Series: N/A
Traits & Tropes: marriage of convenience; compromised; titled hero; childhood friends; exiled hero; heroine in disguise; independent heroine
Publication Date: 10.26.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; Antigua/London, England
Heat Level: 4
Rating: 4/5
Lady Ravenna Huntley understands that her position as daughter and sister of a duke means she’s expected to marry, but she’s loath to do so. She’s refused several suitors, one in particular who didn’t want to take no for an answer, causing her to run away, even if she knows it’s an impulsive choice, in a bid to maintain her freedom.
Courtland Chase, grandson of and reluctant heir to the Duke of Ashvale was sent away by his stepmother who wanted his title for her own son and claimed Courtland to have tragically died. He’s borne that shame his entire adult life, even as he earned his own fortune and settled amongst his mother’s people in Antigua. He never intended to return to England, despite his inheritance, but when he’s caught in a compromising position with a prominent heiress, very publicly and just when he’s been informed of his inheritance of the title, the two have no choice but to marry to curtail the scandal.
Neither is terribly thrilled with the circumstances, but Ravenna and Courtland can’t ignore the attraction between them either and soon it seems this may be more than a mere marriage of convenience.
I was nervous about this book after how disappointed I was in the previous book, especially as Howard seems to be very hit or miss for me, but I am ever hopeful, so I wanted to give it a try and I’m happy I did. I liked this book so much more than the previous one and it’s such a huge improvement. We still have an obstinate, willful, sometimes impulsive heroine, but she has an obvious heart of gold and is quick to empathize with the pain of others, especially her new husband, which makes her easy to root for most of the time. It doesn’t hurt that our hero is hard-headed and his attempts to keep her safe are high-handed and arrogant most of the time. Ravenna and Courtland both had a lot to learn about love and relationships and they were actually really good for her. Their having been friends as children and grown up together added another layer to their relationship that I enjoyed, without this feeling like a second chance story (good for me since I’ve grown to really dislike the second chance trope). Courtland had a lot of insecurities to work through and his feelings of low self-worth were readily apparent. Fortunately, Ravenna was having none of that and helped him see what was really important. I’m not sure Ravenna would’ve worked for me as a heroine with any other hero and vice versa for Courtland. These two were just really well matched and each managed to shore up the other’s weak spots perfectly. I enjoyed seeing them both find the unconditional acceptance they’d each been craving, first in each other and then in others around them. I’m now hopeful for further installments of this series and looking forward to checking them out.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1356818657
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4630808695
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