I really miss the old line of Signet Regency's and this book is a perfect example of how good they could be.
Here is the plot in just a few sentences. Lady Augusta Hadley, firmly on the shelf, has been writing pamphlets and editorials under the name Firebrand and has just recently begun a correspondence with a gentleman of like mind who also cares about social justice. She does not realize that her new penpal and the annoying Earl of Sheffield are one and the same. Although she typically hides her brash personality, Augusta keeps running into the Earl and can't seem to keep her opinions to herself. When she needs help she finds he is the only one she can turn to.
This was published in 2000 and while the bluestocking/rake plot line has been done to death, this one is one of the best I've read. Just goes to show that any plot can be a winner in the right hands. The book really focused on the romance and the emotions of the characters. After the last historical that I read, Untouched which was overly sexy, this was refreshing. There was a lot of dialogue between the hero and heroine, they spent a lot of time together and I believed they truly loved each other. I should mention that there was a mystery subplot, but it was used to reveal the characters developing trust in each other.
A Lady of Letters was a very enjoyable read, and highly recommended.
My Grade: A
