Raised Eyebrows: Author's Edition

by Phyllis Ann Karr

Both Lord Spottiswood and the still-youthful widow Mrs. Beale are famous throughout London Society for their unflappability. Wagering which of the two might snap first, elderly Miss Merriweather and Mr. Noddy Duncton cook up a plot with Lord Spottiswood's lively young kinswoman Viola Ayrsford, who persuades her new friend Alice Markham to join them. Disguised in the clothes of her twin brother Sebastian, Viola pretends an elopement with Alice to Gretna Green. Along the way, both girls find true romance, Alice with James Standeven, a retired Army officer who has lost one arm; Viola with a Polish prisoner of war turned immigrant to England, Count August Modrowski, whom Viola -- mistakenly believing him a spy for Napoleon -- challenges in her masculine disguise to a near-fatal duel. In the end, after the dust has cleared, the wager been won, and the young couples happily planning their marriages, it is Lord Spottiswood and Mrs Beale who slip over the border for a Gretna Green wedding.

Paperback

Published August 30, 2022

About the author

Phyllis Ann Karr is an author of fantasy, romances, mysteries, and non-fiction. She is best known for her "Frostflower and Thorn" series and Matter of Britain works.

Reviews

[Claire S · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the same book as The Elopement. They really need to update the cover to make it look like a Regency romance. In any case...

I dislike stories about young girls going on a romp, especially dressed as boys, so I knew I wasn't going to love this book. However, I was very interested in the stoic older characters (they're in their mid to late thirties) and their romance. I thought they were fabulous but, unfortunately, there are very few scenes with them. The focus is on the young ladies and their escapade. And since the book takes place within a few days, their romance is insta-love (the older couple have known each other for a while). I also didn't care for the impulsive heroine and preferred her friend who seemed to be more levelheaded and tried to curb her friend's actions. But, then again, I prefer sensible heroines.

This definitely feels like it was inspired by Heyer, and it will entertain those who enjoy these type of stories and eccentric secondary characters. The title refers to the fact that even a raised eyebrow by one of the stoic characters would count as a show of emotion. This is a clean book.