Series: The Brides of St. Ives, #4
Traits & Tropes: damaged, titled hero, suspense; gothic feel
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; England, 1879
Publication Date: 06.09.19
Heat Rating: 4/5
Rating: 5 stars!
Oliver Sterling, the Duke of Kendal, has spent his life in near total isolation at his mansion, Horncliffe Manor. An orphan almost since he can remember, his only remaining family member is his "keeper" Mr. Winters. Oliver has been convinced since childhood that he is a monster and lives apart from the world, surrounded by terrible rumors and fear and filled with loneliness. When he sees a painting of a beautiful woman, he instructs Mr. Winters to find her, marry her by proxy, and bring her back as his new duchess.
Rebecca Caine is the daughter of a mere squire with no such loft aspirations as marriage to a duke. She is shocked to learn that, due to her father's gambling debts, she must marry the Duke of Kendal or her family will lose everything. With no other option, Rebecca agrees, though she fears the new husband she's yet to actually see in the light, though he is astonishingly gentle with her. Even though she hasn't fully seen him, he seems perfectly ordinary to her and she wonders just what is going on in her new home. Between the unsettling noises in the manor and the odd behavior of the staff and villagers, Rebecca sets out to unravel the mysteries of her new home and the people in it.
This book had a great gothic feel of suspense throughout, even if some things were rather predictable. It put me much in mind of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, one of my all time favorites, with a villian a la Mrs. Danvers. I also really loved Oliver and Rebecca as a couple and how strong they became together through everything they had to deal with. This was my first read from this author but now I'll be checking out the rest of this series for sure.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rebecca Caine is the daughter of a mere squire with no such loft aspirations as marriage to a duke. She is shocked to learn that, due to her father's gambling debts, she must marry the Duke of Kendal or her family will lose everything. With no other option, Rebecca agrees, though she fears the new husband she's yet to actually see in the light, though he is astonishingly gentle with her. Even though she hasn't fully seen him, he seems perfectly ordinary to her and she wonders just what is going on in her new home. Between the unsettling noises in the manor and the odd behavior of the staff and villagers, Rebecca sets out to unravel the mysteries of her new home and the people in it.
This book had a great gothic feel of suspense throughout, even if some things were rather predictable. It put me much in mind of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, one of my all time favorites, with a villian a la Mrs. Danvers. I also really loved Oliver and Rebecca as a couple and how strong they became together through everything they had to deal with. This was my first read from this author but now I'll be checking out the rest of this series for sure.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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