I’m predisposed to like Rita Boucher’s work, but The Poet & the Paragon wasn’t my cup of tea. While parts of the book were captivating, the rest degenerated into run-of-the-mill Regency clichés, with which I have little patience.

In essence, this is a road romance. The main part of the book deals with how Rebecca Creighton, author of religious pamphlets, and Michael Fairgrove, her fiancé’s friend, try to escape a riot and bring her safely home. During this trek, they talk, argue, and fall into the beginnings of love.

Ten years ago, the highly moral Miss Creighton was left at the altar by Olive Rowley. (Why is it always ten years? What is wrong with nine or eleven?) For monetary reasons, they are renewing their engagement now. Michael, Oliver’s childhood friend, decides to attend one of Rebecca’s speeches to discover if his friend’s apprehensions about this marriage are warranted. Partially due to the sleazy Reverend Havermill, a riot breaks out, and Michael is forced to defend Rebecca. Once she is brought home, the remainder of the book mops up the problem of just how the hero and heroine will be allowed to marry.

While Michael, ex-soldier and published poet, is an acceptable hero, Rebecca’s religious writings are troubling. I can’t make up my mind whether she is a devout Christian or if she is merely trying to bring home the bacon. A case can be made for both viewpoints. Also, we are told that Rebecca has done extensive research among the less fortunate, to the point where she can imitate the fictitious harlot, Cathy of Covent Garden. Yet, there are moments when 27-year-old Rebecca switches back into the innocent Regency maiden for no discernible reason.

In the end the special license device is trotted out yet again. If Regency Romance is anything to judge by, they were not special licenses, but very ordinary licenses at the time.

There are a lot of things to like about The Poet & the Paragon, mainly the nightly journey that Michael and Rebecca make. If you are more comfortable with the trappings of devout Christianity than I am, some of the problems I had with the book might disappear.