”He did not smile often, did he? The expression imparted kindness to his face. He must be a kind man. A poor abused lady had confided in him when s”He did not smile often, did he? The expression imparted kindness to his face. He must be a kind man. A poor abused lady had confided in him when she had confided in no one else. It was to him she had run when she was in real trouble. He loved his young son first of anyone else in his life because the child needed him and the affection and security he had to offer. It was a strange moment for such a revelation. She was marrying a kind man, Margaret realized. And it was enough. She moved toward him with hope.”
I enjoyed this story featuring: A spinster older sister who sacrificed her youth to raise her siblings after their parents passed away. A man with a dastardly reputation who turns out to be the most noble man. And a wonderful cast of side characters including the hero’s sweet four-year-old son, crotchety grandpa, larger-than-life mother, and of course all the Huxtable siblings....more
”Someone needs to tell you the truth,” he said, “and it might as well be your husband. You have been coy with your beauty. You have hidden it from ”Someone needs to tell you the truth,” he said, “and it might as well be your husband. You have been coy with your beauty. You have hidden it from all except those who take the time to bask in your smiles and look deeply into your eyes. Anyone who does take the time will soon uncover your secret. You are beautiful.”...more
”She loved him. She scarcely knew him, of course. There were whole facets of his being that he carefully shielded from her kn4.25 captivating stars
”She loved him. She scarcely knew him, of course. There were whole facets of his being that he carefully shielded from her knowing. But there were some things she knew. There was the intensely passionate, energetic, idealistic, charismatic boy he had been when he was at school with Graham. There was the young man with his broken body and shattered dreams who had been brought back to England from the Peninsula closer to death than to life, wanting death more than he wanted life. And there was the closed, disciplined, sometimes morose, very private man he was now with his empty eyes. Though they were not empty to her. The emptiness was like a curtain he had drawn across his soul to hide his pain from anyone who tried to look in....more
“Turning toward him, Eve felt nothing but pain. He had come all this way with her, braving his brother’s wrath. He had fought for her toda4.5 stars
“Turning toward him, Eve felt nothing but pain. He had come all this way with her, braving his brother’s wrath. He had fought for her today and for children who meant nothing to him. He had smiled at her. And he was leaving tomorrow.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this! I loved the heartwarming marriage of convenience between the stiff-upper-lipped Lord Aidan and the empathetic and highly independent Eve. Theirs is a case of opposite attract from completely different social worlds.
Aidan is the son and brother of a duke, while Eve is the daughter of a wealthy coal miner. While in battle in France, Aidan vows to Eve’s dying brother that he will protect her no matter what, a promise he fulfills by marrying her when she’s at threat of losing her home. As a dour, undemonstrative man, Aidan comes across as unfeeling and yet he is caring and has a strong sense of duty and honor. And Eve is warm and giving, always quick to provide a helping hand to those in need. But she is no pushover. She holds her own against the formidable Wulf and Bedwyn clan.
Since this is the first book in the Bedwyn series, we are introduced to the whole family comprising of six siblings. All the secondary characters are great but Wulf, the Duke of Bewcastle, deserves special mention. He is such a compelling and exquisitely haughty character. I love his eviscerating set downs. I plan to slowly make my way through the series although I wish I hadn’t made the foolish mistake of reading the last and best book—Slightly Dangerous (Wulf’s story)—first....more
Great romance, but the mystery part was disjointed and didn’t flow. It’s still entertaining, but you can tell that this is an early Julie An3.75 stars
Great romance, but the mystery part was disjointed and didn’t flow. It’s still entertaining, but you can tell that this is an early Julie Anne Long book. ...more
I liked this, but it’s my least favorite book by Sherry Thomas so far. The first half was all right but then it somehow seemed to lose steam as the stI liked this, but it’s my least favorite book by Sherry Thomas so far. The first half was all right but then it somehow seemed to lose steam as the story went along. Neither Ellisande nor Lord Vere were compelling characters, which is usually a hallmark of the author’s books. Her characters are rarely likable, but you can always count on them to arouse strong feelings either way. However, this sadly wasn’t the case this time. ...more
“Could he not understand what he was asking of her? To become his lover, knowing that she would be set aside at a specific date, knowing that even “Could he not understand what he was asking of her? To become his lover, knowing that she would be set aside at a specific date, knowing that even as he lay with her, his heart and mind were already contemplating his blissful future with Mrs. Englewood?”
I can see why this book evokes such divided opinions. I loved it, but it is a heart-wrenching love story. While you may not end up loving the MCs, they are incredibly complex, flawed individuals who I empathized with throughout their journey.
Millie is a a loyal, obedient daughter, and an heiress to a tinned goods fortune. Her parents are desperate for her to marry a titled gentleman, which she does in the form of Fitz, an impoverished earl. Millie falls in love with Fitz at first sight, but he’s already deeply in love with another woman. He bitterly resents the fact that he has to give up his love and marry Millie in order to save his impoverished estate. They’re both incredibly young when they marry; Millie is sixteen and Fitz is nineteen. They make a pact to not sleep together for several years before fulfilling their duty to produce an heir.
The other woman, Isabelle, is an oppressive presence throughout their marriage—not because Fitz is cheating on Millie, but because he doesn’t get over her or rather his dreams of what a future with her would be like, until the very end. This book won’t be for everyone, but if you’re willing to keep an open mind and put yourself in the shoes of both Millie and Fitz, you’ll be rewarded with an achingly beautiful story. ...more
“She now had everything. A handsome, charming, titled husband, estates on two continents, wealth, position, power, and fame. Everything a white tra“She now had everything. A handsome, charming, titled husband, estates on two continents, wealth, position, power, and fame. Everything a white trash girl born in a tin-roof shack on a Mississippi backwater could want. Everything but love.”...more
“There was nothing romantic about the moment, nothing to make his breath catch or heart leap or any of that nonsense. Until she smiled. Hi3.75 stars
“There was nothing romantic about the moment, nothing to make his breath catch or heart leap or any of that nonsense. Until she smiled. His breath caught. His heart leapt. And he felt all the nonsense.”
This is a quintessential Julia Quinn story. It’s charming, sweet, and full of wit and flirty banter. It also has wonderful characters and beautiful writing. Although there’s nothing new about the storyline—Georgiana, a feisty but good girl “ruined” by scandal after being kidnapped is rescued by a marriage of convenience to an honorable childhood friend, Nicholas—the author tells the story with her usual skill. The transition from friends-to-lovers is pretty fast yet feels credible given that they’ve known each other their whole lives. They only needed marriage, albeit forced, to see each other in a different light. Gentle humor, loving but interfering parents, and loyal servants round things out for an entertaining story....more
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