"Fun second Mayfair sibling romance"

While their oldest sister Lady Constance is on her honeymoon, Siblings Prudence and Chastity Duncan continue to publish The Mayfair Lady. They do so to honor their deceased mother, founder of the paper, and to bring in money to cover their father's wastrel ways.

However, Falstaff, Harley and Greenwold law firm sues the anonymous owners of the Mayfair for defamation of character having slandered their client Earl of Barclay. Needing a barrister to defend them, Pru as the paper's business person, dresses to hide her beauty, visits attorney Gideon Malvern. He informs her she deserves the libel suit. Angry at his dismissal, Pru lashes out at Malvern, who sees the beauty and brains hidden behind the spinster garb. As the lawyer and the client fall in love, he tries to get the case tossed out without the court seeing any of the Duncan sisters, who cannot afford the scandal of being the authors of the Mayfair.

Like the first novel (see Con's tale, THE BACHELOR'S LIST) the second Mayfair sibling romance is a fun tale starring delightful assertive females walking a thin line. Malvern is a wonderful protagonist and the trio of females ganging up on aristocratic England is pleasure to follow. As their father becomes aware of the fiscal mess he caused, readers will gain immense pleasure from this charmer (in spite of the back stabbing abhorrent Barclay) and look forward to Chastity closing out the so far terrific trilogy.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 15, 2004

Summary

Hailed for her captivating blend of romance and sensuality, New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather has enchanted readers and critics alike. In this second book in her dazzling new trilogy, Constance, Prudence, and Chastity Duncan, London's most charming young matchmakers, are faced with a ruinous lawsuit—and it's up to the brainy, beautiful middle sister to extricate them.No sooner had the Duncan sisters' Personals service turned a profit than their controversial newspaper, The Mayfair Lady, offended a powerful earl—who is now determined to ruin them with a lawsuit. In dire need of counsel, the women turn to England's most-sought-after young barrister.Sir Gideon Malvern is notorious for his aggressive style—and his love of a challenge. Spirited Prudence, with her beauty unsuccessfully hidden behind spectacles and frumpy clothes, provides him with exactly that. But how in the world will the Duncan sisters be able to afford Gideon's fee? Prudence proposes a barter: Gideon defends their case; they find him a bride. It's an exchange of services even this most cynical, single barrister can't refuse.