The Inevitable Fall of Christopher Cynster by Stephanie Laurens - 3.5 stars

[Theresa]

The novel opens with Christopher Cynster sitting in his study in Kent, reaching the long suppressed conclusion that he needs - wants - a wife, and neeeds to determine what he wants in a wife and how to go about finding one without being the cynosure of all the matchmaking mamas of the ton. His cogitations are interrupted by a servent coming to warn him that the neighbor's herd of goats has gotten into his blossoming hop field. As Christopher rushes out to rescue the crop and return the goars, all dedicated fans of the regency romance genre know that this is the beginning of a meet cute between a regency male and his wife-to-be.

Sure enough, we now meet diminurtive, dainty Ellen, of the procelain complexion, abundant blonde curls, enchanting hazel eyes, and rosebud lips, clad in an absolute froufrou of a gown loaded down with ruffles, lace, ribbons, bows, rosettes, all making one see doll, brainless doll at that. Don't be fooled. Ellen has a spine of steel, a sharp intellegence and observant mind, and a loving heart kind enough to give her beloved aunt pleasure by letting her dress Ellen as she sees fit, because Ellen just doesn't care. As a result of her uncle's failure of memory, Ellen is working to keep the manor and its lands operating until her younger brother is of age to take control, while at the same time keeping up the illusion that her uncle is still running things.

Naturally, Christopher initially misjudges here but very quickly realizes how mistaken he is and that he might just have met his future soul mate. Meanwhile, a counterfeit ring is operating in the neighborhood and much of the drama of the story rests in Christopher and Ellen working with Christopher's spymaster cousin-by-marriage Drake and his wife Louisa to unmask and capture the haut ton peer mastermind of the counterfeit scheme before endangering the financial stability of the nation.

Ellen is a strong woman, who isn't afraid of making her own demands and stating her opinions and wishes. She's without question Christopher's equal and they both know it. That's actually quite a lot of fun. I also enjoyed meeting the romany tribe who arrives to help with the harvest just as they are also needed to help unveil the plot. What I especially enjoyed in this one, and what has me giving this one 3.5 stars, is the scenes describing in detail how a country manor house and its staff set up for a large card game house party, which included a tour of the manor linen closet and a mini-lecture on the different household linens stored there. It's these touches of regency era life that I so enjoy reading.