Re-Read Challenge: The Rules of Gentility by Janet Mullany

Life being what it is and knowing a winner has already been posted for May, I still have to post my re-read review. It's my personality ok? I can't help it.

You can read my original review of the Rules of Gentility here. Also, you can see by those old comments how terribly intimidated I was by an author stopping by my blog. I never even responded! *sigh*

Regency heiress Philomena Wellesley-Clegg has rather strong opinions about men and clothing. As to the former, so far two lords, a viscount, and a mad poet have fallen far short of her expectations. But she is about to meet Inigo Linsley, an unshaven, wickedly handsome man with a scandalous secret. He's nothing she ever dreamed she'd want—why then can she not stop thinking about how he looks in his breeches?

A delightful marriage of Pride and Prejudice with Bridget Jones's Diary, Janet Mullany's The Rules of Gentility transports us to the days before designer shoes, apple martinis, and speed dating—when great bonnets, punch at Almack's, and the marriage mart were in fashion—and captivates us with a winsome heroine who learns that some rules in society are made to be broken.

So, I've read the Rules a few times since that first time and I still love it. I've also read Pride and Prejudice since then and I have to admit, the Rules was the perfect blend of old and new. This time around, I also appreciated Inigo's perspective more than before. He's truly not blind to Philomena's faults and he still loves her madly anyway.

Here's a passage that always always gets me:

Miss Wellesley-Clegg looks in our direction at that moment, recognizes the Dowager Countess, curtsies, and smiles. I could swear the sun comes out from behind the clouds and transforms the dingy environs of London into something clean and sparkling.

This moment takes place not too long after Philomena and Inigo first meet.

And Philomena likewise cannot get the rascal Inigo out of her mind. She's also not blind to his faults, but she's drawn to him again and again.

Seriously, if you haven't picked this up yet, you're missing out. The Rules of Gentility is a fresh take on some tired cliches but Janet Mullany makes them work time and again. A