Redonk Nutshell: When the man she’s been in love with since her childhood proposes to her best friend, Emily takes solace in the arms of his cousin

Emily Rutherford is heartbroken when Adrian, her friend (and love of her life) proposes to her best friend.  When Francis, Adrian’s cousin, offers to take her and her sisters to London to enjoy the rest of the season they accept his offer, hoping Emily will come out of her melancholy.  Unbeknownst to them, Francis is also secretly hoping to win Emily’s heart, a prize he’s always had to concede to his cousin.

First thing’s first – this title is deceptively modern when in fact the book is written more in an Austenian manner.  Not that this is a bad thing.  No, no.  I just wanted to put that out there.  Miss Rutherford does, indeed, get her groove back with the help of her brooding and handsome friend Francis.

This was a really cute story.  There were times I wanted to slap Emily for acting immature and/or selfish. Of her three sisters she’s the middle child, yet her presence is the most dominant.  Francis has his own demons to wrestle as well, having mastered the apathetic facade of an Earl.  But when the two come together it’s really quite lovely. Both of them melt into the other to become something more complex yet perfect. It’s fun to watch both of them evolve.

How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back, by Sophie Barnes, 368 pgs, 2/21/12

Rating: C

Romance: 2/5         Raunch: 2/5