Redheaded Jill

I have listened to this book twice. I like it that much. I also have been repeatedly disappointed by audiobooks lately, so I wanted to listen to something I knew I loved.

SPOILERS AHEAD

This book starts with a young noblewoman whose mother is a gypsy. (But they tell everyone she’s Spanish.) Her mother dies, and her father is accused of trying to poison the king. Her father is arrested and proclaimed dead (though he lives). The young woman, Mina, is rescued by her aunt and goes to live with the gypsies. (They fake her death.) The townspeople know she lives, but they keep her secret because they love her and she is a gifted healer.

Garret is a young nobleman who is presumed dead, but returns home to prove that his uncle had his family killed overseas. His estate had been sold to Mina’s father, but since he is proclaimed dead and a criminal the estate is returned to Garret. He is suspicious of everyone, suspecting they might be cronies working for his uncle.

Mina wears a veil and pretends to have smallpox to avoid Garret, but she needs to get into her garden for medicinal herbs. Their paths continuously cross and they start to fall in love. He thinks she must be working for his uncle because she is so secretive, and it takes him a long time to figure out that she is actually a noblewoman in hiding.

Mina’s aunt and Garret’s valet are two amazing characters. They add so much banter and side plots. I love it.

Things all end happily, families are reunited, villains are slain, couples make up.

This story is simple and cheesy and romantic and there is some… gratuity. But overall it is a great read (or listen).

4/5 stars