Lady Jane's Nemesis

Author: Patricia Oliver
Published: July 2000 (Signet)
Category: Regency Romance
Rating: 7/10

This was a very different regency romance, as all the Signet Regency Romances I've read lead up to the hero and heroine getting married. In Lady Jane's Nemesis, marriage occurs very early in the book, and the story concerns our hero and heroine becoming accustomed to their arranged marriage. Lady Jane Sinclair was betrothed at birth to her father's best friend's son, as a way to solidify their friendship. Twenty-five years later, and Roger Hastings, Viscount Summers, has yet to make good on the agreement. During a morning ride, Jane hears a woman laughing and discovers Roger with a half-naked, and very married Lady Horton. Outraged, Jane returns to Penhallow Hall, deciding to extricate herself from her betrothal (despite the signed papers).

She tries to convince her father to break the betrothal agreement, but he will have none of it, and tells Roger's father to kick his son in the pants and get him moving. So Roger becomes the charming suitor and Jane, who has had tender feelings for Roger for quite some time, gives in to his promises that there will be no more contact with Lady Horton.

I did think that Jane gave in a little too easily to Roger if she was truly so offended about what she'd seen. But I guess that's why they say love is blind? Apart from that, it's a well-written story resulting in a more grown-up kind of love, with great main and supporting characters.