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Cover of A Proper Taming

A Proper Taming

217 pages

A classic, battle-of-wits Regency romance where sharp tongues and stubborn pride give way to reluctant, swoon-worthy affection.

What it feels like

Reading this classic Regency romance feels like stepping into a bustling, brightly lit drawing room where the tea is hot and the banter is delightfully sharp. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging clip, driven by the crackling friction between a fiercely independent, impoverished heroine and a haughty lord who does not quite know what hit him. It is a cozy, spirited experience, wrapping the reader in a comforting atmosphere of period-appropriate manners, rustling silk, and societal maneuvering. The prose is crisp and witty, leaning heavily on the entertaining verbal sparring that defines the best of the genre. It is an absolute delight for readers who crave old-school historical romances where intellectual equality and stubborn pride pave the way to a deeply satisfying partnership.

Mood
  • cozy
  • spirited
  • romantic
  • nostalgic
Tone
  • witty
  • arch
  • lighthearted
  • earnest
Pace
brisk
Themes
battle of wits · precarious independence · intellectual equality · found family · class boundaries
The writing
Crisp and dialogue-driven, featuring period-appropriate vocabulary and delightfully sharp verbal sparring.
The arc
Moves from defensive irritation and precarious survival to a warm, secure, and passionate partnership.
Who it's for
Fans of traditional, old-school Regency romances who love a spirited, impoverished heroine going toe-to-toe with a haughty lord.
Content notes
  • orphanhood
  • mild violence
  • financial precarity

About the book

Portia Haverall is orphaned and disinherited, and has nowhere to go. After a violent encounter at a country inn, she reluctantly agrees to become the companion of Lord Doncaster’s invalid mother. As she adjusts to her new circumstances, Lord Doncaster in the meantime is being encouraged by his mother to find a wife, yet he is repeatedly distracted by the enraging and stimulating encounters he keeps having with the maddeningly opinionated Portia.

Description from Open Library.

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