The Perfect Gentleman
by Danice Allen

Rated 4.0
ISBN# 0-380-78151-4
Copyright 1/97
$5.50
(Purchased at a Used Books store for $2.25)
Reviewed by Isolde W.

If you like to read a book that will make you laugh and cry, this book is for you!

Samantha Darlington, the illegitimate daughter of a respected nobleman, has lived on a remote island for all of her life. And, for the first seventeen years of her life, she dressed and ran wild like a boy. When her legitimate sister, Amanda rescues her from the island, it's decided that Sam should be introduced into society.

The task of educating and polishing Sam for her coming out is given to Julian Montgomery (Amanda's new brother-in-law). Julian is the perfect hero, kind and sensitive to Sam's feelings but also enough of a rake to not be boring. He goes about the job of turning Sam into proper lady and marrying the appropriate gentleman with the seriousness of conducting good business. Little does Julian know that Sam already has chosen the gentleman she wishes to marry - and it's Julian!

Just as Sam's feelings of hopelessness in winning Julian's love (he's contemplating marriage to another woman), will have you crying; the hilarity of turning Sam into the perfect society lady will have you laughing out loud.

I really enjoyed this book because it didn't get wrapped up in all of the intrigue like some other novels. The author concentrated on the simple story of changing an ugly duckling into a swan, and then, that swan falling in love with her Prince Charming. Don't get me wrong there were some unexpected twists and turns but basically this was the quintessential romance novel.