Series: Castles Ever After, #2
Traits & Tropes: I've loved you for years; second son; heroine has been betrothed to hero's absentee older brother for years; prizefighter hero; forbidden; slow burn; childhood frenemies
Publication Date: 12.30.14
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; Kent, England
Heat Level: 4
Rating: 4 stars!
Narration Rating: 4/5
Clio Whitmore was betrothed to Piers Brandon, the absentee Marquess of Granville, before she even had a chance to have a season of her own. But she’s spent the past eight years waiting for him to return from abroad and finally go through with the marriage and she’s very much over it. Now with her inheritance of a castle from her late uncle, she has found a new dream for herself and now all she needs to do is break her engagement before going after it.
Lord Rafe Brandon has made his own way in the world as a prizefighter since his father, the late marquess all but disowned him. Now he’s determined to see things put to rights starting with Clio marrying his brother, even if it means planning the wedding himself. His best chance is to show her all the best in wedding finery and keep himself from kissing her or otherwise demonstrating the deeper feelings he’s been harboring for the one woman he can never have.
This was such a cute book that managed to be light-hearted while also tackling some tough subjects like negative body image and a lack of self-worth. Both Clio and Rafe had been beaten down by their well-meaning families until they expected poor treatment and didn’t believe themselves worthy of love or being someone else’s priority. Clio was tired of waiting and Rafe was tired of feeling like second best next to his brother, but once these two started being real with each other and opening up about their real feelings, I loved every bit of this. Clio knew what she wanted and refused to let others shunt her onto the path that was expected of her. Sure, it took her a while to find her voice, but she did eventually, and she stood up for her dream of making a brewery and she didn’t shy from her feelings for Rafe either. For his part, Rafe stood up for Clio as well and made sure she understood that her family’s harmful and damaging behavior towards her didn’t have to define her. I thought these two were a lovely couple together and I couldn't help but root for them every step of the way. It also didn’t hurt that many of their shenanigans were charmingly hilarious, and that Rafe certainly had a way with words. As I continue weeding through my physical TBR, this is one that will move to the keeper shelf.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2166436318
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2490303728
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