Series: The Lady's Guide, #4
Traits & Tropes: widow; childhood friends; stuffy heroine; fake relationship; house party
Publication Date: 07.15.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Edwardian; London/Dorset, England, 1903
Heat Level: 1
Rating: 4/5
Narration Rating: 4/5
Archaeologist and explorer Ethan Burnell has no intention of staying in England for long and is eager to return to his exploration in the Yucatan as soon as he’s able. He has even less interest in finding a wife, despite his sister’s best efforts. She’s hosting a Christmas house party and has invited several ladies of marriageable age, leaving Ethan feeling a bit cornered.
Cornelia Mortmain has no marriage prospects, though she had hoped once to find a true partner. Now widowed and faced with scandal thanks to her mother’s escapades as well as the circumstances of her late husband’s death, that hope is shriveling. Brash American Ethan Burnell is precisely the type of man she generally avoids, but there’s the slightest chance that his interest in her could increase the level of interest she receives from other men. On the off chance of this being helpful for her, Cornelia grudgingly agrees to Ethan’s scheme to protect himself from the marriage-minded mamas and daughters in attendance at the party. Now he and Cornelia must simply convince the guests of their undying love for one another.
This was a fast-paced romp with a rather starchy heroine and a hero with no interest in marriage, or so he thinks. Their attraction is rather instant, but it also builds upon a connection they had forged as children, so I thought this was a neat way to feature the childhood friends to lovers trope in with a fake relationship. This book maintains a hint of gothic feel and the narration pulled me into the story quite well. Cornelia was a bit difficult to like thanks to her tendency toward snappishness and yet, this prickliness was something that made her very relatable for me and made perfect sense given everything she’d been through thanks to her mother’s and her late husband’s scandals. Ethan was a bit ramshackle in his courtship and it took a while for him to get his head on straight and realize what he truly did want from life as far as relationships go. Fortunately, Cornelia was a match for him in every way and refused to settle for less than everything he had to offer and an equal partnership. I loved that she stood up for herself and her two aunts were fabulous supporting characters to a charming, fast-paced story.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4487318041
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2318405036
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