What a fun Regency! Allegra Crispino has grown up in Italy, but is now orphaned. Her grandfather, wishing to mollify Heaven before he dies, recruits Valerian Fitzhugh to bring her back to England, not knowing she has been a (virtuous) opera singer and making her own not-wealthy way.

As with any Regency, the romance is a foregone conclusion. The fun is in how they get there. Much of this book's underlying theme can be summed up in this quotation: Her head ached with all this civilization. It was so much easier in Italy. People told you what was on their minds—screamed it at you, actually—so that there could be no doubt as to how they felt. Here, in Brighton, everyone merely danced about, saying things that only implied what they meant, only hinted at the thoughts behind the words.

If you enjoy traditional Regencies, this should be your cup of tea. ( )