Series: Once Upon a Scandal, #4
Traits & Tropes: marriage of convenience; keeping secrets
Publication Date: 06.21.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England, 1834
Heat Level: 2
Rating: 3/5
Alicia, the Dowager Countess Lindsay is enjoying the freedom her widowhood brings, away from the control of the men in her life. Now she can publish her political critiques for public consumption, albeit anonymously. She hopes to bring about meaningful political changes and her research brings her into the orbit of candidate for prime minister, Lord Inverray. She’s not prepared to be charmed by him or to find that he’s an honorable man when, after she is compromised by a very public wardrobe malfunction, he preserves her reputation by declaring them engaged. Alicia is left with her honor intact and a secret to keep from her new husband.
Niall Campbell, Marquess of Inverray and future Duke of Kilmorrow, has devoted the last ten years of his life to his work in the House of Commons, trying to improve life for his fellow Scotsmen. Now he’s so close to attaining the leadership of his party, but his success is threatened by harsh criticisms made against him in a popular political chapbook. Niall is determined to learn the author’s identity and save his campaign, but his plans are thrown rather off course when his new wife proves to be exceptionally distracting.
I have some mixed feelings about this book. Overall, for me, the focus on the political machinations aspect of the story was too heavy and the romance too light. Alicia and Niall did demonstrate some nice relationship development as they learned to openly communicate with one another, but this was very late in coming and wasn’t quite enough for me after how quick Alicia was to blame Niall for every bit of discord in their relationship despite her own dishonesty. I found Alicia to be very judgmental of Niall, extending her experiences of the two men in her life (her father and her late husband) to a man she’d never even met. She came off as very arrogant to me and her glorification of her manipulation of her husband and his friends didn’t sit well with me. Niall was trying his best to be respectful of her and allow her time to adjust and this incensed Alicia, despite the fact that she’d given him absolutely no indication that she might be interested in him. She was downright belligerent at times and that, combined with how bogged down we get into politics just detracted from the romance for me. Even near the end when we finally started to get some delicious and much longed-for communication, Alicia was still abrasive and seemed to have fairly little respect for Niall’s hard work on behalf of others, mostly just pointing out his weaknesses. I wouldn’t have minded the rather interesting focus on politics, but there was also very little discernible chemistry between Niall and Alicia, especially given her deception and short-sightedness, so I was left not quite satisfied by the romance. On the whole, this was a strong story, but not a favorite for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3005247955
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4130452650
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