

The villian is the Earl of Greythorne, a cruel man with an affinity for sadism. I think he was the weakest part of the book because as a villain, he was a bit cartoonish. I was imagining one of those silent film villains who ties the girl up to the train tracks while stroking his mustache, holding his cape for dramatic effect. But yet again, he was a means to an end, serving as a not-so-deep source of conflict in a short book.

The resolution was fantastic, and I found myself falling a little in love with Tanner, because he's really a good guy; he just needs to find the right woman. He's even jealous of what couple has together, but supports Flynn's career decision and stays in touch with them after Flynn leaves his employ.

I'd definitely read more Diane Gaston in the future, and she also writes under the name of Diane Perkins as well.