In The Prince's Bed by Sabrina Jeffries

I have to admit, I got this book in large part because of the cover. That casually half-naked girl on a bed is a whole lot sexier than any clinch I've seen.

And the best part of the book did turn out to be the heroine. Katherine Merivale is smart, level-headed young woman who's self-reliant without being idiotic about proving her 'independence.' She knows she has to marry or live in poverty, and accepts the challenges that come her way with good grace. But practical Katherine has a passionate side, too, and though she is a Regency virgin, she quickly becomes more than a match for Alec in the bedroom.

Alec Black, Earl of Iversley, is unfortunately not as good of a character. There's nothing wrong with him, exactly...he didn't piss me off, and he does treat Katherine respectfully, if not always honestly. It's just that I don't quite know what he's like. We hear a lot about how he's poor and illegitimate but there's barely anything to show what kind of man he is, aside from "awfully good kisser." If Alec had been better developed I think the romance would be ultimately more satisfying.

The conflict between Alec and Katherine revolves mostly around their respective finances, which seems true to the period, and more realistic than a moustache-twirling villain. Another cool thing about this book was a subplot dealing with homosexuality, which I thought was handled sympathetically, yet realistically for that era. I wish that couple got more page time!

Overall I enjoyed this book but I didn't love it. The setup for the next two books in the trilogy was heavy-handed and clumsy, IMHO, and the writing, while not bad, didn't sparkle either. Still, I would recommend it for Katherine and for some of the minor characters.

Grade: B+