Perky Lady Poppy Smith-Barnes of London is the daughter of the widowed Earl of Derby, sought after by every eligible bachelor, denying proposals from all. Being a member of the Spinster's Club along with her friends Eleanor and Beatrice, they are all holding out for that perfect love match -- or they vow to remain spinsters. Poppy's excuse for refusing marriage is the Russian Prince Sergei, whom she fell in love with at the age of 15. She recreates her love as the fictitious Duke of Drummond. Poppy's intentions are good, until the dashing and secretive Nicholas Staunton, the real Duke of Drummond, appears.

Nicholas, one of the Impossible Bachelors, is in the Service for England and receives his assignment to marry Lady Poppy and continue by stealing a Russian painting with a hidden message concealing the "mole." Nicholas finds Poppy is just as adventuresome as he and loves the risk equally. Nicholas teaches Poppy the sensual side of exotic sex, while she contends she will not marry him. She falls in love with him, but requires his love in return. As Nicholas finally comes to terms with his true feelings, Sergei's sister, the Russian Princess Natasha, traps Nicholas into an engagement on false pretenses. Now it's time for Poppy to re-evaluate the rules and beliefs of the Spinster's Club.

Another story of the Impossible Bachelors, this one is just as exciting and mysterious as the last. Kieran Kramer is an exciting and colorful writer who has the ability to bring her characters to colorful life. Poppy is a vivacious and somewhat naughty but humorous young lady with a vivid imagination who makes a very good spy. This is very pleasant book to read and artfully created to bring hours of enjoyment.

Book Summary

Kisses and sparks fly equally fast in this fast-paced romp featuring second Impossible Bachelor Nicholas Staunton and Lady Poppy Smith-Barnes, a member of the Spinsters Club. Poppy won't marry unless it's for love, so she fobs off all her suitors with the story that she's on the verge of an engagement to the fierce and frightening Duke of Drummond, a product of her Cook's vivid imagination. Or so Poppy thinks, until she's trapped in an unwanted engagement with Nicholas, the real Duke of Drummond, who's just as mysterious as his fictitious counterpart and a true danger to even the most fortified Spinster heart.