Review: Surprising Lord Jack by Sally MacKenzie

Title:  Surprising Lord Jack
Author:  Sally MacKenzie
Genre:  Historical Romance
Pages:  328
Published:  March 2013
Publisher:  Zebra
Source:  NetGalley
Buy Links:  Amazon

Synopsis:

One naughty little masquerade can't hurt…

Unladylike Behavior

Frances Hadley has managed her family’s estate for years. So why can’t she request her own dowry? She’ll have to go to London herself and knock some sense into the men interfering in her life. With the nonsense she’s dealt with lately, though, there’s no way she’s going as a woman. A pair of breeches and a quick chop of her red curls, and she’ll have much less to worry about…

Jack Valentine, third son of the famous Duchess of Love, is through being pursued by pushy young ladies. One particularly determined miss has run him out of his own house party. Luckily the inn has one bed left—Jack just has to share with a rather entertaining red-headed youth. Perhaps the two of them should ride to London together. It will make a pleasant escape from his mother’s matchmaking melodrama!

Frances has had enough of her family and their lies.  She’s had enough of men breaking promises and leaving her behind.  She’s just plain had enough.  After cutting off her long red hair, she’s dressed as a man and is going to get her inheritance one way or another.

Being the son of the Duchess of Love has it’s upside and it’s downsides.  One of the downsides is the constant matching making and meddling.  Jack has decided to leave his mother’s annual ball and head back to London.  When he arrives at the inn where they have a standing reservation he finds his room has been given away.

On route to London, Frances finds herself sharing a room with a well known rouge Jack Valentine.  She does everything she can to keep her identity hidden, but sadly it doesn’t work.  She’s convince him to take her to London and let her find her brother; and the inheritance she’s desperate for.

I felt for Frances – she had a lot of things go wrong in her life and is determined to get out from under the thumb of her Aunt.  Jack tries to be a gentleman and offer his help, but Frances is determined to do this on her own and has no idea the trouble could get into.

Would I recommend this book?  It was an good read.  It wasn’t one of my top favorite historicals, but it was a cute quick read.  I liked Frances and her independence.  Would I read more by this author?  Yes, I enjoyed Sally’s writing style and I’ve already picked up another title by this author to check out.