Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind by Heidi Ashworth

For some time now, I have wanted to read Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind.  Admittedly, I know the author rather well and so wanted to read her book.  But I was always frantically reading other books for book clubs and things about Samantha's condition, that books-to-read from my own list never quite happened.  Recently, I felt it was time to put everything else aside, sit down, and finally read the book from my books-to-read list, and I'm happy for it, as it really was delightful to read.  Miss Delacourt is considered Regency Romance.  What's that?!  Really, I didn't know and assumed it wasn't for me.  I usually don't equate my reading preferences with books in the "Romance" genre.  However, I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that I do, in fact, like regency romance.  ("I do so like green eggs and ham.  I do, I like them Sam-I-am!")  So, if you like images such as ...

silly young women primped, with ringlets framing their faces, in their loveliest gown, eagerly trying to attract their one true love (who happens to be rich of course)

secret kisses (that you've been hoping would happen throughout the entire book!) between the two who-aren't-supposed-to-be-together-for-one-reason-or-another-but-who-find-themselves-the-perfect-match-nonetheless...on English green lawns

and Colin Firth with a good set of side burns, dressed to perfection, with a coolness in his tongue, but an intrigue that is so...intriguing for lack of a better word

then perhaps you'd like regency romance too (Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer) and just don't realize it.

I read Miss Delacourt rather quickly.  Going from reading about neurons and recovering brain function to a regency romance took me some time to adjust.  I enjoyed what I read, but it wasn't until page 100 that I was quite hooked.  (page 100 came quickly).  You cringe at what some of the characters do, you laugh out loud, and you are happy in the end.  It was really just the entertainment that I think I needed.  I felt whisked away to another time period and it has made me want to read more in this genre...or at least put Pride and Prejudice in the dvd player!  There's something about those stories, isn't there?  The secret love that can't be expressed, the decorum of the time interfering with true love.  I love it.  Based on my small regency exposure, it follows the pattern of this genre.  I knew, or thought I knew, what would happen in the end, but I didn't know how we'd get there...and that's what was fun for me. 

So, Miss D Speaks Her Mind...it's a fast read and worth reading for all you secret romantics out there.