As a romance, this book deserves four stars. The writing is enjoyable, and the syntax far more complex than one often gets in romance novels. I appreciated the unreliable narration of Henrietta Lightfoot and was curious to know what calamity would next befall her as she passed from her uncle's (really father's) home upon the death of her cousin/sister and her subsequent betrothal to an undesirable man, made all the more undesirable by the depth of her love for Lady Catherine's fiancé. Furthermore, the historical content and context is significant to the plot and seems well-researched; after all, [a:Hallie Rubenhold|474408|Hallie Rubenhold|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1459355993p2/474408.jpg]is a historian by training.
However, this book is billed as historical fiction, rather than (historical) romance, and in that category, I can maybe grant it three stars. Rubenhold's contribution to the "Reading Group Guide" at the end of the book articulates her intention to expose the harsh realities of "abandonment, betrayal, violence, alcoholism, abortion, and imprisonment" of women on the town, especially those who did not have the support of their families and/or significant financial security to fall back on. While I wholeheartedly approve of this mission and am incredibly interested in this history, I think that Mrs. Lightfoot is an unfortunate representative of this sect of society. Most significantly, despite our heroine's repeated assurances that nothing that has occurred was her fault and that she had no choice, I had difficulty sympathizing with the many decisions she made that might have prevented her seeming downfall. Certainly many women existed without the flexibility of the Bennett sisters, as Rubenhold mentions, but I doubt that many of these women came from situations of such privilege into the streets as did Mrs. Lightfoot. I would much prefer to read Rubenhold's nonfiction [b:The Covent Garden Ladies: Pimp General Jack & The Extraordinary Story of Harris' List|1193561|The Covent Garden Ladies Pimp General Jack & The Extraordinary Story of Harris' List|Hallie Rubenhold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1181777886l/1193561._SY75_.jpg|1181614], which I anticipate would have more honest stories of the very real women of this time, whose lives are, indeed, too often ignored.

I may pick up the other books in this trilogy because 1) this first book was enjoyable enough and 2) Rubenhold left a lot of holes and unfulfilled references, particularly to Lord Dennington, but it is unlikely that I will actively seek them out.