The Lady Disguised

by Elizabeth Mansfield

Disguising herself as a boy to search for her brother, Ada finds herself amongst London's upper crust and in love with Derek Rutledge and is determined to somehow reveal the truth and prove her worthiness

Genres: Romance, Regency, Traditional Regency, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Clean Romance

340 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1989

About the author

Elizabeth Mansfield is the author of numerous regency romances. She is an intelligent and thoughtful writer, a hidden gem whose novels deserve to be more widely read and enjoyed.

Elizabeth Mansfield is the pen name of the talented Paula Reibel Schwartz. Ms Schwartz also wrote different genres under the pen names Paula Reibel, Paula Reid, and Paula Jonas.

Reviews

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

When her eight-year-old brother Stanley goes missing, Miss Ada Farrington fears he has been kidnapped by Gypsies and she is the best person to find him. Disguised as a boy, she sets out on an adventure through the country in search of her much-adored brother. Along the way she meets the handsome, charming rake Derek Rutledge, Viscount Esterbrook. Guessing her secret, Derek is captivated by Ada and endeavors to assist young "Addie" on his search. Their quest takes them back to London where "Addie" meets Derek's matchmaking mama and tries to navigate the social waters of Polite Society while searching for Stanley in locations that aren't fit for a gentleman to see, let alone a well-bred young lady. Adventure, danger and near heartbreak are imminent as Ada and Derek grow closer to each other.

This is a light, quick read. Ada is young and naive but not foolish and Derek behaves like the perfect gentleman but possesses a sense of humor that makes him a most charming hero. I can't stand lisping children in novels so I didn't feel as sorry for Stanley as I should have. His fate kept me guessing (and I guessed wrong) and I learned about lost/forgotten children in 1816, a subject which is truly horrible and unimaginable. The seriousness of the adventure kept this novel from being total fluff and balances out the romance nicely. I enjoyed this one and would like to read more of Mansfield's novels.

[Meanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not this author's best work but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I especially loved the Hero who was the classic rake with a good heart, who knew from the start that the h was in disguise but went along with it. He was swoon worthy. The h was a bit too stubborn for my taste. I did have to admit that I teared up a little with the inevitable reunion of little brother and big sister. Elizabeth Mansfield is still one of my favourite authors. I still reread A Christmas Kiss, Winter Wonderland, Her Heart's Captain, and The Phantom Lover regularly.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regency

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was an enjoyable read, better than some other romance novels I've read although certainly not what I would call great literature.