Falling for Chloe

Lord Rival #1

by Diane Farr

Hidden Love

Dashing Sylvester "Gil" Gilliland would no more think of ravishing -- much less marrying -- his comely childhood friend Chloe than he would his own sister. But Gil's mother happily sees more to their bond than either yet realizes. And when the two innocents are caught in a deceptively compromising situation, she wastes no time in using it to her advantage -- and theirs....

Soon enough, the pair find themselves no less than engaged -- and no less than panicked at the very idea. But in a case of mother knows best, what seems a tender trap may free two stubborn hearts....

Genres: Regency, Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Friends To Lovers, Fiction, Traditional Regency

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Run-of-the-mill Regency romance, noteworthy mostly for being the forerunner to The Fortune Hunter, the much better second book in this series about Lord Rival, a secondary character in this book.

The heroine is Chloe, a wealthy country girl who is lovely but wears terrible clothing (apparently to support the local not-very-talented seamstress) and has no desire to be wed. Her lifelong buddy is Gil--no romantic interest on either side. They get stuck in a storm, spend the night in a cottage, get discovered in the morning (with their wet clothing hanging all over the place), and find a day or so later that their families have posted an engagement announcement in the newspapers.

What to do?

It's a cute, sweet story of friends becoming lovers, with a subplot about Gil's sister Tish and her marital troubles (exacerbated by her flirtation with the aforementioned Lord Rival). But it's totally unmemorable except for (1) Lord Rival making an appearance and doing his best to steal Chloe's affections from Gil and simultaneously flirt with/win money playing cards with Tish, and (2) Gil's mama swooping into town at the end of the story and masterfully setting everybody straight. Loved her!

This is a decent read if you really like Regency romances and like them clean. Otherwise I recommend romance readers go straight for the second book and skip this one.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was so utterly charming! It was very similar to Heyer's Cotillion, featuring a darling hero and a sweet, innocent country heroine, who find themselves engaged against their will. The romance was touching and the secondary characters were fun. This was a typical traditional Regency romance set in London, with balls, fancy dinners and proper ton etiquette and mannerism. It read much like a Heyer novel, and even had a reference to the Marquis of Alverstoke and his sister from Frederica, and a sub-plot similar to the misunderstandings in The Convenient Marriage and April Lady. It was all great fun, and I had a lovely time reading it.

Gil and Chloe have always been best friends, but neither of them had ever considered the other as a potential life partner. When Chloe gets thrown off her horse and Gil comes to her rescue, they are forced to seek refuge from a storm in a nearby cottage, and must spend the night there. This scene was actually quite funny, Chloe having decided to wrap herself in a bedsheet since her clothes were wet (and Gil, persuaded by Chloe, agreed to do the same). It doesn't prove funny for them however, when the cottage's owner unexpectedly returns to find them in this rather compromising situation. Lady Gilliland (Gil's mother) and Mr. Littlefield (Chloe's father) both feign outrage, but Lady Gilliland really sees this event as a heaven-sent opportunity to have them engaged, since she believes they are made for each other.

Chloe arrives in London after Gil has asked her to visit his sister Tish, whom he suspects is having conjugal problems. Chloe being such a kind and devoted friend, doesn't hesitate in trying to figure out what is wrong, and is determined to do what she can to help Tish. Only, Tish isn't the only one who needs help. The newspapers are full of the announcement of her betrothal to Gil! Furious, she goes to find him, and together they arrive at the conclusion that they are both extremely embarrassed and displeased with this turn of events, but that there is nothing they can do about it for the present, without kicking the devil of a dust.

Hence ensues a delightful comedic romp of two genuinely good people who discover their heart's desires through various struggles and confusions with jealousy, friendship and fear of rejection. The results are as satisfying for everyone as any Regency reader could hope. :)

I loved this novel so much that I immediately plunged into its sequel, The Fortune Hunter, which features the villain of this book, the notorious and devil-may-care Lord Rival, who is quite the sexiest, most heart-melting rake ever, as the hero. I was already half in love with him in this book (my other half preferred kind, sunny-tempered and pleasant Gil), and now I am well on the way of tumbling headlong into a lasting love affair. ;)



Gil and Chloe <3

[Ririn Aziz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very good retelling of Georgette Heyer's Cotillion. It was my very favorite book from Ms Heyer and we all know she wrote many great regency romances. GH's Cotillion was very adorable because of the unexpected characteristics of the hero, Freddy. He's not handsome and also not very clever. And that's why his efforts were much more significant. And that's why many of us loves him.

Gil, on the other hand, was the opposite of Freddy in terms of looks and intelligence. But the writer still wants to maintain the air of the correctness of behaviour in Gil. In fact, she just rewritten the characters based on Cotillion. I read Cotillion more timrs than any other Heyer's, at least once a year. So it was very dear to me. I just keep on comparing with every scenes and actions. Unfortunately, it does not even come close.

I read this as a background before The Fortune Hunter, the more recommended title. Many reviews (and also my friend Linda) told to just bypass this one. But curiousity got the better of me haha. I just managed to push myself about 45% reading and I can't take it anymore.

But of course I read the conclusions :p

[Topastro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this but there was so much going on that the main romance was lost. The first few chapters sucked me but the drama with Gil's sisters took over. Even though this was a miss book 2 is a five star!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe Littlefield and Sylvester “Gil” Gilliland are just friends. But after being caught in a compromising situation, they discover to be engaged against their will and destined to marriage. What are they to do? Getting married without love, or faking their engagement until they have any idea to escape this huge problem? At first they resolve to follow the second solution, but soon they realize that it is not so easy to break an engagement without bad consequences for both of them. Besides, perhaps they need to understand if being separated from each other is the right choice.

How many times have you argued with your mother because of her meddling in your life? This is one of those cases in which mothers’ advices are extremely precious and should be followed. Lady Gilliland perfectly knows what is good for her children Gil and Tish and, most of all, she knows their hearts better than they do. It will take an entire novel to make them understand their feelings and see what was already clear to their mother since the beginning.

I loved Lady Gilliland! She was my favourite character thanks to her perspicacity and open-mindedness. She was certain of what she had been seeing for ages and was determined to accomplish her mission. Gil and Tish’s happiness was the most important thing for her and she had to do anything to open their eyes. Adorable! I am sure you will love her behaviour towards her children.

I had a lovely time reading this novel and both the main characters were endearing and very fun. Gil and Chloe reminded me a lot of Freddy and Kitty from Cotillion by Georgette Heyer. They had known each other since they were children, they found each other engaged against their will and were involved in hilarious situations... a really engaging story! Besides, I loved them every time they were together, they were a perfect mix of sweetness and sensibility with a little bit of teasing. Although I preferred the protagonists, I was very happy to meet Lord Rival (who will have his own story in The Fortune Hunter), a charming man who loved to cause problems between married couples and who fascinated our lovely heroine. I loved their witty and very fun banter and I am looking forward to reading his story.

Lastly, I must mention my favourite scene which took place towards the end of the book and involved two people and their “crushing embrace” which I really hoped to see. It was the most romantic moment of the entire plot and I liked it a lot.

A delightful and entertaining Regency novel I would recommend to all of those people who love this fascinating era and have dreamt, at least once in their life, to spend some hours dancing at balls, paying morning calls, chatting with charming ladies and gentlemen and wearing pretty gowns!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little bit disappointed with this book. the writing was really good, which is the reason why I read it in one evening. The story could have been really sweet, if we had the opportunity to really experience it with the main characters.

we saw a lot of Chloe - who is a nice, lovely but very innocent girl who has no experiences at all with men and the ton. it is funny to see how she is experiencing her first season and how she growing to adore a "gentleman" because of his charms

what we don't see is how she is falling in love with Gil or how he is falling in love with her. on the contrary - for a big part of the book I was not sure if Gil is really the main male character in this book.

we had a lot of insights on Lord Rival, whom I did not like more for this insights. I would have appreciate it if we had the opportunity to experience the story from Gils point of view as well.

the ending was very rushed - all the problems and then one story and everything is alright ...

because of the way the story was written I nevertheless enjoyed it and I am sure I will read more from this author

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one ticked one of my favourite boxes - the "friends become lovers" box!
I've read and very much enjoyed the other books I've read by Diane Farr, and this one didn't let me down. Gil and Chloe have been friends since childhood and have to get married because they're forced to spend a night together during a storm.

Neither of them are enamoured of the idea, but slowly begin to realise the true nature of their feelings for each other. I was pleased to discover that Lord Rival appears in this book, which clearly takes place before the events of The Fortune Hunter, a favourite of mine.

The characters are well-drawn and engaging, and the friendship between Gil and Chloe is particularly well-realised.

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I liked this one, I thought it was pretty charming. I enjoyed the story, but I admit I mainly read it because I wanted to read it's sequel The Fortune Hunter and thought it'd be better to read this one first to get a better feel for Lord Rival (the hero in The Fortune Hunter and the villain in Falling for Chloe).

So, I liked Chloe quite a bit, she is innocent, but has some good insight into things. Having said that, she makes some dumb choices along the way that had me a little irritated. She falls for Lord Rival, knowing his reputation, but thinking she is different than all the rest. I was hoping she would have been smarter about all that and realized what a perfect match Gil was for her, but it took her awhile to come to that conclusion. I liked Gil, he was a sweetheart. I loved their friendship, their times together were my favorite parts of the story. Gil kind of takes a backseat and disappears for a good chunk of the story though (hence the lower rating). I felt their romance was slow and then all of the sudden they realize their feelings and the book is over. I guess I was expecting a little more.

I was also a little disappointed in Tish and Robert, I thought their story also wrapped up and resolved itself too quickly. I was happy with how things ended up for both couples, but would have liked a little more time spent on both.

Overall, a fun regency. It was well written and had likable characters and a fun villain (Rake Rival) who I look forward to reading about in the next book. All I have to say about him is I hope the heroine in his story puts him in his place!

Content
Romance: Clean
Language: Mild

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 3 out of 5]

FALLING FOR CHLOE is the first of two books in a duo that introduces the scoundrel Lord Rival. It is about two friends, Gil and Chloe, who innocently spend the night under a precarious happenstance. Found out, they are forced into an engagement that, initially, neither one wants. It takes the problems of Gil's sister Tish and the introduction of Lord Rival to move these two to realize they were made for each other after all.

This is a light piece of fluff. Gil is the epitome of what is now a modern-day metrosexual man. Appearances are most important. He has always loved Chloe but only as a friend. Or so he thought before Rival entered the picture.

Chloe seems to have it all. Smart, cute as a pixie, and loaded with money she becomes another prey for Lord Rival. A rake with a capital R he first pursues the married but innocent and foolish Tish but then mesmerizes Chloe. Frustrated, Gil tries to show Chloe what the man is really like. If nothing else, read this for the introduction of Rival and look for the second book THE FORTUNE HUNTER. The tables are turned and Rival finally meets his match. And a much better story.

[Milly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very similar to Georgette Heyer's Cotillion . If you're looking for a Heyer fix you've found it in this book. Although not near as brilliant as Heyer's work, Farr has taken the same Cotillion formula and tweaked it a bit. We have Chloe and Gil, friends since they were children, finding themselves thrown into an engagement they both don’t really want. But for reasons beyond their control, they decide to let it be for a while.
I'm not one to find naivety a virtue in the main heroine but for Chloe, like Heyer's Kit, it added to her charm. Her innocence and positive outlook on life made for some funny situations. Situations that Gil, with his practical sense, helped solve.
Having fallen hopelessly in love with Freddy Standen's character in Cotillion, it is no small wonder that Gil was my favorite character of this story. Although he didn’t possess the same enchantment Freddy portrayed, he still showed the clear-headed, quiet, raw emotions that won out the rake in the end.

[Renae]

Stopped reading at 51%.

This book is apparently the lead-in to Farr's more popular book, The Fortune Hunter and well...that's what this read like.

Forget the "central love story" that supposedly so important to a romance novel. The center of this book is Lord Rival, who is only a secondary character. Everybody is running around trying to hatch a scheme in relation to him, but meanwhile, absolutely nothing is happening with the supposed protagonists of this book.

I was bored and confused. The Fortune Hunter must be one hell of a book if Farr's editor okayed this gratuitous, overlong prologue.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Tis the typical tale of two squabbling main characters who have been like brother and sister all their lives, and yet end up realizing, nearly too late, that they're in love with each other. There's some good side characters in the shades-of-grey villain, Gil's silly friends, the reckless-due-to-sadness sister, and the wise, wise mother who handles everything. This one felt very much like a Heyer romance, though of course not as good, and a bit on the overdramatic side on our heroine's realizing that she has sexual feelings.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

“…we share a healthy respect and affection for one another. I am utterly persuaded that a strong marriage is, of all possible experiences in life, the one most likely to result in sustained happiness. And my own experience has shown that true friendship is the best foundation for such a marriage.”

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on My Kids led Me Back to Pride & Prejudice

A Goodreads friend of mine by the name of Anne, recommended a book called Lord Rival, a notorious rake who first appears in Falling for Chloe and I am ashamed to admit this was my sole reason for reading this book! I wanted to know what part Lord Rival played and although he does not feature a great deal, we get a small insight into his possible back story.
However, besides my original reason for reading this book, I was in for a treat.

"He glared at her, exasperated. "Nothing sudden about it. We ain’t children any longer." "Ain’t?" she repeated, distracted by this linguistic lapse. "It’s the fashion," he explained. "But don’t you follow it! Bad grammar is thieves’ cant—all the crack in London, but not for females. Where was I?" - Diane Farr

Chloe is a sweet young girl, scarred by her parents marriage and despised by her father, after the estate was left to her following her mother's death. Chloe has no interest in getting married and is adamant on that point. Queue her best friend Sylvester Gilliland, also known as Gil. Handsome, charming and a loyal best friend. Chloe is a spirited young lady and within the first two chapters she has Gil roped into a fine mess indeed!! One that under normal circumstances would have them betrothed by sundown.

"Mr. Gilliland sat gracefully astride his mount, a beautifully-groomed gray that, in other circumstances, would have made Chloe green with envy. Gil was nearly as gorgeous as the prime bit of blood he was riding. His London tailoring looked out of place in the middle of Dobson’s Thicket, but it certainly was impressive. He looked every inch the gentleman, and, as he was a tall young man, there were a good many inches to look it." - Diane Farr

Gil's mother likes Chloe and would love to have her as a daughter in law, not to mention getting Chloe out from under her father's mean eye. Offering Chloe's father a handsome amount of money to quit the estate, a plan is set in motion. Meanwhile Gil's worried about his sister, who is married and now residing in London. Convincing Chloe to come to London to spend time with his sister, it is not long before they receive some shocking news. Their betrothal has been announced in the London Papers!!!

Chloe turned anxiously to Gil. "That had not occurred to me. Must I jilt you? Why?" He glanced uneasily into Chloe’s troubled eyes. "I cannot jilt you, that’s certain." Tish nodded vehemently. "It isn’t done. Now, don’t argue, Chloe! A gentleman cannot cry off." "But this is intolerable! Cannot you and I make some mutual announcement?" - Diane Farr

This book is a delightful read, although Chloe's naivety is almost painful to witness. Trying to get to the bottom of Gil's sister's problems and desperately trying to think of ways to get out of the betrothal they did not announce, Chloe has plenty to occupy her time. After Gil comes up with a solution of his own we do not see much of him, which was a bit of a disappointment, but watching the sweet little country girl that Chloe is, navigate the ton was amusement enough. A clever girl with a keen eye for judging people's characters, Chloe became frustratingly obtuse in her one sighted determination to solve everyone's problems including her own. The ton (Lord Rival) certainly has a way of corrupting the innocent!

"It seemed to Chloe that his lordship turned his attention to Tish very reluctantly. His eyes lingered on her own a bit longer than they should have. But then she recognized the thrill that secret knowledge gave her, and her native shrewdness reasserted itself like a dash of cold water. Why, he probably gave that impression to every female! It was an easy enough trick to do. The realization was strangely depressing" - Diane Farr

What I really liked about this book was the dialogue. I seriously would not have a clue how to write such dialogue or have any idea if it was spot on, but I loved it! The banter between Gil and his friends included key phrases which brought me back to my childhood growing up in the East End and I found it delightful and captivating! It is the kind of book that is easy to read, warms the heart, set in the Regency era and has the all important HEA!!! Need I say more.
Well done Diane, no surprises I had this read in a day and had read Lord Rival by the following, loved them both. (Lord Rival review to follow soon!)

[Pauline Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the two previous books I read by Diane Farr, but this one is a bit of a mish-mash. There are some delightful moments mixed in with some ho-hum parts that just don’t work for me.

The plot: Gil and Chloe have been the best of friends for years. He’s now a man-about-town and she’s a spirited and independent young lady who’s perfectly content to live a secluded country life. But when they inadvertently find themselves in a compromising situation, some kindly soul sends a notice of their engagement to the newspaper. Then Gil’s sister Tish takes the inexperienced Chloe under her wing and launches her into London society.

The writing is very much inspired by Georgette Heyer, and unfortunately many of the characters are drawn from her favourite stereotypes, too. Chloe is the innocent young girl getting into scrapes, Gil has the two regulation not-very-bright friends, there’s an overbearing mother and a devilish rake… all the usual suspects. And the plot is driven by misunderstandings and silliness which is all resolved with a wave of the hand in the last chapter.

There are two aspects that really grated on me. One is Gil’s sister, whose marriage of three years, although founded on love, is now falling apart, and all because the husband and wife don’t bother to talk to each other. This breaks one of the cardinal rules of any romance, for me, that a happy marriage should be happy for life, and the wife shouldn’t be off flirting with a notorious rake. And here’s the other point that bothered me. Chloe, our otherwise charming heroine, sees Tish’s rake and is promptly drawn to him herself, to the point of kisses and other bad behaviour in a betrothed lady, even if the betrothal is a bit of a sham. She might not realise that she’s in love with the hero, but she shouldn’t be getting hot and bothered over another man.

Despite these issues, I really enjoyed the read, and the romance came to a very satisfactory conclusion, even if they did have to be prodded into it rather. Four stars.

[Caity · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main characters in this story- Chloe and Gil- were super cute and loads of fun with all their witty banter and easy friendship. I don't ever really get tired of the two-good-friends-end-up-realizing-they-love-each-other story line. I think it's cute- and these two played the part perfectly.
Lord Rival really drove me insane and there were parts with him that I didn't really like (thus, 3 stars).
There were times during this book that I felt like all I wanted to do was finish it, and it seemed to be taking forever- but the end was so worth the whole! I love when- right at the end- in swoops a minor character to set all to rights in the most simple manner that leaves us all clapping slowly in wonder and stupefaction (saying, "Why didn't that happen sooner?!!?").
All in all, this was a cute story and I enjoyed it for the most part, but I was also ready to move on afterwards.

[Kam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable 3.5 stars.

[Lady Aeval · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I pick up a regency romance there are certain things I am looking for. Generally they are fun characters, cute plots, and all-in-all simple fun and relaxing reads. I am not looking for kidnapping, raping, blackmailing, threats, etc. Unfortunately, most of the time I cannot find one set without elements from the other. This book is a very rare exception! I will be looking for more titles by this author. It is a great book of scheming parents who know what's best for their children, childhood friends caught between childishness and adulthood, and love conquering all. The characters are all well developed and interesting, the plot is funny and even if somewhat predictable still leaves you waiting to read the next page to see how it unfolds, and overall I just felt happy and good when I finished the book. If you are one of us rare breeds who like the regency romance without the drama, do yourself a favor and BUY THIS BOOK!!!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reads a little like Heyer fanfic. Tish, the married sister of the hero, is like the married sister of Freddie in Cotillion. Chloe bears some resemblance to Kitty from Cotillion, and the characters actually attend the ball at Alverstoke house that Alverstoke hosted for Jane Buxted, Charis, and Frederica! Moreover, the Kitty-like character has a fake engagement to one of her best childhood friends (the semi-Freddie like character) -- I bet you can guess how that ends!

Nevertheless fairly enjoyable.

[Zette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Diane Farr book and I will definitely seek out more! Good, clean romance with a happy ending. I felt a little like most of the story focused more on Tish and Robert than Gil and Chloe but I enjoyed both of the romances. I'm moving right on to the second book, Fortune Hunter, that continues Lord Rival's story.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, Diane's books are a delight to read.

[dreamworld · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had the potential for a rating of 4/4.5 stars but there was one very big, very important thing that kind of missed during some parts of the story.
I'm pretty sure you won't guess it but I'm talking about the HERO, Gil. The story starts strong with him and Chloe and everything is great but then Lord Rival (or should I say George?) comes in and Gil kind of gets sidetracked. I had no problem with George, he was an interesting enough character but I would have loved more of Chloe and Gil's friendship.
Their dynamic is so great that it seems like a complete waste not to have more scenes with the duo. And because of that, instead of letting us see the depth of their relationship...it feels like we're only told of it. Like they are so amazing friends but the moment Chloe starts feeling attracted to another man, she disregards her best friend completely and it made me scratch my eyes out.
And then suddenly, towards the end of the book, Chloe thinks about Gil like she's been in love with him forever.
Gil is an amazing character, he's literally a perfect gentleman a little on the vain side - as he admits he could not live as a poor man but he's not greedy. He's the proper one, the kind saviour and a true loving brother.
Chloe I think is like the typical 'booknerd' from 21st century transfered to a lady of the 19th. Why? She's smart, she's witty, she knows what she wants and she's blind and arrogant. She thinks herself so above the other ladies from London for the simple reason that she is not like them - which is true, but that doesn't mean she can play their games better than them. And Lord Rival is proof of that. She thinks she's immune to the rake for the pure and simple reason that she does not want to marry.
And in the end, it turns out that she was the only one who had been played.
Lord Rival - he's a complex character. Usually, he's type is the typical villain in such stories but we get to see more. He feels guilty for all the shit he pulled, and for good measure too. It's clear that the author has sort of a redemption arc set for him and I must say my curiosity pushes me to find to read it.
All in all, it was a nice read - good plot, relatable characters, not enough Chloe and Gil though. That was truly disappointing, their scenes were by far the best part of the book.

[Krys · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Diane Farr, but I could hardly force myself to finish this novel. I almost put it down for good a hundred times but decided to push through because really, I love Diane Farr. I hated hated hated this story. It's been a long time since I was so frustrated with a novel. Overly confident, society-flouting Chloe Littlefield travels to London to meet with childhood friend, Sylvester Gilliland, who she has been mysteriously engaged to (unbeknownst to them, by their parents). They team up to brainstorm how to break their engagement without being ostracized by the Ton. While in London, Chloe stays with her dearest friend and Gilliland's sister, Leticia (called Tish), who seems head over heels in love with the town rake, Lord Rival. Chloe is both repulsed and physically drawn to the unbearably handsome and charming Lord Rival (who is NOT the hero of this story). More than half of the novel is spent focusing on Chloe's interactions with Rival, as she tries to fight off her growing attraction (did I mention he is not the hero of this novel?). Gilliland makes a few appearances here and there, usually in the role of a supportive friend or protective older brother. But there is almost NO romance between them, besides a few compliments on both sides about the other one's apparel. And it isn't until after they have a fight over Chloe's growing closeness to Rival, that Chloe suddenly, magically realizes that she's in love with Gilliland and cannot bear to lose him in her life. The ending was ridiculous, improbable and unbearably fake. In just a chapter or two, the author ties up all the lose ends, rights all the wrong, and everyone gets the HEA they most definitely DO NOT deserve. Learn from my mistakes, do not spend time or money on this book. Instead, pick up one of Farr's other lovely books (really, all of them are better than this one).

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I want diversion, it's a toss up between Regency romances and apocalyptic/dystopian fiction. Guess it depends on what kind of mood I'm in. So after just finishing a heavy and troubling non-fiction read (A War of Loves by David Bennett), I needed something essentially mindless and diverting.

This book by Diane Farr turned out to be more than that. It was far "meatier" than many Regency pieces that I've read. Typical plot, of course - boy and girl grow up as life-long friends and only discover love when put in a compromising position for which they have to become engaged. It's been done before but never quite so well.

The main characters - even the obligatory rake - were all complex and interesting. The dialogue, which could have been awkward because of the historical slang, flowed smoothly. There were no glaring anachronisms either - something I encounter a lot, especially in self-published tales. And it was "sweet and clean" without the soft porn that drives other romance novels. Altogether very well done.

It's the first in the "Rival" series, Rival being the rake and cad. The next book is about him and I'll read it just to see if he redeems himself. Sure hope so.

[Ila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It has so much humour, wonderful dialogues, interesting situations and very well drawn out characters, not just of the H & H. Both Chloe and Gil are charming. Lady G is a formidable matriarch and I enjoyed her a lot. In Chloe we have an unusual young woman who is the sole owner of a very large inheritance and who takes a keen interest in running the ventures that contribute to it. Gil is a thorough gentleman through and through. This is a classic friends into lovers story with the addition of the third angle - Lord Rival - who's character and motivations and self reflexion are also described, leaving us readers to form our own opinion about him. I'm so glad that we get to read his story too in the next book. I also admired how the author lets us experience the pull of animal magnetism between two persons without getting judgmental about it.

Recommended for Georgette Heyer, Alice Chetwynd Ley, Sarah M Eden fans. I'll probably read this book again.

[HR-ML · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regency England. 3.5 stars.

Gil & Chloe were best friends who knew each other forever.
Caught in a compromising postion, they found their surprise
engagement announcement in 2 newspapers but had no such
plans. Chloe visted her bestie (& Gil's sister) Tish and spouse
Robt in London. Both ladies became enamored with flirty
George, Lord Rival. Innocent Chloe didn't use common sense
when it came to George. George was burdened w/ too little
funds & lacked a real relationship. Boredom & self-loathing
set in.

Chloe had too much internal chatter & didn't see the truth of
George's insincerity before her eyes. Gil & his friends talked
too much in cant slang. Too much time was devoted to Geo.
& insufficient time to MCs Gil & Chloe. Gil outshone Geo. in
nearly every regard.

The Fortune Hunter (Lord Rival bk #2) gave George a go at a HEA.

[Justyna Małgorzata · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I didn't expect it to be anywhere near Heyer in terms of quality and fun, but still... Annoying, childish heroine, the hero only sightly better - at least not that silly. Progression from friendship to romance is quite sudden and feels forced. But the worst of all is the ending - when Gil's mother shows up out of nowhere and resolves everything in a very deux ex machina way. 2 stars and only because I actually made it to the end of the book.

[spanz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me a little mad to be honest. I felt really frustrated with the characters and I felt like no one was making very smart choices. Mainly, I think it was the creepy gentlemen that was always around Chloe. She obviously knew he was fake and conning her, but she was into it at the same time? I don't know, it felt weird to me and super creepy. Everything was a huge mess but by the end it ends happy. So, it a good read just a little too frustrating for me.

[AM · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is cute and very Heyeresque. I admit that I LOVED the shout-out to Federica; I am absolutely the target audience for that sort of thing.

The unfortunate aspect of this book is that the villain, George Carstairs, Lord Rival, is about 20 times as interesting as the hero, Sylvester Gililand, whose name I forgot more than once, as he disappears from the page for long stretches of time, and doesn't do anything very interesting when he's on it. Pity.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a well-plotted friends to lovers romance with sympathetic main characters. the second couple, Tish and lord rival are a little less believable. The hero's mother suddenly appears and ties it all up a little too neatly, but it's all good fun, with yappy dogs, a parasitic father, and significant waltzes.