THE ROGUISH MISS PENN

Author: Emily Hendrickson ISBN: 9780709082613 2/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: ROBERT HALE LTD.
Time Period: Regency

Lovely Katherine Penn longs to have her play performed, a near impossibility in the stuffy environs of Cambridge. Playwrights are considered rogues, but she's quite proper...isn't she? Her talented group of actors welcomes the patronage of Philip, Lord Ramsey, yet unaccustomed feelings stir within Katherine when near this handsome gentleman. He confuses her and makes her yearn for the unknown. Viscount Ramsey offers his own theatre for the theatrical group's practice, a means of having the enchanting Katherine nearby. He assists with her play's production during Sturbridge Fair to keep an eye on her. But danger suddenly haunts her every step: Katherine's life is in jeopardy. Philip does all he can to protect her. But can he save her for himself?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

THE ROGUISH MISS PENN by Emily Hendrickson is the story of a heart's fondest desire running in direct contrast to society's expectations. It begins-and ends-with a splash, and everything in the middle is perfectly delightful. Although to be fair I must admit that I've read other novels by this author that I've liked more. This one was well written, but somewhat predictable. Still and all, it was a pleasant way to pass an afternoon.

Katherine's greatest wish is to have her play performed, but the very idea is deemed scandalous by the university officials where her father is professor. It seems she longs for all she can't have, the things that she can see but which are just out of the reach of a young woman of her time. The range of Katherine's desires go from the simple, like being able to immerse herself in water the way her brothers do while bathing outdoors instead of taking ladylike sponge baths, to the more involved, like having her play shown and other, more romantic, yearnings. But as I said, this story is fairly predictable, so Katherine gets nearly all she wants-in one way or another. Initially her first wish, for the freedom to bathe, is granted her when she meets an over-zealous pooch who sends her flying into a pond! She meets Lord Ramsey, who is taken by the dripping, green flecked Katherine, and what had only been a theatrical dream begins to come true.

This is an entertaining story but I felt it could have been better had there been some element of surprise to it. As it is, I was amused and enjoyed Katherine enough to want to read more from Emily Hendrickson. THE ROGUISH MISS PENN is a gentle diversion that lovers of this genre will appreciate.

Kay James