⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. A dog-napping caper drives the events in this thoroughly enjoyable rom-com.

Michael Blumley, Duke of Woriton (age 28), is viewed as an eccentric by his peers in the ton. He does his duty, of course, but his interest, and talent, lies in the science of electricity. He has no interest in what the frivolities of Society. When his favorite aunt, Mary, Lady Harris, leaves her precious, well-behaved black poodle, Lancelot, in his care while she travels his life takes an interesting turn. Elizabeth “Bitsy” Dockering (age 19), third daughter of a viscount, is enjoying her second Season in London. She is a Diamond of the Season and is adored by all, and especially by her precious black poodle, Galahad. To everyone else, however, Galahad is a demon dog. So much so that Peter Cordray, one of Bitsy’s most insistent beaux and a particular victim of Galahad’s bad manners and sharp teeth, has hired a petty thief (Jimmy Bly) to steal the dog, clearing the way for his suit. When the two dogs and their “people” meet in the park, chaos ensues and unknowingly results in a dog swap. Which means Lancelot is kidnapped instead of Galahad! But when both dogs go missing in an ever thickening dognapping plot, Michael and Elizabeth end up coming together to scour London, recover Lancelot and Galahad all while falling in love.

MY THOUGHTS

Michael and Bitsy were the perfect foil for each other. Bitsy liked it very much that Michael took her seriously, as opposed to the somewhat frivolous façade she presented to society. Not that she was unhappy with that role, but she realized that she was more than just a pretty face. And Michael found himself drawn out of his self-imposed hermit-like life.

This book was so much fun. The villain was known almost right from the start, but that just added to the hilarious mishaps all over the place. I also adored the secondary story of Jimmy Bly and Sally and her dogs. They were just too cute for words. And I loved the addition of Michael’s chemistry experiments and his discussions of it with Bitsy.

I can highly recommend this book if you like closed-door historical romance with plenty of humor. See what other readers are saying on Goodreads.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Historical Romance
Published: September 19, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Tropes: Grumpy-Sunshine, Romantic Comedy