Meriden Park by Julie Daines

 Mary Grace grew up in Calcutta, the daughter of some unknown mixed heritage, and the ward of a generous English woman, Lady Welling. When Lord Welling dies in India, Lady Welling returns to her family estate near Nottingham England, bringing a reluctant Mary Grace with her.  Will Mary Grace, with her dark skin and shadowed pass find a home in England?  One of the first men Mary Grace meets on arrival is the saucy Robert Markham.  He is enamored with the tales of Robin Hood and secretly acts the part of greenwood crusader, trying to right the wrongs of society. The two bond over an affinity for wandering around the woods at night, but get caught up in a smuggling ring that proves dangerous.  

This was an odd little retelling of the story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. The author's attempt to tie the legend into a Regency romance is a bit eye-roll worthy.  Much of Mary Grace's and Robert's behavior is so far outside what would have been considered socially acceptable for the time period that a veteran Regency romance reader will have a hard time.  If you can let that go, however, underneath is a fun, lighthearted story with all the stock characters and plot twists readers of the genre have come to expect. I have read other Julie Daines novels, and none are going to win the Pulitzer prize, but they are decent samples of the genre.  This was not my favorite, but I finished it and will probably read more from the author. (240 p. 2022)