CIVILIZING FRANCES by Marguerite Butler is the fabulously entertaining third installment of the Mad Hatterlys series. I give it 4 stars and hope the novels keep on coming.
Frances Hatterly, the only daughter in the Mad Hatterly family, escapes from a ball after having her dress ruined by a capuchin monkey, only to end up alone in a room with Oliver James, the Duke of Ainsley, inadvertently compromised. Because it is still early in the Season, the Duke of Ainsley's mother suggests a house party where Frances and Oliver can get acquainted in relatively private surroundings before the engagement is announced.
Ainsley very nearly fell in love with Frances at first sight, that is, until she demonstrated her uncivilized nature by punching her younger brother at a ball. Now having innocently compromised Frances Hatterly, he is convinced they would not suit and seeks an alternative solution. Taking a cue from Prudence Hatterly's playbook, Oliver hopes to marry Frances off to another gentleman at the house party. He never expects to want to marry her himself, but it may be too late for them, as another gentleman has his eyes on Frances as well.
CIVILIZING FRANCES is another stellar novel by Marguerite Butler, with the same hilarity and sweetness as the previous two books in the series. Some of my favorite scenes are set at the house party dinner table. Who hasn't been to dinner with people who don't quite know how to behave themselves in public? It is so painful, it's funny.
The technical aspects of the novel--the pace, character development, editing and romantic development--are well-done as always, and the romance is still appropriate for those 16 years of age and older.
As with the first two novels in this series, any historical fiction lover will enjoy CIVILIZING FRANCES immensely. I definitely consider it a reading opportunity not to be missed.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10715.
