And the Miss Ran Away With the Rake

Starred review from March 25, 2013
Tabitha Timmons is going to marry the Duke of Preston (as chronicled in Along Came a Duke), but her best friend, Daphne Dale, is still searching for her own happy ending. Usually prim, proper, and practical, Daphne has spent the past month secretly penning passionate missives to a "sensible gentleman" she met via an advertisement in the Morning Chronicle. When they finally meet at Tabitha's engagement ball, it's love at first sightâbut the gentleman is Lord Henry Seldon and the sparks are from the centuries-old Dale-Seldon feud. Daphne is not ready to buck generations of hatred and defy her family for a Seldon rogue, even if she likes his good humor, opinions, and sense of duty. Henry is also horror-struck that his perfect woman is one of the over-proud Dales, but he can't keep his hands to himself. Henry and Daphne are willfully blind to how perfect they are for each other, so every encounter is entertaining and slightly manic. They clash constantly, but their kisses are sizzling. Their eventual mutual epiphany, complete with a madcap race to Scotland, is the perfect finishing touch to this delightful Regency.

February 15, 2013
When his nephew puts a lovelorn ad in the paper on his behalf as a prank, Lord Henry Seldon never expects to find someone he might consider his soul mate; unfortunately, she's a Dale, sworn enemies of the Seldons. Lord Henry Seldon, possibly the most sober and sensible Seldon ever born, is not amused when his nephew, the Duke of Preston (who is barely six months younger than he) buys an ad in the London paper, from a sensible gentlemen seeking a sensible lady for correspondence and possible matrimony, and directs the replies to Henry's address. But he is shocked when one of the letters actually resonates with him, and he finds himself falling in love with Miss Spooner through a series of exchanged letters he signs Mr. Dishforth. However, as events unfold, it soon points to the possibility that his beloved Miss Spooner is none other than Daphne Dale, of the detested Dales, sworn enemies of the Seldon clan for centuries. At first determined to deny their mutual attraction, Henry and Daphne sway to the strength of their feelings for one another, but their families prove to be further obstacles to their happiness. Boyle's second installment in the Rhymes With Love series is a light, fun read with a cute and intriguing storyline that combines a Romeo-and-Juliet-style arc with a twist on a Cyrano de Bergerac-esque correspondence confusion. For the most part, Boyle's writing is smooth and well-paced, the characters are engaging and authentic, and the dialogue is witty and does a good job grounding the characters and moving the story forward. However, there are some slow moments, and a pet dog at times gets in the way of the flow of the plot rather than enhancing it. The book charms and entertains, and the hook is unique and fun, earning a few extra points for originality: a good bet for historical romance fans.

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Starred review from March 15, 2013
The first step in getting married is finding the right man, which is why Daphne Dale pseudonymously answers an advertisement in the Morning Chronicle by a sensible gentleman in search of a suitable wife. Soon the two are engaged in a lively correspondence. The prospect of finally meeting Mr. Dishworth is enough to goad Daphne into attending her friend Tabitha Timmon's engagement ball, even if it means she must dance with the groom's uncle, Lord Henry Seldon. For three centuries, the Dales and Seldons have been feuding, and if any of Daphne's relatives discover that she is fraternizing with the enemy, Daphne knows they will permanently consider her persona non grata. Of course, this in nothing compared to what will ensue once Daphne discovers the true identity of Mr. Dishworth. The effervescent plot and wickedly witty writing in the second installment in RITA Award-winning Boyle's Rhymes with Love series is in its unique way evocative of the cinematic classic, The Shop around the Corner (and its 1998 counterpart, You've Got Mail), and Boyle has the same irresistibly light touch as director Ernst Lubitsch when it comes to mixing love and laughter.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)