Elisabeth Elham has been on her own since her father's death, and an inheritance from his curmudgeonly brother comes as a complete surprise. She soon finds herself in a whirlwind of London parties and country house renovations. A chance meeting with her new neighbor, Derek Wincannon, becomes a courtship, and despite her insistence that she's past the age for a come-out, he's not the only gentleman vying for her hand.

In LAST GENTLEMAN STANDING, author Jane Ashford gives us a wonderfully diverting cast of characters. The variety of attitudes and expressions is definitely a strong point. Elisabeth has a dry sense of humor and is easily amused by all the ton's goings on. Her younger cousins, Belinda and Tony, are exuberant in their inexperience, and her older cousin, Lavinia, is just a hoot. Two older ladies who take the family under their wings are as different as can be, but they are invaluable to Elisabeth and her charges. The servants and other minor characters are distinctive and engaging. Even the dog has personality.

It's also refreshing to have an entire family who grew up outside of society now navigating its strictures. Tony and Belinda, in particular, are eager to visit all the places they've heard about but never seen -- from Almack's to Tattersall's.

The plot soon takes a darker turn, with a series of mishaps putting Elisabeth and her family's lives in danger. The mystery is quite intriguing as it develops, although the primary villain is fairly obvious, which is my one criticism of the book.

By the end, we have two bonus love matches, one of which spoils my vision for a series built around the Elham cousins. Still, I give LAST GENTLEMAN STANDING an enthusiastic recommendation for readers who enjoy historical romances.