The Very Comely Countess
Grade : D

In a novel that is supposed to involve spies, secret missions, and a faux mistress for the hero, there is remarkably little to intrigue the reader. What starts out as a very promising premise quickly falls flat. And, perhaps understandably enough, flat is the word that first comes to mind in describing this book.

The most promising element of the book is the beginning of the romance between an aristocrat and a commoner. The aristocrat is William Manderville, Earl of Bonnington, who has led a blameless and aimless life. In an effort to give his life purpose he has undertaken trips to France to gather information for the Admiralty. In order to disguise his purpose, these trips must look like pleasure cruises. To that end he's always taken a woman along to pose as his mistress. On his last trip the woman posing as his mistress wanted the act to become real. When William refused her offer she caused the trip to end disastrously. Now he's determined to find a woman who will be attractive but practical.

The woman he finds to fill the position is the commoner. Harriet Treene is an orange seller - a totally refreshing element because that's all Harriet is. She's not a deposed heiress or someone who was switched at birth or someone who was taken from her aristocratic parents. She's an Irish woman living in London with her less then tolerant sister and brother-in-law. Unbeknownst to Harriet, the Duchess of Harborough has portrayed Harriet in the latest of her paintings. When William sees the portrait and later finds Harriet in the park selling oranges, he knows he's found his faux mistress.

Once the two come to an agreement the book loses all steam. More time is spent on making sure Harriet has the correct fashions and gets to see Vauxhall then is spent on the mission. Part of the mission is making the world think William wants to make Harriet his latest paramour, but how difficult is that? The spark that is struck when the aristocrat (William) first deals with the orange seller (Harriet) dies out pretty quickly. Even though William doesn't have the requisite dysfunctional background he does a lot of speechifying about how they can't develop feelings for each other - in between kisses, of course. And for every one discussion about their assignment there are five discussions about Harriet's clothes or places and people to see.

Stalking the pair through the book is a French man whose son was lost on William's last trip. He's determined to punish William. That works reasonably well as a suspense subplot. The problem is it's hard to care. By the time William and Harriet get ready to sail I was just about rooting for the guy to come after them. That's how badly this plot needed livening.

Harriet is definitely a heroine a reader could root but only in a story that echoes her strength. The story could have been about these two people forced into close proximity by their mission. Because of the forced closeness they would come to know and love each other and then deal with their different stations in life. Instead it's all about the clothes, parties and the ton, with a little action thrown.

Ms. Jarrett's previous book (The Very Daring Duchess) featured the romance of the Duke of Harborough and his future wife, also a commoner. But, though a commoner/aristocrat romance is something I'd seek out again, it would probably not be one by this author.

Reviewed by Jane Jorgenson
Grade : D

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : September 28, 2001

Publication Date: 2001

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Jane Jorgenson

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