Love, lies and spies

Miss Juliana Telford is looking forward to her London season, but not for the reasons one may think. Juliana has no interest in marriage instead she is on the hunt for a publisher for her research on the lady beetle. Mr. Spencer Northam is working undercover for the War Office and is too busy trying to catch a traitor to England to worry about meeting eligible young ladies. When Juliana's and Spencer's paths cross they realize they may be able to help each other in their secret goals, but they never intend to fall for each other. A tongue-in-cheek nod to Regency romances, Anstey's lighthearted novel is perfect for readers looking for an Austen-inspired tale of intrigue and romance. The story gets an additional boost from Juliana's many humorous scrapes, which are unbefitting a nineteenth-century lady. This would make a nice companion for Garth Nix's farcical Newt's Emerald (2015) and a solid choice for libraries looking to add to their romance collection.--Thompson, Sarah Bean Copyright 2016 Booklist

Gr 7-10-In spite of the trappings of her time, Juliana is a lady of education and scientific interests thanks to her father. In London for her first season, she meets a young man who at first thinks she may be mixed up in some shady dealings that he's in town to investigate. No new ground is covered in this tale: it follows the general formula of most Regency romances. It is still, however, an entertaining love story for young adult readers. It's no Jane Austen, but it is a great recommendation for teens who are not quite ready to tackle the complex language of Austen's classics. Give to young teens in need of a fluffier Patrice Kindl's Keeping the Castle (Viking, 2012). VERDICT A cute premise and cover make this a solid purchase for budding historical romance readers.-Sarah Jones, Clinton-Macomb Public Library, MI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.