Series: The Unsuitable Brides, #3
Traits & Tropes: forbidden; cultural differences; external conflict; titled hero
Publication Date: 05.27.22
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; London, England, 1891
Heat Level: 3
Rating: 4/5
Lord Francis Rathborne-Paxton, Earl of Cathraiche, needs to marry. He’s the oldest son and heir of the loathsome Marquess of Vegas, so it is his role to take care of his family, meaning he’s about to join his brothers in their quest to marry wealthy but unsuitable brides. His solution is a beautiful Indian princess.
Rani Priya Narayan has come to England along with her younger brother to further her education. Her family thinks she’s been learning to move in British society but really, she’s been developing her opinions on the rights of women and critiquing British rule in India. She has no time to give to a handsome earl with his own plans.
Francis definitely has an uphill battle in his courtship of Priya as she seems to openly despite him. But Priya has a secret she has kept completely to herself, but it will inevitably come out with her father’s arrival in England. Francis may just win her heart, but Priya knows they still can’t be together, even if he won’t take no for an answer.
I have to say, when I first started this book, and probably for about the first half or so, I was not a fan of Priya at all. She was ridiculously mean to Francis at first, but as her situation became clearer, it became more and more obvious that she was entirely charmed by Francis, despite trying not to be, and that she was in an utterly untenable situation. I wasn’t overly fond of Francis during this first bit either just because of how often he referred to his pursuit of Priya as a game. Thankfully, they both grew in their relationship, and I enjoyed seeing their feelings mature into something real and solidify as they decided they had to fight to be together. Priya’s family, especially her brother, was extremely annoying and I do wish she’d been able to put at least Jeetan in his place more, but I did love the ending here and was pleasantly surprised to find that Francis could be such a romantic.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4746122715
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1845907685
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