Andrew St John is in big trouble; he has lost all his family fortune in gambling and is desperate to get it back. He has been talking young girls out of their money by having them invest in his various schemes. When he over hears Emma Hunter telling a tale about her rich father, he thinks he has found a way out of debt: Emma is beautiful and wealthy, so he sets about wooing her for a bride. Emma is infatuated with Andrew and reluctantly plays along with the lie so he will stay interested in her.  While spending time together, Andrew realizes that he is falling for Emma, with or without her money, and that she sees him for himself, not a Baron with holdings. Emma gains confidence to stand up for herself and go after what she wants. Between Emma’s betrothal to a mean, old man and Andrews financial woes, they find that love is stronger than money and find their happy ever after.  

Matthew Colburn, the Duke of Elmhurst will never marry for fear his wife will go through the agony his mother did watching his father become mad and then die. Until he bumps into Julia and he can’t stop thinking about her. Fate intervenes when he accuses her of stealing his pocket watch and through some meddling by her teacher, she agrees to provide the Duke with some luck with his business dealings. But spending time together brings them closer and feelings of attraction start to develop. While Julia embraces the love, Matthew keeps holding back because of his fears, fears his awful uncle is fanning the flames of! They must overcome his uncles meddling, Julia’s jealousy and her parents wishes to make it work! The plot was very well executed and a creative way to bring to opposite people together. The story held my interest with the uncle and Lady Dyer’s trying to dominate Matthew, but it was also very frustrating to see Matthew just believe everything everyone told him and also for Julia to see it, but not speak up! But I still was hooked, finished the book, and am looking forward to the nest in the series!

Julia is a leader for many of girls at her school. She is a smart, no nonsense girl, who looks after the others. She underestimates her worth because her father verbally abuses her and her mother. She is very afraid that she will end up in a marriage like her parents where she becomes meek and fearful. Through Matthew, she realizes there is hope for love and respect in a marriage.

Matthew is a troubled man after having watched his father become mad before he died. He is certain that is his fate as well. His horrible uncle made sure of that! At first it bothered me that he had no backbone as I don’t care for meek men, but I see the value in the changes he went through to be the man Julia deserved, to stand up for himself.

This was a clean, non-steamy book.

Ugh, I hate to say it, but when he broke off the engagement with Julia. I will admit I cried, ugly cried. But I also cried when he came after her…

Anyone looking for a clean, sweet romance between two unlikely people.

I did enjoy this book; it was well written and defining hit the sweet romance mark for me, but I usually like more passion, even if it’s not physically displayed, between my hero & heroine.