As I read the book, it started to make sense - I mean, the ton didn't know her and she could "retire" quietly after the charade was over, with no damage to her or anyone's reputation - so I was happy to go along with it. It seems that her Aunt Zoe has fallen victim to a sinister blackmailer and only Iphiginia can hope to stop the culprit before he can do more harm. Her interest in antiquities wasn't to demonstrate she was a dreamy bookworm but a resourceful woman who translated what she loved into successful real estate/investment ventures and a future pattern book project!

She had thought him dead and had planned to find the person who blackmailed her aunt by coming closer to the people Masters surrounded himself with. Everything was just wrong with this book, but the straw that broke the camel's back was the fact that Iphiginia was so bloody ridiculous and so damn stupid to live. The bicycle is the perfect pulling machine as it gives you height and disguises the fuller figure — until you get off.

Overnight, Iphiginia is transformed into a vision with a host of eager admirers, including one she does not expect -- the Earl of Masters himself, who strides into a shimmering ballroom one evening to cooly reclaim his "mistress. Our heroine is Iphiginia Bright, a strong independent intellect who has traveled the world, owns her own academy and business, and is fiercely protective of her loved ones. While my read through Quick's backlist is enjoyable, it may be time to take a break for a while and get back to it later.

Marcus had invented a clockwork man, an automaton which could function but could never feel emotions, whether joy or sorrow. The fact he also thinks she is the blackmailer - yes, one of his friends is also being blackmailed - helps in his decision to do so. I loved the mystery,intrigue,the witty dialuges and the main-characters lived up my day with their entertaining and funny love-story.The hero was a sexy and scholarly alpha, but he stood no chance when it came to the heroine who had him enraptured from the very beginning.

Marcus was wonderful, he had so many good scenes, from their first meeting in the ballroom to the one at the 'Drs', and so many fabulous lines which gave you an insight to him; his sense of humour and desires. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. But even though he thinks that Iphiginia is the blackmailer, he doesn't put a stop on her charade and plays along with her, decided to see how far she'll go.

There were then imitators, and they were many, and Their name was Legion, and they did taketh the Chaste Kiss that endeth the Regency Novel, and turn it into page after page of instructional descriptions on how to make the Beast with Two Backs.

The respective plots that defines them are not only unmistakable, but is not limited to a formula and totally credible and innovative. Iphiginia is a puzzle to him and while he might not believe her tail about a blackmail scheme, he does find her interesting and agrees to continue on with the ruse, in hopes that it won’t be a ruse for much longer because ♫♪♫ I just met you. I am devastated to hear that being my mistress has not been quite as entrancing as your tour of antiquities. It would be dreadful if that sailed by without comment, or, worse, that an awful editor decided to change the name TO Iphiginia. No "Oh maybe they were right--maybe I shouldn't let him ravish me since I don't know him that well".It may be difficult to access as it seems to be out of print and not in e book format but it would definitely be worth the effort to get a copy. I loved Iphigenia's independence and I loved that there was no marketing statement about feminism here. See, she's sure she'll find the blackmailer among them and she believes Masters is dead, so her plan is quite brilliant, isn't it?