Always the Best Friend

An unrequited love.
Lady Harriet, her twin brother Josiah and Monty Cavendish have been friends for twenty years. After two years on the continent, Monty returns and resumes his relationship with his best friend Harry. Only Harry thinks of Monty as more than a friend. Until one night when she seduces him and he sees her as the beautiful woman she really is. The trouble begins when their night together gets published in the paper and Harry is ruined. If Monty can get his heart and head together can he make it right?
A great series with connecting characters that give more depth to the stories. Another favorite trope.

Lady Harriet Stanhope (Harry) and Montague Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire (Monty) have been best friends for more than twenty years. Harry has fallen in love with Monty and hopes that one day he will fall in love with her. When it comes to light that Monty must marry by his next birthday, Harry begins a campaign to make Monty see what is right in front of him – her. She begins with subtle hints which Monty doesn’t pick up on (stamp your foot with Harry). When she moves to more direct intimations, it results in some rather unpleasant gossip and hostile receptions at society events. What now? Harry won’t marry for less than love, and Monty seems to be more concerned with reputations. Will there be broken hearts or happily ever after? This is an adorable best friends-to-lovers story. It is a quick read with loads of humor. Harry and Monty are wonderful characters. I enjoyed this story and recommend it and the series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Harriet (Harry) Standhope has been in love with her best friend Montague Cavendish since they were children. Now Monty is under the gun to find a wife and quickly or he will lose everything. Harry wishes in her heart that it would be her. Monty can’t seem to find his perfect woman that loves the same things as he does. Not wanting to spend the rest of his life with a woman who he has nothing in common with, but doesn’t want to lose the life he has worked so hard for.

One night Harry decides to take matters into her own hands and sneaks into Montys room in the midd,e of the night to seduce him. She figures that if he is going to marry someone else she is going to have a memory to last her lifetime with the man she loves. Monty is shocked but when he sees Harry he can’t resist her and something happens inside when he finally sees Harry as more than just his best friend, but when he realizes what he feels, it could be to late!

I loved this book! I absolutely loved Harry. This is such a fun book to read! Definitely recommend reading this book!

Always the Best Friend by Emily EK Murdoch is number 4 in the Never the Bride series and is about falling in love with your best friend, which happens often, I think. Josiah Stanhope was the Earl of Chester, and Harry was his best friend. Harriet, also known as Harry, had been in love with Josiah for years but he never noticed her…not in that way. This day was the day of Harry’s brother’s wedding, to Lady Honora Lennox, and Harry just wasn’t sure. There was a lot of back-story to this wedding, but she loved her brother so she forged ahead. All the stories in this series are inter-related so best to start at the beginning. Anyway, by the time they all returned to London, Harry had had enough and made in feelings known to Josiah in a very unorthodox way… very entertaining.

One thing about this series, the lovers come together in ways that simply would not have happened at the time or maybe even now for that matter. This makes for some very interesting scenarios. I don’t blame Harry for being exasperated. Men can be slow to join the party sometimes. She was very pragmatic. If she couldn’t have Josiah she didn’t want anyone so her actions would hurt no one. And she was really not looking forward to him marrying and her having to watch. Josiah was really very slow-witted in this particular topic. It made even the reader a little frustrated. It was fun to read. This is a great series. I recommend all of these books, but especially this one.

I was invited to read an ARC of Always the Best Friend by Dragonblade, through Netgalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #alwaysthebestfriend

Always the Best Friend
Never the Bride Series #4
Emily E. K. Murdoch
https://www.facebook.com/theemilyekmurdoch/
Release date 07/07/2020
Publisher Dragonblade Publishing

Blurb :

Always the best friend and never the bride – it was a trap she never saw coming…

Lady Harriet Stanhope grew up with her twin brother and his friends, never questioning their laughter or their games – but now she’s a young lady, she’s desperate for one friend in particular to see her in a different light.

But after twenty years of knowing each other, she’s just the best friend, not a serious contender for the Duke of Devonshire’s heart.

Montague Cavendish knows what is due to him and his family name, and he is not fool enough to wish for a love match. He’ll find a pretty young thing with plenty of money, and that will be that.

Until Harriet – Harriet – breaks into his rooms to seduce him. He should resist her, he knows he should. But Montague had never imagined such perfection lay beneath the gown of his best friend.

He’s determined to resist. She’s sure that he will fall in love with her after one night of passion.

Mistakes will be made and confusion abound as friendship is put to the ultimate test.

Is it possible for two people raised as siblings to become lovers – and if it all goes wrong, what will be left of their friendship?

My review :

Will their friendship be ever ruined if she bargains for more …

This is my second read by Mrs Emily Murdoch, and I much liked this one, both main characters are very entertaining and moving. For from perfect, it is their flaws that render them more lovable.
But while I am no historian, I thought birthrights came over everything else, that they were inalienable, no will can destitute a peer from his title except the crown, plus it follows the family tree, it can’t jump from one branch to another if there is still a living heir on it. A will can dispossess someone titled from any assets except its title and what is entailed to the title.
Thus said, it was much enjoyable to watch Harry and Monty get to their HEA.

While Harry has always known Monty was the man for her, he is completely oblivious of her being a female. She is his best-friend first, the sister of his friend second and last, a girl.
Yet when a will threaten his title, he is so blinded by the side of their relationship, he can’t see she is the right answer for all his needs. A woman with whom he can laugh, shares his love for horse, one who has no care for friperies and one who knows him as no one else.
Harry is perfectly aware Monty does not see her as a woman, but she can’t fight the feelings that have been growing for years. And now that he must marry and quite quickly, how can she change his view of her. Will seduction be the right answer or is there an other way to make him realize she is also a woman.
And while they make mistake on their journey to one another, words are said in the fever of the moment, causing unnecessary pain, yet they are so in tune, and stubbornly mindless of the other’s feelings. Lucky them to have others to take charge when they let their temper flares and tears them apart.
A 4.5 stars fun read.

By the way the cover is lovely.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Dragonblade Publishing, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/650913632164478/?d=n

Lady Harriet Stanhope better known to her friends and family as Harry. She’s been in love with Montague Cavendish Duke of Devonshire, Monty her best friend. They’ve known each other since they were friends. She makes a bold move and opens Montague’s eyes to the woman she really is. Monty must marry before his twenty-six birthday or lose everything, what better person to marry than his best friend, but the bride doesn’t quite agree. An excellent story I loved and I voluntarily wrote a review.

Montague Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire, is being pressured to wed by a codicil in his grandfather’s will. His time is running out to find a suitable bride, but none of the young ladies on the marriage mart appeal to him. He turns to his best friend, Harry aka Lady Harriet Stanhope, for advice. Harry has been by his side since they were children and she is always the one to calm him down and offer good advice. Harry has loved Monty for as long as she can remember, but Monty doesn’t view her as a woman and suitable bride. She takes a risk to capture his heart, but will it backfire and separate her from Monty forever?

This was a short and easy read although not much happens. First, I loved the cover and it’s what drew me to the book, however, I wasn’t in love with either Harry or Monty especially since the biggest obstacle in the story is their own stubbornness to say what’s in the hearts. I found Harry’s actions that lead to the scandal totally out of character for a gently bred young lady and then her actions concerning Monty after the scandal broke was uncharacteristic for someone who always faced any obstacle head on. Not sure if I’ll read any more stories in this series.