Rating: 
Summary: Regency writing at its finest
Review: What did I enjoy about this book? Everything! I can't believe this is only the author's second book. This is one of the best books I have read this year, well-written and entertaining from start to finish. It's refreshing to read a romance where the conflict between the characters never gets nasty or petty or mean. Both the hero and the heroine were extremely likeable, yet the obstacles to their relationship were believably insurmountable, which made the happy-ever-after ending particularly satisfying.
Rating: 
Summary: Softer more serious approach to Romance
Review: What I have always loved in Diane Farr is her ability to write wonderfully humourous stories - in Fair Game I feel she has departed to a more sensitive and almost sensuous story, but leaving out some of the lighter moments. Farr is such a competent writer that this probably isn't such a great draw back, but I do have a preference for lighter comedy. (Her Novella in the Regency Collection "A Regency Christmas Eve" has to rate as my absolute favourite piece of writing - but on to Fair Game....In this story I think Farr has taken slightly more serious themes, and treats them with a bit more respect. The famous courtesan, La Gianetta, has stolen some valuable property of Trevor Whitlatch's in the past and has now embroiled his friend in trouble. Whitlatch is determined to get reparation. La Gianetta ends up bartering her daughter, Clarissa, to clear the debts. Unfortunately, Trevor's ambitions for Clarissa are not quite realised. While he thinks she is La Gianetta's daughter and so might be used in the same way, and as easily as her mother, in fact it turns out to be a quite a different matter. Clarissa has had a sheltered upbringing in a girls school - first as a pupil and then later teaching. She must now make her way in the world and she is determined not to do it as her mother has - Trevor Whitlatch's ambitions or not! This is a lovely story of the attraction between these two people, of Trevor's growing realisation of his feelings for Clarissa, and how he must reconcile that with the need to keep her reputation and his need to exact revenge against her mother. Its a very clever little story. There are light points in this book of course - Clarissa's escape from Trevor in London being one of great fun. However if you are looking for quite a tender serious romance than this is definitely the one to try.
Rating:
Summary: An intimate look at two people & their relationship
Review: When Trevor Whitlach calls in an old debt owed to him by the infamous courtesan La Gianetta, she offers as payment a beautiful young woman who she claims is her innocent daughter. Mr. Whitlach would normally have nothing to do with such an arrangement, but he is so stuck by the girl's incredible lovliness that he agrees, thinking to make her his mistress. After all, no daughter of La Gianetta could actually be an innocent! Clarissa's married nobleman father had at least arranged for her the best education money could buy, at Bathhurst Ladies' Academy. In the very short time she has been in her mother's household, it has been so horrid that she has no doubts that going willingly with Mr. Whitlach will be her best chance to escape and find a post as a governess somewhere. Trevor is a plain-spoken man, but not without honor. Clarissa is intelligent but an idealist. They are together most of the 214 pages of this book, talking, debating, getting to know each other, and becoming friends. The story is not overburdened with adventure, suspense, and wild plot twists, but an is intimate look at two people and how their relationship grows. FAIR GAME doesn't need any fancy frills to make it an enjoyable read--Ms. Farr's solid, superb craftmanship stands on its own. Kimberly Borrowdale Under the Covers Book Reviews
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