Pepper Basham (Some Like It Scot; Authentically, Izzy) has crafted a delightful nod to Jane Austen in her Regency romance Sense and Suitability.
Emmeline "Emme" Lockhart has had two failed social seasons, and at 20, she's practically unmarriageable. Emme doesn't mind, as she is secretly busy writing gothic novels about pirates and vampires. But scandal would ensue if her authorial identity were discovered, so she suppresses both it and her lingering memories of Simon Reeves. Two years earlier, Emme thought Simon was about to propose to her, but instead he left her brokenhearted.
Meanwhile Simon--now Lord Ravenscross after the death of his father and cousin--must find a wealthy bride immediately. Though he had truly loved Emme, he let society believe she had merely aimed her flirtation too high because he found out that his profligate cousin and father nearly bankrupted his family's estate. When Simon and Emme cross paths again, she decides to forgive him and, as his friend, help him find a rich wife. She even loans him one of her favorite new books, Sense and Sensibility. As he reads it, Simon can't help wondering if he's a Willoughby or a Brandon.
Lighthearted and amusing, with Simon's irrepressible little siblings adding a great deal of humor, Sense and Suitability is perfect for those who like their romances sweet and clever. The characters are thoughtful, and dour aunts aplenty add a touch of balance to the romantic shenanigans. Basham's witty storytelling makes this a charming read for fans of Austen-inspired fiction. --Jessica Howard, former bookseller, freelance book reviewer