I wanted to like it more than I did. After being very pleasantly surprised with Regency lesbians in Heather Rose Jones' Alpennia series, I did not think this reached the same level.

Which might be unfair, but I really didn't have the Regency feeling with this book. Sure, it takes place in the correct period, there's a society of nobles and rich people that have strict rules how to comport oneself in said society, and it has bluestockings.

It didn't help that the first 50% of the book is dedicated to Tommy and Philippa pining for each other mightily, and we're constantly reminded how it's impossible to be together. There is supposed to be a mission to unmask a liar who stole some cypher from his niece, but that fell flat as well. There is very little story spent on this particular mission, and the 'climax' was over in about 2 pages.

Still, I liked the characters, and there was plenty of witty banter to keep me entertained.