Author Celeste Bradley has created a truly delightful heroine in her new novel FALLEN. Isadora Temple is an orphan living on the fringe of society, and she's quite pleased to find herself a fallen woman. It will make it that much easier for Izzy to collect her inheritance, leave her abusive cousins behind, and emigrate to America. First, though, she has to deal with Lord Blackworth, the rake who ruined her when he drunkenly climbed into her bed during a house party.

Izzy laughs spontaneously, says what she thinks, and works hard to earn her keep in her cousins' home. I wanted to see her escape that servitude, enjoy her first Season, and fall in love. Blackworth is a willing escort, but he doesn't want to love her. Izzy doesn't want to fall in love either, since she intends to leave the country. Then, the unimaginable happens, and Izzy finds herself trapped even more than she was in her cousins' home.

I finished reading FALLEN in one day; I was that captivated by the story and characters. Izzy's cousins' are Dickensian in their uncouthness, and Blackworth's family is repulsively cruel. They both have friends who make up for it with their goodness, and I couldn't wait to see how it all turned out. The one thing that touched me most was Izzy's complete change of character after her darkest hour. I wanted so much to see that strong, capable, independent woman find something to laugh about again, even for a moment. As I closed the book, I wished strongly for Bradley to make good on the promise of the epilogue; that's a story I would dearly love to read.

I highly recommend FALLEN to lovers of Regency historical and fairy tale-inspired romances. Longtime fans of Bradley's may recognize the plot; this is apparently a reissue of a 2001 title.