The Season ~ Sarah MacLean

Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued — in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.

When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex’s heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband?

Have you noticed the reviews on this one? Five stars all over the place. Even though I’ve long been aware of this one, have in fact had it in my reserve queue at the library, all of the positive feedback prompted me to forgo the waiting and buy it. Plus, I was – am – sick, and I wanted a romantic story to lose myself  in. Let me tell you, it was a very, very good companion on a long, sleepless night.

You know what I love in young adult novels? When the heroine has a strong support system around her, whether it be comprised of family, friends, or some other group of guardians. Lady Alexandra Stafford, bolstered by warm, loving parents and protective, teasing brothers, grew up strong and self-assured. Her family’s pride in her and hers in them was lovely to be witness to. As was the friendship between Alex, Ella and Vivi. All of the girls held their own in this story with distinct personalities and traits that made them incredibly endearing and recognizible.

You know what else I love? When the synopsis attributes a word like ‘brooding’ to a character and that character actually lives up to it! And what’s better? He has a perfectly good reason to. Imagine that. Gavin Blackmoor, whose family had been long time friends with the Stafford’s, loses his father and is suddenly thrust into taking up the title and responsibilities of being an earl. There’s more to it than that, of course, and he has to deal with his changing feelings towards Alex besides. So, brooding fits, but, thankfully, he never comes across as unreasonably moody. Blackmoor is intelligent, weilds humor well, and is strong enough to let Alex be who she is.

The historical aspect of the novel was well done, too, and I loved the references to what the girls were reading at the time. Pride and Prejudice makes more than one appearance, for example. Also appreciated was that, while the balls were grand, they didn’t overshadow the espionage central to the plot. The Season isn’t idle fashion talk or a showcase for Gossip Girl-like backstabbing among members of the ton. And the romance? I enjoyed it. very. much.

I’ve no idea if Sarah MacLean plans to continue on, perhaps giving us Ella and Vivi’s stories, but I want more. More Freddie Stanhope – who you just have to meet – and more Alex and Blackmoor, as well. And if her next novel isn’t about any of them, I’ll be sad to have to move on, but I’ll definitely be reading it, and I’ll just go back and read the different passages of The Season that brought a contented smile to my face.