Series: The Silver Foxes of Westminster, #6
Tropes & Traits: damaged hero; unconventional, damaged heroine; antihero; forced marriage
Publication Date: 03.15.19
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; Hampshire, England, 1881
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Rating: 4 stars
Lord Mark Pearson, the Earl of Gatwick, has been known for years as the best friend of notorious villain Lord Theodore Shayles. For the past 25 years Mark has found himself under Shayles' thumb and not known how to escape. Now he's finally executed revenge on Shayles for a nightmarish event Shayles perpetrated over 20 years ago and which still haunts Mark. He hopes to finally attain the peace he's longed for his entire life with Shayles now imprisoned but with him threatening Mark's life upon his release, any peace seems likely to be short-lived.
Growing up in New Orleans as the daughter of a white woman and a black man, Angelica is no stranger to challenges. But even she is shocked to learn that in order to receive her inheritance from her adopted grandfather, one that will save her from penury, she must go to England and marry his great nephew, whom she's never met. Angelica has learned to be wary of men, but she is stronger than most women and determined never to be helpless again. She will put her fears aside and focus on the future, which means persuading Mark to marry her.
Mark has barely even looked at a woman in nearly 25 years so he's shocked and rather appalled by his body's reaction to Angelica, but he's also pleasantly surprised when she notices his art and doesn't see him as Shayles' lackey. He doesn't want a wife but agrees to marry her in order to keep his home as per the stipulations of his great uncle's will.
Angelica immediately recognizes that something is dreadfully wrong with Mark and is amazed by her genuine curiosity about him. When Shayles learns about Angelica, he threatens her in addition to his threats on Mark's life and Mark must quickly find a way to leave his fears behind in order to protect the woman he's rapidly fallen in love with.
Mark was a very different sort of hero. He got caught up in the wrong crowd at a young age when he was vulnerable after his father's death and could never quite escape. He was much older an more vulnerable than the usual in this genre and Angelica was much stronger than is typical. It is she who brings Mark out of himself a bit and he begins to be overwhelmed by emotions. He's what I would normally consider to be a weak hero and yet I liked him. We have a truly insane and quite formidable villain here, who could've been handled better by the hero, but the fact that our heroine is the first one willing to fight in defense of the hero makes this a unique story as well. The heroine essentially helps the hero become a man again and gives him a reason to fight.
The feelings between these two developed quite quickly, but it was believable still, especially given Mark's lack of affection in his life and Angelica's determination. I think the ending could've been a bit better in terms of some redemption for Mark, but it was still satisfying overall and an enjoyable read.
I voluntarily read a reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Growing up in New Orleans as the daughter of a white woman and a black man, Angelica is no stranger to challenges. But even she is shocked to learn that in order to receive her inheritance from her adopted grandfather, one that will save her from penury, she must go to England and marry his great nephew, whom she's never met. Angelica has learned to be wary of men, but she is stronger than most women and determined never to be helpless again. She will put her fears aside and focus on the future, which means persuading Mark to marry her.
Mark has barely even looked at a woman in nearly 25 years so he's shocked and rather appalled by his body's reaction to Angelica, but he's also pleasantly surprised when she notices his art and doesn't see him as Shayles' lackey. He doesn't want a wife but agrees to marry her in order to keep his home as per the stipulations of his great uncle's will.
Angelica immediately recognizes that something is dreadfully wrong with Mark and is amazed by her genuine curiosity about him. When Shayles learns about Angelica, he threatens her in addition to his threats on Mark's life and Mark must quickly find a way to leave his fears behind in order to protect the woman he's rapidly fallen in love with.
Mark was a very different sort of hero. He got caught up in the wrong crowd at a young age when he was vulnerable after his father's death and could never quite escape. He was much older an more vulnerable than the usual in this genre and Angelica was much stronger than is typical. It is she who brings Mark out of himself a bit and he begins to be overwhelmed by emotions. He's what I would normally consider to be a weak hero and yet I liked him. We have a truly insane and quite formidable villain here, who could've been handled better by the hero, but the fact that our heroine is the first one willing to fight in defense of the hero makes this a unique story as well. The heroine essentially helps the hero become a man again and gives him a reason to fight.
The feelings between these two developed quite quickly, but it was believable still, especially given Mark's lack of affection in his life and Angelica's determination. I think the ending could've been a bit better in terms of some redemption for Mark, but it was still satisfying overall and an enjoyable read.
I voluntarily read a reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2741884189?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
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