Joan Smith: Lovers’ Quarrels

Jane Halsey and her sister Belle were living with an aunt in London—and Jane knew it was time to think seriously about marrying a rich husband. But handsome, eccentric and rich Lord Romeo, who extolled all things Greek, did not fit her notions of a proper husband. Now his brother, Lord Renfrew, on the other hand, was her ideal—and way above her touch.

If you have read Babe, you will undoubtedly remember the would-be suitor of Lady Barbara, Lord Romeo. The Grecian loving nut is a unique character, whose angelic good looks and shockingly impolite mouth provide great comic relief. In Lovers’ Quarrels, we get to see more of Lord Romeo as he finds another Greco-reminiscent obsession in Jane Halsey.

His older brother, a Marquess and future heir to a Dukedom, is running interference with the ambition of getting Lord Romeo wed to a nice, respectable and managing English woman. He loves Romeo, eccentricities aside, and seeks to keep him in the country…and on better behavior.

It is fate that finds him meeting an ideal candidate for wife of his brother in Jane Halsey. Although her younger sister, Belle, is the Incomparable beauty, its Jane that sparks the imagination of Romeo who instantly accosts Jane during a tour of the Elgin Marbles.

Lord Renfrew tries to manage the courtship, but ends up spending a lot of time with Jane in the process which leads Jane to think its the elder brother that has the true interest in marriage.

The plot is a Midsummer’s Night folly of confused lovers, misunderstandings, and a bit of mischief.

The H/h are classic traditional Reg Rom characters: the older, slightly stern man of the world, and the slightly older, sassy heroine. Although familiar, they are nonetheless delightful, witty and sometimes heart achingly real.

I was a bit turned off in some passages from Jane sometimes prosy, prudish speeches…and her naiveté in places made me cringe. But there was an element of realism that is sweet and pulled me deeper in to investment with the characters than I normally get with the funnier Regencies.

This is not quite as funny as other Smith’s, but its generally lighthearted with at least lots of smiles at some of the silliness–mostly from Lord Romeo–as the characters try to negotiate their feelings amid the very strict proprieties of Regency England.

I definitely plan on reading this one again, next time immediately following a re-read of Babe, and enjoying some of the nuances of this otherwise fast paced read.

5 Stars 4.75 out of 6 An easy, sweet read with humor and realism.