Sensual design, tender and tormented romance, and strong primary and secondary characters make this a wonderful Regency. I loved Rose, who, although born in a time when gentlewomen were supposed to be demure, is not afraid to go after what she wants. Greyden (don’t you just love that name?) is just as remarkable as he puts aside his feelings for Rose to honor a deathbed promise.

Rose Danvers is miffed. The man she’s been in love with for ages will have nothing to do with her—other than a brotherly buss on the cheek or advice.  In order to get him to notice her as a woman, she disguises herself and goes to a masked ball. A ball where the participants can and do take advantage of the rooms for special guests. Her goal is to seduce the Duke of Ryeton.

Grey has eyes for only one woman, but a promise to her father means he cannot pursue his affection for Rose. So he pretty much abstains from the erotic philandering of his fellow peers until he spies a woman who looks remarkably like Rose. Against his better judgment, he secures a room for them and makes love to the seductive woman. All the while wishing it was indeed his precious Rose.

Rose and Grey’s trials are many as they play a cat and mouse game, until he realizes the siren he bedded is the beautiful and innocent Rose. He will do the honorable thing, find her a husband, but Rose has another plan in mind. She will have the Duke as her husband or no husband at all.