Get Thee Off My Lawn: A Regency RomCom With a Swan Problem

This gem of a novella packed exquisite yearning into its fourteen chapters. It’s full of mischief and mayhem and moments of tender recognition and connection that would make even the grumpiest version of the neighborhood curmudgeon smile.There are so many things I loved, it’s difficult to condense them into a bite-sized list. But I’m going to try because every romance reader should experience this writer’s unique voice.1. The nuanced, situational humor that is a delightful mash-up of tongue in cheek Dickensian buffoonery and I Love Lucy slapstick shenanigans.2. An immediate connection between the main characters, April & Leo, that blossoms into both physical and emotional intimacy. The connection feels organic rather than forced, and is full of both the spicy after bite of an habanero and the sweet calm of cardamom. 3. The full cast of side characters - both humans and cantankerous creatures.4. The prose. It is both pragmatic and florid. It is full of courtesy and grace and metaphors that offer profound insight into the hearts and motivations of the characters. (I wanted to pick up my collection of Emily Dickinson when I finished reading, because 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂’s writing reminded me so much of hers.)So what’s this delightful story about?Two people who’ve always struggled to find their place in the world are brought together by a swan some would call the spawn of Satan for his tendency to bite, a hem and shoes full of mysterious muck, and a romp in a copper tub that leads to confessions and collusion.