Although I read regency romance from time to time, I generally find the genre a bit insipid. Don't get me wrong, I *like* the way regency romances veer toward the sweet, requiring the author to actually build a realistic love story based on character traits rather than filling half the pages with sex. But run-of-the-mill regency romances tend to throw the same plot twists at characters over and over, which gets similarly wearing.

Fairchild is different. Some reviewers have compared the novel to the works of Jane Austen, but I actually find Jane Austen's books not much better than a run-of-the-mill regency romance. Instead, I'd liken Fairchild to Wuthering Heights, with its intense backstory that begins in both protagonists' childhood. And Fixsen does such a good job sucking you in that you care about even the ten-year-old version of our hero and heroine, along with the flawed secondary characters that make the protagonists' lives so difficult.

All in all, Fairchild is my favorite book of the month so far. I was very sad to see that Fixsen doesn't have any other books out yet, but I'll be waiting with baited breath for the sequel to appear next month. The first installment in the series is very highly recommended.