Joan Smith: Madcap Miss

WHEN A YOUNG WOMAN DONS A GIRLISH DISGUISE, SHE DISCOVERS THAT LOVE IS NOT CHILD’S PLAY….

Poor Grace, having just lost her post as governess, had no friends, no money, and was indeed in dire straits. Her petite figure and clever disguise fooled the coachman into giving her a child’s fare to Wickfield, but what to do when she got there?

Handsome Lord Whewett, to whom our heroine desperately confided her predicament, had a suggestion. Would she pose as his daughter to appease his aging and very rich mother, while his real daughter remained in Scotland?

One hundred pounds for two days of skipping rope and reciting lessons seemed a tolerable antidote to her boring life and uncertain future. Unfortunately, Grace’s interest in Whewett was becoming anything but childlike….

This insane plot makes for some laugh out loud comedy, so suspend your disbelief and get ready to chuckle.

Seriously, a 2o something passing off as a preteen?  I suppose it can happen, but it really is pretty ludicrous.  There is also the whole idea that she is passing as his “daughter” during their early romance…such a premise would be kind of icky in another, less deft writer’s hands.  I didn’t find it to be unsettling or creepy, but others might be put off by the thought.  It may appease you to know from jump street he is savvy to her real age, and therefore never really thinks of her as a child, or his daughter.  Still, I saw some folks on GoodReads blech-ing about the idea, so be aware.

If you can stomach or at least wink and nod it pass, the result is a funny comedy of errors.  Trying to fool a dying Grandma who insists on bossing around a rather sassy young lass is fertile grounds.  And boy, does our heroine Grace have a major sass-mouth.  She has no problem giving Whewett the what-for, and its honestly really hard to imagine she ever was successful at being a not-quite-servant-but-definitely-not-family governess (it just occurred to me that hashtags are the new hyphens.  maybe i should have said #notservantbutdefnotfamily).

The heroine has been sacked, and without family or money, decides to seek out her old governess for some shelter and to regroup.  In order to pay a cheaper Coach fare, she masquerades as a kid…and this is where she first meets Whewett.  They share a private joke, or at least he thinks they do, starting him down the path of suspicion about the little bit’s age.

Landing at the same destination, along with a nosy neighbor, both head off. Bad luck for Grace, her governess is gone…but just when she really is starting to despair she runs back into Whewett, who is himself in a bit of a pickle.

I honestly didn’t love either the H/h, but since the novel is fun and funny and the laughs are mostly at their expense, I think that added to it.  The romance was more of a nice wrap up than the major focus, but there definitely was some interesting character growth.  Furthermore, the dialogue between the two is witty and quick, and worth the price of admission.

I love the masquerade theme, and while this one is a bit of a stretch, I can easily see this being a reader favorite (as well as one other readers will hate).

The bulk of  the story takes place in the confines of Grandma Healey’s house,  so if you are longing for the glittering ballrooms of Town or the banter of suitors on long drives, you won’t find it here.  What you will find is a lot of people telling bald face lies, with really good intentions, and suffering for them.

I am sure I will re-read this one when I am in need of a good laugh, and as its short and breezy as many of Smith’s, its a perfect filler for a quick afternoon lounging.

4.5 out of 6 Laugh out loud funny, completely ludicrious trad. Reg Rom plot

Content Rating/Heat Index
Mature Content
Some adult themes, including mistresses
Intimacy
A kiss or two
Violence
Not much

Overall
Clean, but light adult themes make this better for more mature readers.