Widowed and independent at last, Juliana Sheldon enjoyed her first affair nearly two years ago whilst stranded at a snowy inn wit3.5 stars rounded up.
Widowed and independent at last, Juliana Sheldon enjoyed her first affair nearly two years ago whilst stranded at a snowy inn with Viscount Audlington only to find he’d disappeared the next morning without a word. She thought his abrupt departure had merely wounded her pride, only to learn that her upset went much deeper when she meets him again at a country house party. He is eager to pick up where they left off, but she decides to torment him instead. Though Juliana eventually gives in to the viscount’s charms, she is thrown off once more when he begins to discuss marriage, something she was certain she’d never want again.
Lucas Trask, Viscount Audlington, has expectations to meet as the heir to an earldom. This means he must abandon his rakish ways and finally get married. He has kept Juliana in his thoughts all this time and now that they’ve met again it seems like a sign that she’s the one for him. The only catch is that he has a secret he hasn’t shared with anyone, but he of course must be open with Juliana if she agrees to marry him. Unfortunately, a sudden tragedy means Lucas must leave Juliana behind yet again and she may not be willing to give him yet another chance.
This was a sweet, lighthearted story and I enjoyed that it explored a variety of tropes. We start out with a snowed-in, only one bed, one night stand situation, then we get a second half that becomes a second chance story in which the hero falls first, all set at a house party. There was a lot going on here because that held my attention. My only issues here were with Juliana’s immature, somewhat bratty behavior, and the fact that, although her fears of being hurt were certainly understandable and relatable, she was quite wishy-washy in her behavior, and I expected more maturity from a thirty-year-old widow. I’m also a bit sensitive on the subject of babies at the moment as my husband and I face tons of pressure to reproduce and are working to decide if we want to, so the fact that babies and Juliana’s believe that she can’t have them are such a huge plot point in this story made it a struggle for me at times. If we could’ve had all those tropes without those two issues, this would’ve been a perfect book for me, but I did still enjoy it and I liked that fact that once they finally decided to be together, Juliana and Lucas created their own family and didn’t worry about what anyone else might think about any of the reasons society might shun them as a bad match. Overall, this is a quick, playful read that many will find enjoyable.
Wealthy American businessman Rafe Bowman has just arrived in London to meet Lady Natalie Blandford, the titled miss his father wants him to marry. He’Wealthy American businessman Rafe Bowman has just arrived in London to meet Lady Natalie Blandford, the titled miss his father wants him to marry. He’s got the money and looks to earn her favor even if his reputation leaves a bit to be desired.
Rafe’s sisters and their friends work to help him understand the rules of London society and engage in a little matchmaking of their own along the way. Finding a wife winds up being a bit more than Rafe expected, but soon he’ll learn that even his cynical heart is capable of great love.
I love a good underdog story and given Hannah’s position as a poor relation and lady’s companion she fits the bill. I was quite shocked by how utterly romantic Rafe turned out to be and I loved that he saw what he needed and went for it, uncaring of his father’s or anyone else’s ideas of what he should do. At first glance he and Hannah seemed like an odd pairing, but they were actually a good balance for each other. She helped temper some of his coarseness while he helped her live a little and let go of some of her stiff primness. She showed him the love and fidelity he was truly capable of, and I think this trope really worked well as a novella; it’s something that would’ve annoyed me as a full length book. It was also lovely to spend some time with the wallflowers and see them welcoming an honorary new member so kindly. This is the first of my Christmas reads that has actually put me into the spirit.
Simon Crathorne, the new Duke of Billingham, must now turn his attention to the duty of finding a suitable wife and continuing his illustrious family Simon Crathorne, the new Duke of Billingham, must now turn his attention to the duty of finding a suitable wife and continuing his illustrious family name. However, the only woman who stirs even a shred of interest at his country house party is perhaps the most inappropriate of all.
Lillian Mayhew hopes to ruin Simon’s family by revealing secrets about Simon’s father that will ruin the family’s prestigious reputation and salvage some of her own family’s tarnished honor. But when she meets and comes to know Simon, Lillian begins to question her motives. Soon the man she once wanted to ruin is the object of her desires. The two fall into a passion-filled affair, but with so many secrets around them, Simon may yet find himself betrayed and ruined.
I don’t typically care for the revenge trope, but this was a fairly different spin on it that I haven’t read before. Lillian started off being very unlikable for me, radiating poisonous rage all the time, but she displayed a lot of character development as she came to know Simon and adjust her thinking. Once she realized that Simon had also been deceived by his father, and she was able to see him for the good man he was, it was nice to see his genuine sweetness and kindness change her heart and weed out the hate that had consumed her. I was never really sure why exactly Simon found Lillian to be so remarkable, especially the meaner she was to him the more he seemed to like her (I never like that trope), so I was glad to see him being a good influence on her. It was actually quite lovely to see this development come full circle in that Lillian was also able to be there for Simon when he needed someone to support and love him. I’ve been working on some older backlist books that I have in my physical collection, though I listened to this one on audio, and I liked that it is a bit of an older publication and that it feels grittier than some of the more modern historical romances. I’m intrigued by the set up here and I think I’ll continue this series, especially since I think I may have some of the other books in my collection as well.
Since the death of her husband shortly after the marriage, Mrs. Juno Langton has found herself in the unique occupation of refinement tutor, helping ySince the death of her husband shortly after the marriage, Mrs. Juno Langton has found herself in the unique occupation of refinement tutor, helping young ladies prepare themselves for the London season and finding suitable matches. She is almost always cheerful, even with the most difficult of charges, but when she’s faced with matching her most difficult charge yet with a duke at a house party, Juno has met her most challenging task yet. The duke is rigid and unsmiling, if devastatingly handsome, and Juno’s charge is steadfastly unwilling to make any effort to get to know him.
Alexander, the Duke of Warrington, Dare to those who know him, loathes spending time in society and finds most people intolerable. He has eschewed the London season but gives in to his mother’s suggestion that he attend this house party to meet a young lady who could be his perfect duchess. However, he finds himself more provoked by the lady’s companion and her sunny nature. Dare soon goes from feeling irritation at her frequent smiles to responding with rare smiles of his own. He’s meant to be considering the young lady, not the companion, for his wife, but he soon begins to rethink his options.
This was such a fun, upbeat novella. The grumpy/sunshine trope was very well done here with an older heroine who truly was mature in her approach to relationships, not just with the hero but with other supporting characters as well. I’m also a complete sucker for a house party setting so that combined with the steam made this book a can’t miss read for me. Besides the well-developed tension and connection between the MCs here, I was also impressed by how much character development we get, especially from the hero, in such a short book. Dare is socially awkward and uptight, unable to handle changes to his plans, while Juno is happy-go-lucky and always smiling. Over the course of the book, he goes from finding her cheerfulness irritating to needing her like air and I loved seeing that grow as he changed and came out of his shell with her. I also liked the fact that she never tried to change him, even though he was rather difficult and had things he needed to work on. Rather, he changed because he wanted to be better for her. In one scene earlier on in the book Juno even accuses Dare of being incapable of deep emotional connection with anyone when he doesn’t make a connection with her young charge. Dare boldly corrects Juno’s misapprehension by saying he is indeed capable of feeling such a connection and that he feels it for her. I just adored his bluntness and how he was able to set the ever-prepared-for-anything Juno on the back foot, but in a good way, with his awkward charm. Add in the slight element of the forbidden and a lack of time for any annoying plot devices (such as the dreaded third act separation) to be deployed and this was a winning story for me.
Avid horseman Nicholas St. Claire, third son of the Marquess of Averstow, was a brilliant cavalry officer until his horse fell on him during a battle Avid horseman Nicholas St. Claire, third son of the Marquess of Averstow, was a brilliant cavalry officer until his horse fell on him during a battle and shattered his legs. He was forced to return to England a different man and has become rather a hermit, hiding out on one of his brother’s country estates. But his mother is adamant that he should marry, and Nicholas is equally sure that he doesn’t want to condemn a wife to a future with him and his brokenness, which he is sure she can only hate him for. He is utterly convinced no one will be able to see past his glaringly obvious weakness.
Amelia Blackstock has spent the last ten years caring for her ailing grandmother and then her father. She was devastated by her father’s death six months ago but has been enjoying a little taste of freedom since. Unfortunately, she took that freedom a bit too far and now faces ruination if discovered. When Lord Nicholas finds her in his stables in the throes of a crying jag, he tries to make her feel better. That kindness blows up in his face when the two are found alone together and Nicholas offers to marry Amelia to stave off further scandal, as long as she’ll agree to a platonic relationship and separate beds.
Amelia has little choice but to agree to Nicholas’ terms, but as her feelings for him deepen into something more, she wants more from him. Nicholas is also developing feelings for Amelia, but he’s afraid to reveal the full extent of his scars lest she reject him. With all of his friends from his army troop descending for a house party and the need to hide one of them from charges of treason, there is plenty to pull Nicholas and Amelia apart and Nicholas has to decide how much he’s willing to risk if it means securing his own happiness.
I’m so sad to see one of my favorite series come to an end, but I do think this story sends it out on a happy note. I was delighted to see all the characters from the previous books come together on the page in this book and that they also had a role in driving the plot, rather than just being included for gratuity’s sake. Nicholas and Amelia were both charming and vulnerable in their own ways and I especially loved the fact that Amelia was so unapologetic about her feelings and willing to face her fears by sharing them. She challenged Nicholas to see himself differently, to question his own desires and see the damage his fear was causing. She knew what she wanted and refused to settle for less, and thankfully he was eventually able to meet her on her level. I loved that open communication that was established between these two and how they supported each other even before they truly understood or fully trusted each other. The development shown by Amelia and Nicholas as individuals and as a couple was excellent and I loved that we got plenty of steam here and that it was an integral part of what drove the plot and relationship growth between them. This was an excellent book with a grumpy, scarred hero and a sweet heroine with plenty of backbone and it definitely worked for me. I’m sad to see the series come to a close but happy that it ended so well and excited for Shana’s next work.
Lord Redmond Wodehouse is happy to be home and relieved of his duties to the navy. He doesn’t believe he deserves the honorary title bestowed upon himLord Redmond Wodehouse is happy to be home and relieved of his duties to the navy. He doesn’t believe he deserves the honorary title bestowed upon him for his courage in battle and is plagued by terrible memories. He is hopeful that spending the summer at his family’s country seat with his brother and friends will help assuage his guilt over a shipboard accident that occurred during his watch. He’s most looking forward to being reunited with Lucas, his sometimes lover and friend, who is sure to ease the worries from his mind.
Lucas Salterford is eager to return to sea and only accepted the invitation to summer in Yorkshire because he has been head over heels in love with Red for years. He’s hoping this lengthy house party will be the perfect opportunity to declare himself to Red and show that he’s more than a casual good time.
But Red is willfully oblivious to Luc’s stronger feelings, keeping him at arm’s length despite Luc’s attempts to get Red to discuss what is troubling him. But when Luc is badly injured in a game gone wrong, it only solidifies Red’s every negative belief about himself and his inability to protect those he cares about. Luc refuses to accept that negativity and becomes even more determined to open Red’s eyes to the truth, even as Red continues to resist him at every turn.
I really enjoyed the depth and emotion of this book. Lucas was an especially endearing character and his openness and refusal to be shamed for his feelings made it impossible not to root for him. Red was harder to deal with, simply because his negative feelings about himself were difficult to read in and of themselves. The grief surrounding my own life right now made reading about Red’s grief resonate with me but also made it a challenge for me to read. For that reason, it took me a while to get through this one, and some of Red’s dialogues and inner monologues on how he viewed himself became a bit repetitive at times. Overall, though, I enjoyed these two characters and I think this is one of the strongest book’s Merry has written yet in terms of emotional depth and development.
Justin Wiley, now the Earl of Brandon, has a painful past since his father banished him for reasons that are unknown, but much speculated about by socJustin Wiley, now the Earl of Brandon, has a painful past since his father banished him for reasons that are unknown, but much speculated about by society at large. Despite having been the Earl for six years now, Justin is still very serious and dour. Nonetheless, since a year has now passed since his stepmother’s death, he must take responsibility for his half-sister, which means bringing her back to Everleigh Park, the seat of the earldom, no matter how much she resists the idea.
Maria now loathes the half-brother she used to dote upon and her friend and neighbor, Lady Estelle Lamarr, notes this animosity immediately. When Justin comes to fetch his sister, he also invites Estelle and her twin brother to spend a couple of weeks at Everleigh to help Maria settle in. Though Estelle has taken Justin into some dislike, she agrees to come for the sake of her young friend.
Justin has gathered not only his sister, but extended family from both sides in the hopes of showing her that she is not alone. As these previously separated branches come together in discussion, family secrets are revealed, even things Justin never knew, and he finds himself longing for a countess of his own. He thinks Estelle is perfect for the role, but she is equally certain he could never be the man for her.
This is my first ever Mary Balogh book, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I have to say I was rather pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it. This was rather different than most romances I think, almost an homage to the highly descriptive style of Jane Austen. At first, I found this style to be rather solemn and I struggled a bit to get into it, but once I had my bearings, I actually found it to be very relaxing and immersive. I definitely would’ve benefited from reading some of the other Westcott books, just because of the surfeit of side characters, but this in no way detracted from my understanding or enjoyment of this book, other than a struggle to keep everyone straight. That said, I think I would’ve struggled with all of these characters anyway just because of the nature of this elaborate house party bringing together all the different branches of Justin’s and Maria’s families.
This book may not have had as much steam as I typically enjoy, but I think it was rather a case of quality over quantity. That’s not to say that this book was highly explicit either, but I think the slow burn between Justin and Estelle, combined with the sheer sensuality of the scene when they finally do come together, made this surprisingly sexy in a way that really worked for me. The emotional quality of the relationship development between Estelle and Justin and its ultimate culmination was just beautiful for me. I adored the fact that here we had this hero who had been so hurt by people he loved in the past that he now keeps himself totally closed off and doesn’t reveal his emotions to anyone, but he was open and totally raw with Estelle. That particular scene sold me on this book and on their relationship as she helped him work through his pain and he faced it head on, letting her see his very soul with this sort of intense vulnerability that I think is quite rare, both in life and in fiction. I loved it. Additionally, I loved the interactions between all of the supporting characters, except at times Maria, though she at least did do a great amount of growing up over the course of the story. I think my favorite relationship besides that between the MCs was the bond Estelle had with her twin, Bertrand, and now I find myself hoping he’ll get his own book. Either way, I will definitely be reading more from this author simply because of how real and raw her characters felt to me and how believable and emotional the relationship between Justin and Estelle wound up being.
Lord Barrett Landers, Viscount Copeland, has just been decommissioned from his position as a naval officer after the defeat of Napoleon but he can’t sLord Barrett Landers, Viscount Copeland, has just been decommissioned from his position as a naval officer after the defeat of Napoleon but he can’t stomach returning to his family estate just yet. He has no interest in the marriage his mother will no doubt try to force upon him so he’s happy to accept an invitation to spend the summer with his friends at Wodehouse Abbey in Yorkshire.
Barrett never expects to be tempted by the estate’s owner, Anthony Wodehouse, the Duke of Malton. Since being widowed several years ago, Anthony only wants to spend as much time as possible in the country with his beloved children. He’s very aware of his duties to his family, his tenants, and to parliament, and he’s not thrilled to have his retreat overrun by guests. But when Barrett begins to stir feelings he never thought possible for himself, Anthony begins to rethink his priorities.
Anthony and Barrett fall into a passionate affair that challenges their ideas on duty and happiness, but everything is thrown into turmoil when Anthony’s overbearing aunt arrives and invites even more guests for a matchmaking house party.
I love a good house party trope and the original house party taking place here was excellent; the second one with the more or less uninvited guests was mostly an exercise in frustration though, as it was meant to be. I liked this couple more than I thought I would. These two brought out the best in one another and that was quite endearing. I did find myself losing patience with Anthony and his refusal to stand up for himself, which thankfully did eventually happen though it was a long time coming. I got a little annoyed with both MCs actually for taking so long in declaring themselves to each other when I was longing for open communication, though I must say this annoyance didn’t come close to my frustration with the female characters in this book. [Communication is sexy, and I don’t think we get enough of it in romance]. Anyway, once that declaration did come, phew it was well worth the wait. I enjoyed this story and will be continuing the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own....more
Despite the fortune she has for a dowry, Alice Lusk is overlooked by most of society’s eligible bachelors because of crippling sh4.5 stars rounded up.
Despite the fortune she has for a dowry, Alice Lusk is overlooked by most of society’s eligible bachelors because of crippling shyness. At this rate, she’ll be forced to marry a man who only wants her money so she needs to make a change and learn how to attract a man on her own merits, and she knows the perfect man to teach her.
Christopher “Kit” Ward is working on leveraging his natural social charm into opening a supper club in New York City with his best friend. He’s tried everything he can think of to hire the city’s top chef, without success, so when he learns that said chef is a close friend of Alice’s, he agrees to give her scandalous lessons in exchange for access to the famous recipes.
Their private lessons develop into something a bit more passionate, and Alice learns much faster than Kit could’ve expected. The rest of Society notices the changes in Alice as well, but Kit isn’t sure he can let her go.
I really loved both of these MCs and lately that has been a rarity for me so I was super excited to have both a hero and a heroine I could really root for. Kit and Alice both had depths even they weren’t aware of, so their character growth was off the charts, and I loved that they grew and learned more about themselves and each other essentially at the same time. I also enjoyed the fact that Alice helped Kit see his own self-worth and Kit helped Alice find the confidence and backbone she’d been afraid to display before thanks to her mother’s dreadful behavior. I was happy to see that lady put in her place and in fact, could’ve used more of that and been happy. This was a sizzling slow burn between Kit and Alice, and I really enjoyed that build-up, but I would’ve been truly delighted by at least one more on page intimate scene between them after their relationship was solidified and their marriage confirmed; I still loved the book, that would’ve just been the cherry on top for me. I will say this book was also quite a bit grittier than I expected and surprised me a bit, which is all I can say lest I risk spoilers, but I still very much enjoyed it. Overall, I was surprised at how much I liked Kit, especially given his rakish tendencies, but I think it was his low view of himself and the lack of confidence he hid beneath his charm that did it for me; I loved seeing Alice uncover him as much as he was uncovering her. I also think Alice worked so well as a heroine for me because she wasn’t so in-your-face feminist, was in fact quite shy, and yet she stood up for what she wanted for her life and refused to let herself be cowed or settle for less. I liked these two together, I enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Nellie and Preston, and this story worked for me far better than its predecessor. I would’ve enjoyed a bit more sexy times, but I loved this couple, this is one of my favorite covers of the year, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
Beautiful, entirely too brash, Lillian Bowman has learned that her American mannerisms and independent streak aren’t the done thing in England. Her paBeautiful, entirely too brash, Lillian Bowman has learned that her American mannerisms and independent streak aren’t the done thing in England. Her parents want her to make a match with a titled gentleman but so far, they all disapprove of her, most vehemently Marcus, the snobbish, stuffy Earl of Westcliff.
When Marcus finds Lillian alone in a garden, he shocks them both by taking her into his arms for a kiss. Lillian is amazed to feel such passion for a man she despises and can only be grateful that no one saw them. Marcus has always had a firm hold on his emotions, but with Lillian all of his stability goes out the window and he’s soon wondering if he could perhaps make the unsuitable, thoroughly enticing woman his wife.
I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read this book, but I really enjoyed it. Marcus and Lillian had a great enemies to lovers tension and I loved how unapologetic she was about being herself. It was nice to see her turn Marcus’ world upside down and leave him questioning everything he thought he wanted in a wife. She helped him come out from under the weight of expectations that had been placed upon him and choose something for himself and his own happiness for once. I loved how devoted he wound up being and how much sweetness and caring he had hiding beneath that staid exterior. It was nice to see him also bring out some maturity in Lillian so that they each brought out the best in one another. These two made a great couple and I really liked how protective Marcus was of Lillian in the end. This book will, of course, be going on my keeper shelf.
Someone did conduct a tryst in the library during the Parkhurst’s ball and Charlotte Highwood seeks to prove it wasn’t her, despite the rumors flowingSomeone did conduct a tryst in the library during the Parkhurst’s ball and Charlotte Highwood seeks to prove it wasn’t her, despite the rumors flowing about her. She’s been compromised by being found alone with Piers Brandon, the Marquess of Granville, and she’ll have to marry the cold, arrogant, devastatingly handsome man unless she can somehow repair the damage to her reputation.
Piers may be older than Charlotte, but she’s convinced she knows much more about emotion than he does, though he surprises her by revealing a set of skills she hadn’t expected of a marquess. Soon Piers has her heart melting towards him and Charlotte longs to uncover the more painful aspects of his past which he keeps hidden. She must decide if she really cares to prove her innocence or just give in to her feelings for a man who’s determined never to fall in love.
The humor of this story was very welcome in my world at the moment. Piers was starched and stuffy and while I did at times find Charlotte frustrating and annoying, her persistent optimism and lightheartedness were good for him. She brought him out of his shell and enabled him to open himself up to loving and being loved in a way he hadn’t since he was a young child. Charlotte wasn’t my favorite, and neither was Piers sometimes, but I think together they really worked and made a solid couple. I really enjoyed their dialogue and their falling in love process, though quick, seemed natural and felt very real. I definitely related to Charlotte’s difficulty in her relationship with her well-meaning but overbearing mother and how evident the love between them still was.
What I was not a big fan of here was the plot. The mystery we were supposed to feel never really manifested for me and some of the characters who were I think meant to be comedic were just annoying to me, mostly young Edmund. I didn’t much like his sisters, Delia and Frances, either and I really wish Frances had gotten some sort of actual set down or punishment for her abominable treatment of Charlotte.
Charlotte was already ruined and needed to marry Piers so the pretense of needing to discover the identity of this other couple was a bit flat and seemed pointless. I did like that Piers and Charlotte got a lot of on page time together and the steamy scenes between them were on point. I loved how possessive Piers became of her and how Charlotte was able to take a step back and realize when he was trying to push her away just to see if he could. It may have taken her a bit, but she figured him out and learned what he needed to believe she truly loved him and feel comfortable opening himself up. I loved that he wasn’t scared to make her his wife, even if he was initially very much afraid of his own feelings. This was a light-hearted and humorous story and while I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would, it was definitely still a fun read.
Olivia Moreland has made a business out of discrediting those who pretend to be mediums as a way to fleece unsuspecting grievers of their money. When Olivia Moreland has made a business out of discrediting those who pretend to be mediums as a way to fleece unsuspecting grievers of their money. When Lord Stephen St. Leger seeks her expertise in vetting the supposed psychic who has attached herself to his mother, she can’t deny that the foreboding she feels at his old, castle-like estate is very real, nor can she discount the near instant chemistry she has with Stephen.
Newly returned from America, Stephen hasn’t lived at Blackhope Hall since his older brother married the woman he thought he loved. With his brother’s death, Stephen has been forced to return to claim the title and finds his mother has been completely taken in by a medium. Stephen believes this woman is a grasping fraud and sets out to reveal her duplicity with Olivia’s help, though he can’t help being a little distracted by the connection he feels with her almost immediately upon their meeting.
This book had a wild plot that tended to focus more on mystery than romance, but I never felt like the romance actually suffered or that the relationship between Olivia and Stephen wasn’t believable. Their chemistry and connection were so palpable and undeniable that the romance remained intact, and I loved the fact that Stephen and Olivia were working together to solve a mystery. Much of the drama and plot driving force here was conflict outside their interpersonal relationship and that kept the angst low while still keeping me enthralled and wanting to keep reading (in this case, listening), and that’s what I want in every book I read, though it is increasingly hard to find. Though, I will say it did have much more of a paranormal aspect than I had initially expected, this did not lessen my enjoyment of the story. I really liked the unconventionality of this couple and their romance; the pacing held my attention, and the unique characters were charming and easy to root for. I’ve been reading this series all out of order, but that hasn’t lessened my enjoyment and I’ll continue to do so as I work to fill in the gaps of what I haven’t yet read.
Daisy Bowman is the last of her friends remaining unmarried and her father is furious at her lack of success in securing a titled husband. He’s given Daisy Bowman is the last of her friends remaining unmarried and her father is furious at her lack of success in securing a titled husband. He’s given her an ultimatum: find a husband by the end of the season or marry the man of his choosing, cutthroat businessman Matthew Swift.
Daisy is shocked and determined not to fall in line with her father’s plan. She’ll do anything to find someone else to marry besides her father’s crony whom she’s never liked. But when she meets Matthew again, Daisy is even more surprised to find that he’s incredibly charming and they have an undeniable sensual chemistry together. Soon Daisy comes to realize that the man she thought she hated is actually perfect for her.
But Matthew has a scandalous secret and its revelation could destroy the fragile love they’ve established together.
I’m a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, mostly because Daisy hasn’t been my favorite supporting character in the other wallflower books; though I can definitely relate to her bookishness, her tendency to have her head in the clouds is something I definitely can’t resonate with. Her immediate rejection of her father’s decision to marry her off to Matthew and her description of him doesn’t make her seem very kind either, but she’s quick to amend her views when reunited with Matthew after not seeing him for several years. Matthew’s pining for Daisy is what got me in this one. I always love a hero who’s secretly been in love with the heroine for years. It just melts my heart and that’s what happened here, though of course Matthew came with a secret that could keep him and Daisy apart despite her newfound interest, so he tries to put her off. Thankfully, Daisy was having none of it and went after Matthew in a ruthless bit of courtship, which I loved. I also enjoyed seeing them work through the issues Matthew faced together, along with the rest of her friends and family, showing Matthew what it was like to have people he could depend on at his side. Matthew is also responsible for some of the swooniest dialogues I’ve ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed this listen, especially as it came during what is turning into a terrible book slump for me.
Kate Daltry doesn’t believe a happy ever after is in store for her anymore, thanks to her stepmother’s machinations. Now, with her stepmother forcing Kate Daltry doesn’t believe a happy ever after is in store for her anymore, thanks to her stepmother’s machinations. Now, with her stepmother forcing her to attend a prince’s ball whilst pretending to be her stepsister, Kate is miserable. She doesn’t expect to meet the prince and engage in a flirtatious battle of wills that can ultimately lead nowhere. Gabriel is betrothed to a Russian princess who will bring the wealth he needs to maintain his castle and its inhabitants.
Gabriel’s fiancé is a lovely woman, but he doesn’t love her, and he can’t help but be distracted by beautiful, impoverished Kate even if he should be wooing the princess instead. Kate and Gabriel may have fallen in love, but circumstances seem destined to keep them apart, unless Gabriel can set aside his princely nobility and follow his heart instead.
This was a very fun take on the classic Cinderella story and a great escape from the monotony of some office work for me. Kate’s situation was definitely frustrating, as it was meant to be, but I loved that she was able to finally make her own life with her godmother, Henry, away from her stepmother’s machinations. Sidenote, I loved Henry’s character with her unapologetic brashness and disregard for accepted decorum. Gabriel’s gruffness was also inexplicably charming, and I loved how befuddled he seemed to be by his reaction to Kate. Though he did make some annoying assumptions about Kate and her circumstances at first, those didn’t last very long. Gabriel saw through her disguise almost immediately, which I also loved, and pursued her despite her resistance because he just couldn't seem to help himself. I wasn’t the hugest fan of this, but it did work here, especially since Kate was more than capable of holding her own with him. Gabriel might’ve been gruff and princely on the outside, but he was really a big softy who just cared for the misfits of his family and wanted to see them well looked-after. My only other real complaint here is how often Kate laments about being old and the loss of her nubile years and beauty. She’s only 23 so this isn’t exactly what I want to be thinking about when I’m – ahem – past that age in particular. Otherwise, Gabriel and Kate were a cute couple, the side characters were entertaining, and this story was a great escape from the real world and well worth the read.
Niki (mustreadalltheromance)
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