Desperate Measures: A Regency Short Story, by Candice Hern – A Review

From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:

Unrequited love can force a girl into desperate measures—a scheme that Lydia Bettridge’s brother Daniel has concocted—and she is uncertain will work. Before the most important ball of the Season, he will procure his friend Philip Hartwell to sweep her off her feet in front of the object of her affection making him wild with jealousy. But when Philip is detained from the ball and unknowingly asks the object of her affection Geoffrey Danforth to be the swain who sweeps, Lydia is thrown for a loop. NO—he was to be the jealous lover, not the one to make her lover jealous! Thankfully Geoffrey does not know who the object of the game is and Lydia is not going to tell him! But now everything is topsy-turvy.

Playing the “Mooncalf”

How was she going to make him think of her as a beautiful, desirable young woman and not the little sister of his best friend? It does not help that he is so eager to play the part, especially since he has never singled out any woman in his life and will draw the attention of Society by playing the “mooncalf” with her. He was determined to make everyone in the room believe that he was madly in love with her, and he did, even Lydia! It was totally glorious—except that it was not real. Pressed to reveal whom Geoffrey is to make jealous, Lydia picks the first man she sees, the infamous rake Lord Tennison. Shocked, he tries to warn her off, but Lydia claims she needs excitement in her life. Always the obliging gentleman, Geoffrey promises to play the part to the nines and have Tennison falling at her feet before the night’s end.

Anyone with a Heart Will Be Weak in the Knees

“Desperate Measures” is a charming short story introducing readers who love Regency romance, Georgette Heyer, and Jane Austen to the talents of novelist Candice Hern. It has a happy ending, of course, but not before the reader is swept into a ballroom and into the arms of a blue-eyed swain who makes Lydia and anyone with a heart weak in the knees. I hope she is inspired to expand the story and characters into a full novel. An excerpt from her novel The Best Intensions follows the short story, leaving one craving more on both fronts.

4 out of 5 Regency Stars

BOOK INFORMATION

• Desperate Measures: A Regency Short Story, by Candice Hern
• Published by Candice Hern (May 29, 2011)
•  eBook (33) pages
• ASIN: B00539TLVM
• Genre: Regency Romance, Historical Romance 

ADDITIONAL INFO | ADD TO GOODREADS

We received a review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cover image courtesy of Candice Hern © 2011; text Laurel Ann Nattress © 2013 austenprose.com, an Amazon affiliate.