Review: Improper Relations by Janet Mullany

I beg your pardon, I say, and I do my best to squash down another giggle that wants to force its way out like a sausage from a skin oh, heavens, what a comparison. No, not like that at all.

Little Black Dress Books is a UK-based publisher of fun and witty romance, chicklit, and womens fiction novels. Of their books, Ive previously reviewed True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson, and I have a review of Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich forthcoming. LBD Books only popped on to my book loving radar recently, and I have to admit that this was largely to do with their tremendously eye-catching covers.

Needless to say, Janet Mullanys books caught my eye for the same reason, and when I saw a discussion of Improper Relations on The Knight Agencys blog, I was determined to get my hands on the book. So determined, apparently, that my earnest answer to a Scrabble-related contest ended up winning me a copy (and a few great badgesthanks, Janet!).

When the book arrived in the post a week or so later, I tore open the package, and sat down in the snuggliest corner of my couch with a cup of earl grey and a piece of shortbread. Upon beginning the book, however, I realised that perhaps I should have started with a glass of claret and a plate of figs.'Improper Relations is described on its front cover as a rakish regency romance, and its certainly an apt descriptionI found myself giggling and making all sorts of scandalised eyebrow gestures as I zipped through this hilarious romp.

Improper Relations revolves largely around heroine Charlotte Hayden, who not only hails from a family of rather modest worth, but has an Elizabeth-Bennettesque tongue that frequently gets her into trouble. Combined, these attributes dont point to a life of future wealthy matrimony, which is unfortunate for the time in which she lives. 'It seems also that our Charlotte is less than impressed at losing her old friend Ann to a marriage to an upper class type, and as a result she takes the opportunity to sharpen her already razor-like tongue on the nearest whetstonewho happens to be Shad, who is the cousin of Anns new husband. Charlotte is initially disinclined to have much to do with Shad, but after a spot of scandalous behaviour at a social event, the two find themselves betrothed.

From here the book turns into a jaunty romp filled with farce and humour as we watch Charlotte try to puzzle out her new husbands potentially sordid past, and Shad try to puzzle out what he believes to be his wifes affair with his cousin. Thrown into the mix are in illegitimate baby (Anns), 'some'scurrilous servant behaviour, much early morning drinking of alcohol, some quite frankly hilarious references to sex, a bout of chickenpox made worse by hypochondria, and a duel. With all of this going on, Improper Relations seems as though it should be a bit of a mess, but Mullany does a fabulous job of keeping everything on track and in check. Her narrative voice is spot on, and her characters superbly differentiated. Her humour is perfect for the period, and I love her clever use of farce.

If you want a book that keeps you up all night (or that keeps you company throughout a few cups of earl grey and a tin or so of shortbread), you wouldnt do wrong to pick up Improper Relations.

Purchase Improper Relations.

Other books by Janet Mullany: The Rules of Gentility; A'Most Lamentable Comedy

Forthcoming reviews: Dogs and Goddesses by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich (romance;'chicklit); The Wild Reel by Paul Brandon (fantasy)