Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
He’s been touched… by Mad.
William Ferguson, Duke of Rothwell is my first unconventional hero. Unfortunately, I can’t share why without spoiling the story, but let’s just say that Ramsey knows how to change the rules of the love game. Ferguson was once the most notorious rake of the ton, and his arrival in London is anything but welcome. At the behest of his aunt he needs to secure a chaste, prim chaperone, and he decides on Madeleine Vaillant, spinster in-training.
He called her Mad; his new nickname for the woman hiding the most delicious of secrets. Madeleine is brave and bold for attempting to tread the boards by night and play spinster by day. She thinks she’s done for when Ferguson discovers her secret, but what she doesn’t realize is that his interest has been cemented. He claims his urge to help her finish her acting career, and maintain the façade, is merely a stunt to protect his sisters from certain ruin if Madeleine’s ruse is uncovered. Yet the steps required are scandalous…
Oh, how I love to see a rake fall. It’s a popular trope and for good reason, the bad boy is conquered. Ramsey’s debut is a good read, with villains, subterfuge and a romance one would never suspect. It’s easy to become engaged in the thrill of the forbidden, as Madeleine attempts to navigate the fine lines between propriety, and the freeing world of the demimonde. What made the story enjoyable is that Ramsey didn’t allow her characters to get away with anything; creating a more realistic environment. Plus, there were some secondary characters that I can’t wait to read about, specifically Madeleine’s staid cousin Lord Alex Staunton and Ferguson’s sister, Ellie.
There were a few moments where characters acted a little out of place, and I expected a little more conflict as well. Overall, the plot is buttoned-up, the storyline interesting, and this book is a good read for a rainy day.
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