To Charm a Naughty Countess

To Charm a Naughty Countess (2014) Theresa Romain

Set in England in 1816

I wanted to love this story. Instead, I just liked it, despite often feeling irritated at times.

Michael Layward, the Duke of Wyverne has learned that his estate is out of money, and no one is willing to extend him credit any longer.

Caroline Graves, the Countess of Statton, enjoys being a widow, and sees no reason to get remarried, even if everyone seems to expect it of her.

Michael is a very interesting character, and the reason I kept reading the story. He’d probably on the autism spectrum if this book were modern, because he seems unable to parse emotions.

But some bits reminded me of how I try to deal with anxiety:

When the body became too oppressive on the mind, the mind silenced it. He often did sums in his head; compiled a list of native plants; considered improvements, cottage by tenant’s cottage. He kept his mind busy and so silenced his body.

But mostly it was amusing to see him try and deal with romance and marriage and other such things.

“Will you help me remove my gown?”

“Of course.” He cast an eye down the garment’s heavy red length. It was fastened up the back, but did it pull over the head or slide down? “Only you must tell me how to operate it.”

She laughed. “One operates a lady’s garments in this way.” And she instructed him in solving the puzzle of buttons and laces, plucking pins from her heavy weight of hair, sliding an expensive gown from a woman’s form without damaging its fabric.

And then she stood before him… actually, still quite clothed.

Caroline, on the other hand, I had a harder time understanding. She was nice enough, but I wasn’t always sure why she did what she did, and that made it difficult for me to sympathize with her.

It wasn’t a bad story, and I did enough the Duke, but it felt like it was missing something, although I’m not sure what.
Rating: 6/10

Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca

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