Widowed Charlotte Dexter, Lady Clayton, married for duty as all good ladies are taught to do. Love is for the poets, not for the peerage. Now, with her elderly husband dead, it’s time to marry again. Charlotte wants—needs—children. Given she’s no longer a blossoming flower, her pool of likely husbands is growing ever smaller. She studies the current batch of ton bachelors, those she knows are desperate for a wealthy wife, and decides to hold a party at her estate. The catch? This party is for men only, and at week’s end, one of her guests will be her fiancé.
Marcus Roberts, Duke of Sinclair, is all about duty suddenly finding himself the last of his male lineage. He agrees to accompany his friend to Lady Charlotte’s house party because finding a bride is imperative. Preferably a widow with children. His wife's death in the arms of his brother destroyed his faith in love—he'll marry for convenience only—he won't trust so easily again. All he needs is a bride who he is sure can give him sons. Imagine his shock at learning the only woman at the house party is a widow who is rumored to be barren. He should leave but as he gets to know Charlotte, suddenly the idea of any of these men marrying her stirs the jealous beast.
THE REVIEW
This plot was very unique and I was excited to see where Ms. Evans was going to go with the plot. Think The Bachelorette meets the Regency era! Charlotte's first marriage was marriage of duty, however the night of her wedding, her new husband told her he would not be able to be a true husband and share her bed because he was still in love with his deceased wife. She knew that it wasn't a love match, but she was devastated to find out she wouldn't even be able to have children like she had dreamed. Her parents were very distant and not affectionate, so Charlotte wanted children that she could adore and who would love her unconditionally. It did help that her late husband had children and she became very close with them over the years. Out of guilt, her husband left her with considerable wealth and several properties. She has decided to marry again simply to have children of her own. The only problem is that society has decided she is barren since she didn't have any children with her deceased husband.
As a ‘plain Jane’, her husband was unlikely to fall in love with her, but he could give her a child. She wanted loads of children. Children she could pour all the love she held inside into, and who would love her unconditionally in return. Children who did not judge or care about height, breeding, or money.
Sin is a very broken man; he was in love with his first wife, who was having an affair with his brother, before and during their marriage. His brother killed his wife and then killed himself. Sin was angry and felt very betrayed. But he needs to marry again and get the 'heir and a spare' for the dukedom. He agrees to accompany his friend to a house party to hopefully lift his spirits, but when he saves Charlotte from an Adder after she fell from her horse, the sparks are instant!
It started out a little slow, but what I did NOT see coming was the mystery that developed at the house party! Once that mystery came in to play and it forced Sin to be involved in protecting Charlotte, the story picked up! Charlotte was just what Sin needed to believe in love and happy ever afters again! I am hopeful that we get to see more of Sin and Charlotte in the next book in the series!
He moved to stand before her. “You know you’re mine. Since the morning I rescued you from the adder, you’ve belonged to me.” Her gaze focused on his lips. “I dreamed of being yours.” She watched, mesmerized, as he drew in another breath. He opened his lips to speak again, but she silenced him. She stretched up, drew his head down, brought her lips close to his and murmured, “I’ve always been yours. All my life, I’ve been waiting for you. We both had to go through heartache to find each other.”
TROPES
Historical Romance, Regency Era, House Party, County Life, Gamma Hero, Titled Hero, Damaged/Tortured Hero, Widowed Hero, Heiress Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Widowed Heroine, Outdoor Steam, Slow Burn, Childhood Crush, Secret Crush, Unrequited Love, Mystery Romance, Suspense/Danger/Murder, Two Flame, Four Star
HistoricalRomance, RegencyEra, HouseParty, CountyLife, GammaHero, TitledHero, Damaged/TorturedHero, WidowedHero, HeiressHeroine, VirginHeroine, WidowedHeroine, OutdoorSteam, SlowBurn, ChildhoodCrush, SecretCrush, UnrequitedLove, MysteryRomance, Suspense/Danger/Murder, TwoFlame, FourStar
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