This book is deliciously bad. It’s not particularly well written, the characters are pretty one-dimensional, the plot predictable (I called it about halfway through), and the dress on the cover (while gorgeous) — and probably a lot of the details — isn’t terribly historically accurate (not that I’m an expert or anything).

But I couldn’t put it down.

It’s a soap opera, and if you go into it realizing that there’s nothing remotely intelligent, or even redeemable, really, then you can have a grand time watching the whole thing play out.

Elizabeth’s just back from nine months in Paris, only to find out that her family’s destitute (her father’s death a year previous left the family — a good “old money” one — in piles of debt) and she’s being forced to marry. Even though she’s in love with Will… the family coachman (gasp!). Henry Shoonmaker is the town’s playboy, and a bit of a drunk. His father, on the other hand, is looking to run for Mayor, and so he needs Henry to clean his act up. The best way? Get engaged to Elizabeth. Penelope Hays is Henry’s latest conquest, and is determined to marry him, so (of course) she’s mildly (ha!) upset that Elizabeth and Henry get engaged. And then there’s Diana, Elizabeth’s little sister, who cares nothing for society and the mores and restrictions it has. So, again of course, Henry falls in love with her, because she’s “so alive!”

It involves late night trysts, lots and lots of expensive gowns, a confusing subplot that involved Elizabeth’s personal maid Lina, and, yes folks, a sequel! (See, Elizabeth fakes her own death so she can run off with Will, but Penelope and Diana still have to duke it out with Henry…)

Completely silly. Completely irresistible. Go figure.