When I was choosing my last stack of review books, I glanced at the last few historicals I’d read, and realized that most of the authors were known to me or had gained a lot of buzz. And that’s fine. But what about the authors who don’t fit into either category? Occasionally, you have to take a chance. That’s why I asked for Ms. Hawkins’ latest addition to the Lords of Vice series, even though it sounded completely generic. And you know what? It is.

So we have a yet another set of bored noblemen whose titles have been abbreviated into oh-so-cool nicknames like Frost, Sin, Saint, and Vane. I don’t know about you, but if the hot guy at the ball insisted on being called Vane, I’d laugh in his face and move on to someone else.

And we have yet another earl who’s trying to escape his mother’s matchmaking. Eventually all seven Vice Lords are getting their book, but in this case it’s Christopher “Vane” Lord Vanewright. Why doesn’t he want to get married? Why does he regularly throw hissy fits like a two-year-old instead of accepting his very real responsibilities? Does anyone actually care anymore? Not me.

Also in the cast of Haven’t I Seen You Before? is the heroine, Isabel Thorne, who’s riddled with an annoying mother (gasp!), spoiled younger sister (really?), halfhearted suitor (oooh), and spinster prospects (ahh). She and her sister journey to London from Little Village to the West because Vane’s mother (a distant relation) has apparently decided that Isabel’s sister is the perfect bride for Vane. Only, surprise, surprise, Isabel’s spirit and intelligence attract Vane. Mayhem at the ball and bonking majoricus ensue. Oh, and a huge dollop of temper tantrums for the whole family to enjoy.

So on the down side: The book is generic. It’s so generic I can’t even find words to describe how generic it is. The writing is simplistic and borderline juvenile. The characters are even more simplistic and exceptionally juvenile. And the author must have pulled out her special sparkly purple pen in some of the love scenes.

On the good side? It’s inoffensive. And yeah, that’s about it.

I’ll note that the ARC I read was riddled with errors and inconsistencies (there was one that had Vane’s mother birthing her first child at the age of five), so check it before you buy it. Before anyone jumps down my throat, no, I haven’t taken any marks off, and yes, I was going to check the published version. But what do you know – the bookstore only has it available on order from the warehouse. Frankly, I don’t blame them.