Vexed by a Viscount by Erin Knightley

Title: Vexed by a Viscount (All's Fair In Love #4)

Author: Erin Knightley
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing

Genre: Historical Fiction, Regency, Romance

Publication: August 11th 2015

My Rating: 4/5

Source: Publisher on NetGalley
Prudence Landon has always done exactly as she should. She’s obeyed her parents’ every word, lived by society’s every dictate, and even agreed to marry a man more than twice her age simply because it was expected of her. In the fortnight before her wedding, she decides it’s high time to bend a few rules before life as she knows it is over.

Viscount Ashby leads a charmed life. Betrothed since the age of seven, he is perfectly content to allow his off-the-market status to keep the marriage-minded mamas at bay. When he returns home to his parent’s estate and finds their prim, straight-laced young neighbor swimming naked in broad daylight, he’s both amused and intrigued.

When Ash discovers Prudence’s upcoming nuptials to the aging squire, he decides to help her live a little before the parson’s mousetrap springs closed. But what started as good fun soon leads to something much more. With her wedding fast approaching, they must choose between breaking all the rules and losing their one chance for happiness.

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Well, isn't this the cutest little story.

I've had my eye on this since I first saw it and I really wanted to read it.

Prudence Landon is everything a proper lady ought to be. She's reserved, follows the rules, pleases everyone around her and does everything her parents and her husband-to-be tell her to... Oh and please note that her future husband is more than twice her age.

You'd think she's just this boring country girl who doesn't have a personality of her own. But you're wrong. Poor little Prudence considers this marriage to be the end of her happiness and freedom (well, can't blame her, I would too), so she writes a list of fun, improper things to do before her wedding. And it is one of those activities on her list that brings her close to her neighbor, Viscount Ashby.

When Ashby sees how miserable Prudence is feeling, he decides to help her get the things on her list done and make them even more memorable. Adorable, I say.

This novella (because yes, it is a novella) is told from Prudence's and also Ashby's POV. This is something I always enjoy, because I like to know what both characters are thinking, so I'm pretty happy with this.

Given that this is such a short story, I was worried that the author wouldn't let us have the time to like the characters and get to know them well, but I think it was very well done. I did really love them both and their relationship. And I also got the chance to despise Prudence's betrothed. There's this part when he starts talking about their wedding night and he says this - and I just must share this with you:

"My tastes are very... particular, but I'm confident you'll be a good student."

Wait, what?

Who says something like that?! I actually feared for her safety, the poor girl.

But whatever, the relationship she has with Ash is just precious and I was very happy for her, especially because he just wasn't her knight in shining armor who came to her rescue. He showed her she did have courage and that she deserved to be happy, so she made it possible.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a quick light romance. I might actually consider reading something else by this author. After finishing this I realized I had a book of hers on my TBR list, and it turned out that there's an excerpt of it at the end of this novella. Hooray! :)

Thank you for reading! Bye-Bye! ♥