Oliver, the new Earl of Carlisle needs a *very* rich bride to pull the estate his profligate father left him out of debt. Grace Halton needs a rich husband to get medical attention for her mother, attention her grandparents doubt. Grace's mother ran away from home and moved to the Americas, leaving grandmother bitter and angry. But when Grace and Oliver meet, a gauche American woman infiltrating the ton, they each decide they have nothing to lose in sharing confidences with the other - which leads to two impoverished and desperate marriage seekers falling in love with each other, the two least acceptable matches to accomplish their goals.

The characterizations were sharp and witty, and Ms. Ridley's ability to spin a good story remains strong and true. I've read her gothic novels and enjoyed them as well - this one is more light-hearted and does not disappoint. I do have to say the sex probably wasn't warranted in this book. That they had the tension going all through the book was enough for me that I didn't need to sit in the marriage suite to watch the resolution to that. This might have been better done "door closed."