Deception & Discipline #2
by Golden Angel
She always dreamed of marrying a Stuart brother. Just not the one who meets her at the altar.
When scandal sweeps through London's ballrooms, Lord Elijah Stuart's younger brother is caught in its web. Though his main duty is to England's spymaster, Elijah must forsake his work searching for the traitor to the Crown and instead focus on weddings and reputations. With both the family honor and his brother's future at stake, Elijah dutifully takes the ruined Miss Josephina Pennyworth for his very reluctant bride.
Furious at the circumstances leading her to be wed to the wrong Stuart brother, Josephina clashes immediately with her bossy new husband. She is every bit as invested in the search for the traitor as Lord Stuart and she is no shrinking violet when it comes to danger. While Josie discovers certain aspects of married life are quite pleasurable, she doesn't permit them to distract her from her mission. As she tests her husband's patience and the boundaries of her new life, the threat lurking in the shadows grows larger and places more lives in peril. Who among them will survive?
The Plot
The story was amazing and I loved that it overlapped/carried on from the first book of the series. We get to see more of Mary and Rex! I like the ‘childhood enemies turned lovers’ trope! There was mystery, danger, romance, and LOTS of steam!
The Heroine
Josie is the seasons Diamond of the First Water; she has many interested men, but only has eyes for one man. But he is in love with someone else…She basically grew up with Stuart boys and has been in love with the middle brother, Joseph, forever and has always been at odds with the oldest brother, Elijah. Josie is impulsive and out spoken and being an orphaned child, she always looked out for herself and never really had to answer to anyone. But, with Elijah, she realizes she likes being cared for.
Even as she wanted to rail against his overprotectiveness and determination not to include her, part of her liked feeling small, safe, and protected against his chest.
The Hero
Elijah never planned to get married; he was happy to let his brothers produce the next heir, instead focusing on his duties to the crown. But when fate intervenes and he sacrifices himself to marry Josie, he starts to realize he was missing something in his life. And he sees Josie in a different way, a beautiful woman instead of his little cousins friend. He really opens up to the relationship and the idea of a wife he loves.
That was the crux of his problem, he finally realized. He had known his feelings for Josie had changed, but he had not truly understood how much until now. The most startling revelation since their marriage—he wanted her to love him because somehow, he had already fallen in love with her.
The Steam
(Fanning myself) Yes, there is lots of steam. I mean Elijah is a member of The Society, so…
“Who am I, Josie?” he asked, his lips hovering over hers. “My husband?” Confused, unsure of the response he wanted, the words came out a question. “My name, sweetheart.”
Tropes
Rake Hero, Hot Steam, Historical Romance, Season/Marriage Mart, Ton Society, Titled Hero, Detective/Agents of the Crown, Hoyden, Virgin Heroine, Enemies to Lovers, Married in Scandal, Suspense/Danger, Mystery Romance
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