Customer Reviews

A Little Mischief (Berkley Sensation)

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wandering listlessly through my bookstore looking for something anything to read i was drawn to this book simply by its cover
colour. what a wonderful surprise when i started to read. i
sat down in the early evening and read to the wee hours. it was
a great mix of romance and suspense. steamy love scenes along
with some truly tender moments. my first experience with amelia
gray and now i have the pleasure of checking out her backlist.
if you like regencies with more than hand kissing this is the
one to get.

Once a carefree man about town, Daniel Colebrooke has spent most of the last two years familiarizing himself with the duties and responsibilities he inherited when his older brother died unexpectedly. Newly returned to London, Daniel is determined to secure the succession away from his wastrel cousin and finding a proper, demure young lady to become his countess. Since it also happens to be his sister Gretchen's first season, the new earl intends to see her settled in a proper match as well. However, Daniel's carefully laden plans fly out the window when his sister is brought home by a bewitching young woman with an outrageous tale.

Isabella Winslowe may be popular and sought after now, but she remembers how shyness and naivete kept her on the sidelines during her first season. Eager to help others like her, Isabella has created a Reading Society (referred to as the "Wallflowers" Society by some) in order to instill confidence in the quieter debutantes. But nothing prepares Isabella for the shock of finding one of the girls, Lady Gretchen Colebrooke, in her garden standing over the body of Boswell Throckmorten, one of London's most eligible rakes. To make matters worse, Gretchen confesses that during a secret assignation with Boswell, she struck him with a rock when they argued.

Knowing a scandal will ruin not only Gretchen's reputation but her own as well, Isabella arranges for her aunt and the rest of the staff to go out for the day and quickly takes Gretchen home to her brother. Daniel, of course, does not believe a word of the outlandish story he hears and accuses Isabella of creating mischief. His opinion is only reinforced when they go back to the garden to find the body gone. Thoroughly disgruntled with each other, they swear never to cross paths again, but are reunited when they spot the supposedly dead Boswell walking about at a party they are both attending. When Gretchen disappears during the party, the pair find her once again standing over Boswell's body in their host's garden. This time, however, there is a letter opener stuck in his chest. When the body disappears -- yes, again -- Daniel and Isabella are thrust into a temporary partnership to uncover the truth.

Appearing and disappearing bodies, an intrepid heroine and a noble hero -- this story had all the hallmarks of an exciting Regency romp. Unfortunately, the characters themselves prove to be the story's undoing. Isabella runs the gamut from poised and capable to giddy and insecure, while Daniel's constant declarations that Isabella is not the type of woman he is looking to marry -- even as he kisses her -- does not, in my opinion, make him heroic. While some of their encounters are diverting, both hero and heroine lack character development and never truly engage the reader. Meanwhile, a secondary plot involving another couple rings false, and in truth, is totally unnecessary. Amelia Grey continues to show great promise with the intriguing twists and turns of her plots. Unfortunately, A LITTLE MISCHIEF misses the chance to capitalize on its true potential.

TheSchemer

This little romance does little to tug the heartstrings, but is a rather enjoyable bit of escapism. The murder mystery is almost humorous at times and the byplay between the leads is often witty. Daniel is a reformed rake who can't seem to remember the reformed part when he's around Isabella, who is determined to remain unmarried and live life by her own rules...until she realizes she can't get enough of Daniel.

The dialogue is sometimes stilted or silly, and there are occasions when the exposition halts the flow of the story. As mentioned, there are no great heartaches (past or present) nor any overwhelming passion (though they can't keep their hands off each other). It's diverting, but not exceptional. The secondary romance really could have used its own book.

Daniel Colebrook is not altogether pleased to find out that is eligible sister has joined a ladies' reading club, known as the Wallflower Society. He fears it will make her seem less marriageable. That will prove the least of his worries. During one meeting, his sister is discovered in the garden with a man- lying dead at her feet. The "president" of the society, Isabella Winslowe, seeks his help in dealing with the situation, but when they return to the garden, the dead man is not there. Daniel is sure she was mistaken, though she is equally sure that she is not. Then, less than twenty four hours later, they find themselves in the same situation, their positions reversed.

Complicating the mystery is the fact that they must attempt to salvage the reputations of all involved, which means absalute secrecy. Saving one's reputation while falling in love and dealing with murder can be a juggling act, as Isabella and Daniel are soon to learn.

*** Light romance complements an almost humorous murder. Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts could easily be pictured as the stars if this became a movie. Regency or cozy mystery fans will be pleased with an afternoon's diversion herein. ***

In her first year among the ton, Isabella Winslowe was a wallflower who watched her vivacious spinster Aunt Pithany stand tall and decided to emulate her beloved relative. In her second season, she becomes a popular figure declining several offers of marriage. However, Isabella noticed other wallflowers and decided to provide encouragement thorough a reading team to help them improve their dynamics. The male members of the Ton dub the group the Wallflower Society.

Lord Daniel Colebrook has just returned to London after spending a couple years mourning the deaths of his father and older brother and to learn estate management. When Isabella accompanied by his sister Gretchen informs him that his sibling murdered wastrel Boswell Throckmorten, he feels she is pulling a hoax on him especially when the body is missing. Later when he and Isabella find the Throckmorten corpse he knows someone killed the odious man. Working closely to learn who killed the nasty Throckmorten in order to keep his sister out of trouble, they fall in love. Still Isabella wonders whether he will take away her independence if she marries him like he desires.

Readers will appreciate this charming Regency romance with a touch of suspense. The lead characters are typical in many ways of the sub-genre, but their preliminary battles and later partnering are fun to follow. Fans will enjoy this charmer though many would have preferred for a separate tale for a second romance that comes out of nowhere.

Harriet Klausner