Series: Standalone Anthology
Traits & Tropes: arranged marriage/marriage of convenience; I've loved you for years, second chance
Publication Date: 01.28.20
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency
Rating: 4 stars
Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day: Childhood friends Justin and Lady Sophie have always been opposites and are surely ill-suited. Their mothers think differently and Justin, now the Marquess of Fontaine, is coming to agree with them. He's always loved Sophie, but with her scandalous reputation, convincing her they can have a future together won't be easy.
I'm a sucker for the 'I've loved you for years' premise and this was a sweet second chance story. It's a novella, so of course everything came together rapidly but Justin was a lovely hero and he and Sophie made a great couple.
The Duke's Treasure by Minerva Spencer: Former solider Beaumont Halliwell has finally returned home after his older brother's death and must assume responsibility for the impoverished dukedom. As the new Duke of Wroxton, Beau is drowning in debt and must marry for money. Shrewish, plain-looking Josephine Loman has been fixated by Beau since she first saw him, but he doesn't even remember her. Beau is filled with rage at his entire situation and, especially since his former fiance betrayed him to marry his brother, Beau has no use for marriage. Though their situation is forced, Jo finally has the man of her dreams and Beau just might find himself happy as well, if he can see the benefits of his unwanted circumstances.
I love this author and her writing is great, but this one was not for me at all. I couldn't stand Beau as a hero, he had to many other woman issues for me, and shrewish Jo wasn't much better. I did appreciate their maturity in communicating with each other, but that was about it, not to mention her father's death hanging over the whole thing along with an abrupt ending, although even fleshed out into a full length book, I'm still not sure I'd have liked the main characters.
The Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden: Diana Lambson is the eldest of five sisters and with the death of their father and the despondency of their mother, it falls to her to save the family. Charles Brook, the Earl of Barrington, needs to repair his reputation to ensure the completion of a business deal. When he proposes a marriage of convenience to solve both of their problems, Diana is hard-pressed to refuse and even more surprised to find she actually likes her new husband.
I enjoyed this short story; it's always nice to see a reformed rake and the friendship that developed between Diana and Brook was endearing.
This was a solid set and I especially enjoyed the first and last stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I'm a sucker for the 'I've loved you for years' premise and this was a sweet second chance story. It's a novella, so of course everything came together rapidly but Justin was a lovely hero and he and Sophie made a great couple.
The Duke's Treasure by Minerva Spencer: Former solider Beaumont Halliwell has finally returned home after his older brother's death and must assume responsibility for the impoverished dukedom. As the new Duke of Wroxton, Beau is drowning in debt and must marry for money. Shrewish, plain-looking Josephine Loman has been fixated by Beau since she first saw him, but he doesn't even remember her. Beau is filled with rage at his entire situation and, especially since his former fiance betrayed him to marry his brother, Beau has no use for marriage. Though their situation is forced, Jo finally has the man of her dreams and Beau just might find himself happy as well, if he can see the benefits of his unwanted circumstances.
I love this author and her writing is great, but this one was not for me at all. I couldn't stand Beau as a hero, he had to many other woman issues for me, and shrewish Jo wasn't much better. I did appreciate their maturity in communicating with each other, but that was about it, not to mention her father's death hanging over the whole thing along with an abrupt ending, although even fleshed out into a full length book, I'm still not sure I'd have liked the main characters.
The Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden: Diana Lambson is the eldest of five sisters and with the death of their father and the despondency of their mother, it falls to her to save the family. Charles Brook, the Earl of Barrington, needs to repair his reputation to ensure the completion of a business deal. When he proposes a marriage of convenience to solve both of their problems, Diana is hard-pressed to refuse and even more surprised to find she actually likes her new husband.
I enjoyed this short story; it's always nice to see a reformed rake and the friendship that developed between Diana and Brook was endearing.
This was a solid set and I especially enjoyed the first and last stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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