The Belligerent Miss Boynton (Alphabet Regency Romance) by Kasey Michaels Series: The Alphabet Regency Romance #1
Published by Kasey Michaels Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency
Pages: 209
Format: eBook
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Amanda Boynton is set on escaping her marriage-minded stepfather, refusing to be “sold” on the open market. She plans a grand exit from Society, first making a spectacle of herself at Almacks in order to humiliate the man, and then leaving London for — well, she hasn’t quite figured out that part of her plan yet.Jared Delaney, Lord Storm, is both intrigued and appalled when he hears of Amanda’s plan (or should we say her lack of a plan), and decides she needs a companion, a protector, as she flees Mayfair in the dead of night.
But once on the road with the belligerent Miss Boynton, his plan begins to change. A small seduction is one thing, but Jared’s thoughts quickly turn to a more permanent arrangement …
CW: Grief, violence, threats of SA, murderous plots, death in childbirth, debt, child abuse
Miss Boynton is set on ruining herself so that she can escape from her horrible stepfather. Her scheme garners the attention of the infamous Lord Storm who considers himself her protector almost immediately.
And thus begins a wild ride.
Amanda is sassy, smart, and armed with a stilleto. Jared (Lord Storm) is slick, smart, and utterly consumed by the very belligerent Miss Boynton (she doesn’t stay belligerent the whole book, however).
This story was filled with wonderful supporting characters, which I have realized really make a difference to me in not only world building and comedy, but also getting a sense of the characters themselves. I have read other romance readers/writers comment that they don’t trust characters who don’t have friends. I get the sentiment (although I think it might be a bit ablest, especially for neurodivergent folks who sometimes struggle with more allistic typical friendships) and do think in this instance Jared’s friends are great insight into him, showing he is not an alpha-hole.
There are some issues with this story. Because I believe in providing historical context for works of art, I think its important to mention this book was originally published in 1982. So there are some elements of this book that may make modern readers, a bit more conscious of consent, at best confused and at worst horrified. Mostly, the hero is teasing the heroine with threats of SA/kidnapping during the first portion of the book, which will make it hard for some readers to believe the two fall in love. Some readers won’t also love that part of Jared’s character arc is for him, due to grief, to abandon his wife and take months drinking and gaming before he realizes his folly.
There is also a fair amount of violence, some content that will be difficult for some readers (see CW), and intimacy (not too graphic) on the page.
The MCs also are in a love-hate dance in the beginning, which is not everyone’s cuppa.
This was not my favorite of the series for some of the reasons stated, but I did finish it and I do look forward to the next book which follows the stories of one of Lord Storm’s friends.
I would recommend this for readers who don’t mind light intimacy on the page, adult themes, and some bygone attitudes about consent (or lack thereof). Some readers will enjoy Michaels deft comic and screwball touch to the era, and honestly the romance settles into being quite sweet (with, of course, a HEA).
