Helpful Score: 3
Regency era romance. The book opens with the main female character as a pre-teen who is dirty, poor, a theif, has a prostitute for a mother, and a thug for an older brother. She is punished for stealing from a rich man. Fast forward to her at about 18. She has been informally adopted by the rich man's father. He has sent her to finishing school, she excelled, learned how to read and write, etc. It turns out that she really has had a crush on the son and wants to show him she can be a real lady. He returns from sea to find her all grown up. Though he thinks she's pulling a con on his dad, he can't help but be attracted to her. The son must return to sea for one more major battle. In the meantime, the father brings her to London for a season. They hope to pass her off as a "true lady" who is a distant relation, setting the stage for the son to be able to marry her. Her brother finds out what is going on and wants to blackmail her. Read it to see how everything gets resolved.
Helpful Score: 2
Once, Jessica Fox was a poor little street urchin running wild in the streets of Buckler's Haven. No one expected her to amount to anything-- least of all her. But because of the kindness of the aging Marquess of Belmore, Jessie has a chance at a future. Educated in the ways of society, Jessie is a lady in every sense of the word. But when her guardian's son returns from sea, Jessie is reminded of the girl she used to be. Matthew sees her at her worst and refuses to look beyond the facade to see what's in her heart. Captain Matthew Seaton knows Jessie Fox even if his father doesn't. The girl is a conniving manipulator who will do anything to get what she wants. She's the daughter of a tavern whore and Matt is convinced she is just like her mother. But the dirty girl in rags has grown into a beautiful, poised young woman full of fire. Matt is attracted to her and wouldn't mind bedding her-- but his father has other plans. He wants Matthew and Jessie to marry! It's ridiculous, of course, and Matthew has no intentions of marrying the girl. He has already picked out the perfect wife for him and it certainly isn't Jessie. But can he stand to let Jessie go?
