...a confounded eligible Lord!

The Most Eligible Lord in London (The Lords of London #1) 
by Ella Quinn           

I rather enjoyed this despite the fact that our heroine' Adeline drove me crazy with her definition of a rake which "Frederick, Lord Littleton—Frits to his mother and grandmother"—just didn't seem to be. (To my mind anyway.) Of course Lady Adeline Wivenly's views have been colored by a rather stern young woman Frits had been dazzled by last season. Someone he'd courted assiduously until he decided they were very different people. He'd wrongly fled back to his beloved country estate without explaining to Lady Dorcus Calthor--Dorie, the reasons why, or at least allowing her dissolve the relationship. (We first met Dorie in "The Marquis She'd Been Waiting For".)
 I knew that scene at the lake was as familiar. Here it is seen from a different viewpoint. I really enjoyed the background inclusion of some of the people already met in "The Marriage Game" series, including some of the young women Adeline becomes fast friends with.)
Frits is not quite Freddy Standen from Heyer's "Cotillion", but like Freddy I find him a very loveable character. His courting or rather corralling of Adeline is quaint and rather funny. Frits has to prove to Adeline they're suited and their mutual interest in animals play a big part.
Of course there'a a real cad and rake who has arrived back from living on the continent and we readers just know he's despicable. Frits keeps trying to put his finger on what's wrong with this questionable, seemingly affable person, but never quite realizes what it is.
Anyway it's quite a convoluted plot with Frits turning up trumps, despite having to do some quick thinking and fancy leg work.
I loved those powerful mothers with their networks pulling strings and handing out advice behind the scenes.
A humorous regency romance that hides a wealth of information about the expectations of the day, English laws, law making, and family responsibilities.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley

*****