4.5 stars. I really enjoyed the story, thought it was well done.

Fiona is a fiery redhead who is somewhat unorthodox. Surrounded by family who doesn't understand her, she clings to her ailing grandmother for the support she needs. But she's told a big fib. To avoid going into society, she's told her grandmother she is engaged to a Captain fighting the Napoleanic wars. But now the war is over.

Percival has returned from the war minus one leg, lost when his cousin, the duke took a blade intended for Percival. As heir to the dukedom, he is determined to live his cousin's life for him, until he happens across a woman wielding a knife that his driver mistakes for a highwayman - or highwaywoman.

The conflict holds through most of the book until the duke decides he's gonna do what he's gonna do (very un-dukelike after presenting himself as duty bound), but if he didn't we wouldn't have much of a story! I picked up this book because she compared herself to Tessa Dare, and Ms. Dare did a similar book that I very much enjoyed. The similarities are there, and I would agree that fans of Ms. Dare would enjoy this. I think the one thing that didn't work for me was the "intimate" scenes. They were distracting and unnecessary, and the terms used jarred a little.

All in all, a fun read.