Series: Infamous Lords, #4
Tropes & Traits: fake relationship; slow burn; reformed rake
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; London, England
Publication Date: 05.25.20
Rating: 3.5/5
Heat Level: 3/5
Lady Nina Trent is under a great deal of pressure from her grandmother, the Dowager Marchioness of Huntington to make a good match and protect her family’s good name and reputation. The Duke of Fernbridge seems the perfect candidate, even if he is more interested in his own sportsmanly prowess than anything else. The only problem is that the Duke doesn’t really seem to notice Nina. So when Lord Elliot Haverford, Baron Ralston, a well-known flirt, comes up with a plan to catch the Duke’s attention, Nina readily agrees. Elliot will feign interest in courting Nina in order to coax the competitive duke to notice her, and he’ll also teach her all about the art of seduction.
Having inherited a rundown estate and a title lean in the coffers, Elliot has his own reasons for his plan to help Nina. He’s in need of funds and her dowry would help him restore his estates. Though there are other ladies who fit the bill, Elliot is set on Nina. The more time Elliot spends with Nina, the more his feelings become all too real, even as Nina seems to be getting serious with the Duke. Elliot feels guilty, but not enough to stop him pursuing Nina, until it becomes apparent that he’s in danger, and therefore Nina is too.
I really enjoyed Elliot in this one, but I’m always a sucker for the reformed rake who learns to recognize feelings. Nina took some getting used to for me and I just kept wishing she’d stick up for herself more. She never really did, although she did at least follow her heart with her actions if not her words. I enjoyed the plot, but the pacing was just a bit odd and the final drama felt a bit anticlimactic and rather random and didn’t make all that much sense to me. This did hit on a pet peeve of mine as well. Nina was all for saying how much she trusted Elliot and yet the moment that was tested, she shut him out for days rather than allowing him to explain himself or clarify. This made it that much harder for me to like Nina and undermined their relationship too close to the end of the book for my liking. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable book overall with some good moments of humor and it was a nice way to pass the time.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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