Decidedly quirky!

Lord of Night (Rogues to Riches #3) by Erica Ridley.  

                             

Miss Dahlia Grenville, an unusual debutant will do anything to keep her home for destitute girls afloat.  Her passion for her girls, her cause and the lengths she's willing to go to are extraordinary. Those lengths include stealing small items from the ton and turning them into cash via a rather circuitous route.

However Simon Spaulding, a Bow Street runner of impeccable standards is on the trail of the thief. The thief, on command of Prinny, is to be caught and hanged. Of course Simon doesn't realize that's Dahlia, a young woman he's become attracted to. In fact he thinks Dahlia is a respectable headmistress, not the daughter of a Baron.

So we have the hero unknowingly pursing a thief who is the woman he is coming to appreciate.

Dahlia's sense of fair play does go into realms I would never have considered. I must admit to loud laughter when Dahlia bemoans the fact that she's become a rake, a despoiler of virgin men. Riley has hilariously turned the tables on the norm for Regency romances!

This had some desperately funny parts and some equally desperately sad moments. Simon's relationship with his half brother comes under the latter.  

The humanizing of Simon is delightful. I was charmed. A definite winner with characters you can easily relate to.

A NetGalley ARC

*****