When you gamble at love . . .When Hugh Deveraux discovers his newly inherited earldom is bankrupt, he sets about rebuilding the family fortune—in the gaming hells of London. But the most daring wager he takes isn’t at cards. A wealthy tradesman makes a tantalizing offer: marry the man’s spinster daughter and Hugh’s debts will be paid and his fortune made. The only catch is that she must never … only catch is that she must never know about their agreement . . .
You risk losing your heart . . .
Heiress Eliza Cross has given up hope of marriage until she meets the impossibly handsome Earl of Hastings, her father’s new business partner. The earl is everything a gentleman should be, and is boldly attentive to her. It doesn’t take long for Eliza to lose her heart and marry him.
But when Eliza discovers that there is more to the man she loves—and to her marriage—her trust is shattered. And it will take all of Hugh’s power to prove that now his words of love are real . . .
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This is the second book in a series and is well written. I love that the characters from the first book are not forgotten as they make an appearance in this story too. I felt that Hugh is well written and portrays how men think that women don’t agree with. The whole “can’t tell women the problems going on because I have to protect them” frame of mind is big among men and typically drive us women bonkers. That comes to life in this story and Eliza spells it out for Hugh splendidly in this book. Eliza is a loveable character who at times seems to step out of her shell and be a force to reckon with. Other times it seems she is too shy to accomplish much. Caroline did well in showing how Eliza can be brave when it is for the benefit of someone she cares about. Good story and I hope to see more of some of the characters in future stories. This one has many characters that I would like follow and see develop.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Book two in The Wages of Sin by Caroline is officially my favorite of all her books, and I have read them all. I absolutely love Eliza Cross. She is an amazing heroine with a heart of gold. Born as a commoner the daughter of a self-made man who is ruthless in his business dealings and is worth more than a half million pounds. To Eliza he is her lovable Papa, she has no idea how merciless he can be. She has every creature comfort she could ever want and her pet dog Willy. Her father insisted that she would have all the advantages of a well-born young lady. She went to a finishing school and had a Season, where she stood on the sideline with the wallflowers. Her father was completed ignored by everyone unless there was business to discuss. She has no idea how hated her father is by the Nobility. The only men who asked her to dance were the fortune hunters. She is shy and awkward and glad when she can go back home and never enter Society again. Papa is determined to find her a husband and she has no idea the lengths he will go through to achieve that goal.
Hugh Deveraux is an Earl with a bankrupt estate. He had no idea that his father was a poor steward of the titles and estates that depended on him. His mother and two sisters have no idea how broke they really are and he intends to keep it that way. He will find a way to save his legacy and keep the Ton from finding out how broke he really is. If it gets out he will be impaled on the sword of gossip that Society feeds on. The only way to raise money without revealing the scope of his poverty is to play cards and win enough money to hold off the creditors. One night when he is playing cards he attracts the attention of a man that offers him a drink and conversation. The man is Edward Cross, and he is intrigued with Hugh and makes a point of investigating him.
Hugh is surprised when he is invited to Edward’s home to discuss a business arrangement. Hugh doesn’t have the money to invest and wonders why he was invited. Upon entering the house he is witness to a scene right out of a farce. A young maid is sliding across the foyer floor soaking wet and trying to catch an equally wet dog. Finding out that the maid is the daughter of the house he is secretly amused. When he is closeted with Edward he finds out that Edward has bought up all of Hugh’s debts and his father’s vowels and will give them back when Hugh marries his daughter. Hugh is furious that he is being blackmailed but he doesn’t have much choice. Edward can call in the debts anytime and Hugh doesn’t have a fraction of the money. He agrees to court Eliza against the wishes of his sisters and mother. He is only trying to protect them and this is what he gets.
Eliza is incredulous that Hugh is interested in her and she feels like a Princess in a fairy tale. She falls in love with him and marries him. Hugh knows that he will have to keep the deal that he made with her father a secret. She has a lovely spirit and is soft-hearted and he is coming to like her a lot. The passion that they ignite in each other is all consuming and he can’t seem to keep his hands off her. He thinks he is coming to love her but with all the obstacles thrown up by his family and trying to keep so many secrets everything is unraveling and he is afraid that he will lose Eliza.
You have to read this book!!! It is a perfect love story. You will laugh and cry for Eliza and Hugh. I have been reading Caroline’s books for a long time and she has elevated her craft to an even higher level with every book she writes. This one is the cream of the crop as far as I am concerned and I am going to buy the paperback so I can keep it on my shelf with all my other favorites of all time.
An Earl Like You is a captivating marriage of convenience romance with a twist or two! The novel is well paced and the dialogue is superbly written. The enchanting love story which developed between Hugh Deveraux and Eliza Cross kept me turning the pages.
Hugh Deveraux, the Earl of Hastings, did not inherited a grand estate when his father passed. All of his family homes are mortgaged, his sister’s dowries are non-existent and he’s barely one step ahead of his creditors. Hugh leases out his family’s country estate and moves his mother and sisters to London. Society believes Hugh has come to town in search of a wife but, he travelled to London for a different reason. The Vega House, an upscale gambling salon, is located in London. Hugh is an astute card player and his plan is to win enough money to restore the family fortune.
Eliza Cross is the only child of Edward Cross, a wealthy business man. His fortune was made speculating on items during the British war. Cross is devoted to his daughter and sent her to Miss Upton’s Academy where she met her best friends Sophie and Georgiana. Eliza was aware that she was an heiress, not a lady, and preferred a quiet life in the country tending to her gardens and playing with her mischievous dog. I adored Eliza; she’s warm, friendly and caring—not the usual historical heroine.
Edward and Hugh cross paths at the Vega Club. Hugh makes a strategic error by staying in a card game. He should have taken his winnings and left the table. Instead, he has lost a huge amount of money. Cross passes along some information regarding Alderson, the man who won the card game to Hugh.
Was this meeting at the Vega Club a coincidence? Hugh accepts a dinner invitation from Edward Cross. He enjoys talking with Edward Cross’s shy daughter, Eliza. Cross has bought up Hugh’s debts and makes him an offer he can’t refuse. He will forgive Hugh’s debts and mortgage’s and provide a huge dowry if Hugh courts and marries Eliza.
I love Caroline Linden’s descriptive writing style and her dialogue—and both shine in this novel. I loved that while Hugh viewed his courtship as a job; he could not deny his sexual attraction to Eliza. Eliza’s sweet nature and innocence are tested several times during the novel. Eliza handles conflict with Hugh’s sisters and shows kindness to them. My favorite scene in the novel is when Hugh surprises Eliza with a picnic at Primrose Hill. He confesses that he wants Eliza for himself and the couple’s sensual walk in the woods is one of Ms. Linden’s best written passages.
An underlying subterfuge throughout An Earl Like You keeps the plot moving. Ms Linden’s tightly woven plot combined with Hugh and Eliza’s romance held my interest throughout the novel. Edward Cross could have been the villain in the novel. Loved how the author redeemed the self-motivated, shrewd business man who viewed the world as a calculated business decision. He loved Eliza with all his heart—he just went about securing her future in the wrong way. Loved that the friendship between Eliza, Sophie and Georgianna continued in this story. The conclusion to the novel had some surprising plot twists and reveals.
And the epilogue? It was perfect for the couple. Everything I wanted for them and more!
An Earl Like You has all the feels—it’s an emotional, deeply romantic novel with well-crafted characters and a fabulous storyline! I adored Eliza and loved it Hugh recognized that his wife was a true beauty. A love match that I highly recommend!
I have read, and own, every book Caroline Linden has written, and they just get better and better. This book is the second one in the Wagers of Sin series and it’s wonderful!
Hugh Deveraux, Earl of Hastings, is a good man who is trying to keep his mother and two sisters from learning his deceased father left them nothing but their mortgaged estates. He moves them all to London as one town house will not be as expensive to run. He plans for his sister, Edith, to have her season and hopefully find a husband. He gambles, carefully, at the Vega Club where he meets wealthy commoner, Edward Cross, who wants his daughter to marry a lord.
Eliza Cross is shy with strangers. She had one season, as a wallflower, and was miserable. She’s happy playing with her dog Willy, gardening and taking care of her father and their home. Her father wants her to have her own home, family and a title. When she meets Hugh, she is very attracted to him.
Hugh is not happy about being bought by her father, but he must think of his mother and sisters, so he starts courting Eliza. As he spends more time with her, he thinks he wouldn’t mind marrying her. They marry quietly and eventually his mother and sisters come to like her. But then she finds out her father “bought” him, and she leaves.
I hope you’ll try this wonderful book. Eliza is one of my favorite heroines. I’ve left a lot out as I don’t want to spoil anything. I can easily recommend this book.
This is great story, I wasn’t able to put it down. The tale is a new take on a romance classic – nobleman needs money – with interesting twists and turns which keep the reader engrossed. The heroine, Eliza, is a wonderful character, though a bit naive. The story resolves with a happy ending which makes you want to know what’s next for the happy couple. I definitely would recommend this to anyone looking for a good read.
*ARC Provided for an honest review.
When Hugh Deveraux inherits his father’s title, he discovers that the earldom is bankrupt. He decides to try to rebuild the family’s fortune by gambling. It seemed to be working, but one night he loses big. The winner, a wealthy businessman, blackmails him into the one thing he had tried to avoid – a marriage of convenience. Eliza, who would love to meet someone who likes her for herself and not her money, is not to know that it is not a love match (her father is trying to do what he thinks is best for her, although going about it the wrong way). Now Hugh must tell yet another lie to protect someone he cares, or soon will care, for. How will this all work out? What happens if and when those he’s trying to protect discover his lies?
Eliza is a shy person with a kind heart and a loving disposition. Hugh is determined to do what he believes is right to protect those he cares about. They are strong characters and great together. The path to happily ever after is bumpy at times, but their story, watching their relationship grow, is compelling. It holds your attention and keeps you hoping everything works out for them. An Earl Like You is the second book in the Wagers of Sin series. It is a wonderful story, and I highly recommend it. I look forward to the next one.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary.
4.5 stars, rounded up
Hugh Deveraux, the new Earl of Hastings has a rude awakening after the death of his father, his wonderful father – who was loved and admired by one and all, the estate is bankrupt and there is no provision for his sister’s dowries or his mother’s widow’s portion. Hugh is devastated and determined to set things right without upsetting his grieving family. His options are limited, so he decides to move the family to London and he will gamble to support them until he can find a heiress to marry.
His plan seems to be working, he has been gambling at the Vega Club and has managed to pay back some of the debts and has kept his mother and sisters in the dark about their true circumstances. When a huge loss at the tables brings him to the attention of Edward Cross, Hugh’s life takes a huge detour from his original plans.
Elizabeth “Eliza” Cross is the only child of Edward Cross, she is plain in appearance and shy by nature, content to tend her father’s house, she has given up hope of ever marrying and having a family of her own. But all that changes when Hugh comes to call on her father. She is smitten, but doesn’t believe he will ever notice a mouse like her. But to her surprise Hugh is kind and attentive to her and when their paths cross more and more, she begins to have hope that he might be interested in her.
Hugh is not happy, Edward Cross bought up most of his debt and has basically blackmailed him into courting his daughter. As much as he would love to tell the man to go to hell, he cannot afford to, especially when his sister’s suitor declares himself and wants to marry quickly. With no money to fund Edith’s dowry, Hugh accepts Edward’s “bargain”. He is delighted to find that Eliza is nothing like her father, yes, she is plain, but she is kind, loving and has a wonderful sense of humor. The more time he spends with her, the more he likes her. His family is not happy with his choice and tries to convince him to stop courting her, but Hugh won’t hear of it and proposes. He has come to truly care for Eliza and wants to marry her, but he also wants to make sure she never learns how the courtship started.
Eliza is deliriously happy, she loves Hugh and is excited to have a family. His family is not exactly welcoming to her and she excuses it by assuming they are keeping their emotions in check as most of society does. Hugh is called away on their wedding night and leaves her alone, she is a little hurt that his family ignores her, but again she makes excuses for them. The next morning, they are cold to her at breakfast and she tries her best to be friendly. Hugh has been dealt a shock, Reggie Benwick, his sister Edith’s betrothed demanded to see him – on his wedding night! Reggie and his father Viscount Livingston demand that he set Eliza aside or Reggie will not marry Edith. Apparently Edward Cross and Lord Livingston had business dealings and the viscount lost a hefty sum. Hugh refuses and expects Reggie to honor his promise to his sister. But when Reggie demands an outrageous dowry, Hugh knows he will have to tell Edith the truth, he is angry about the irony, he married Eliza, so Edith could marry and because of his marriage, she is being jilted.
He confides a little bit of his dilemma with Eliza, but is careful not to let her know the entire truth. Eliza has not had an easy time with his family and he knows they will blame her for Edith’s jilting. He cares for Eliza and wants to protect her, but he knows she is right, he will have to tell Edith the truth about Reggie.
Slowly, his family begins to warm to her and her relationship with Hugh is better than fine, he finally confessed his love and all is right in her world – until it isn’t. Eliza discovers the truth and is heartbroken, Hugh tries to explain, but Eliza doesn’t know what to believe. Can Hugh convince her his love is true? Or will Eliza’s insecurities doom them to a life apart?
This was a lovely read, well written and paced perfectly. Eliza is probably the nicest heroine I have ever read and I just adored her. Hugh was also a great hero, he didn’t always make the right choices, but he did everything with his family’s best interests at heart. The secondary characters were in turn annoying and at times manipulative, but never enough to hate them, the love scenes where warmish but never felt gratuitous, there are some amusing moments, a little heartache and finally a very touching ending. I am happy to recommend this book and even though it is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone title with no issues.
*Reviewed for Buried Under Romance Blog*
Series: The Wagers of Sin #2
Publication Date: 8/28/18
This is a wonderful addition to Linden’s ‘The Wages of Sin’ series. It is intelligently written, uniquely plotted and the characters are all well developed and relatable. We originally met the heroine in the first book of the series, My Once and Future Duke. She is one of the nicest and sweetest heroines I’ve read in a while and I really, really liked her. Her father loves her beyond reason and is obsessed with providing her with the life HE thinks she should have and he’s not above blackmail and deception to see that she gets it. Her father could have easily been the villain of the book given what he did, but our author wrote him beautifully and made him redeemable while leaving his actions unforgivable. While the book is part of a series, you can read it without having read the first book – but I don’t know why in the world you’d ever want to do that – the first book is great too.
Elizabeth (Eliza) Cross’s mother died in childbirth when Eliza was only three years old. From that point on, Eliza was the center of her father’s world. He is a speculator (neither gentry nor aristocrat) and one of the richest men in England. His dream for his sweet baby girl is for her to marry an aristocrat and he will (and does) go to any lengths to make that happen. It doesn’t matter all Eliza wants is someone who sees her and loves her and not her father’s money. Frankly, she’s given up on finding that and has made herself very happy tending the gardens, helping out in the parish and playing with and loving the dog (Willie) she rescued when he was just a puppy. Eliza is sweet, honest, and open, but she isn’t weak. She knows that she is no great beauty, but she has spent her life trying to become the lady her Papa wants her to be, so she is poised and graceful, but without the arrogance and entitlement that so many young ladies of the ton have. Her father just knows that if any man spent any time around her at all they would fall in love with her — he just has to choose the right man and assure that those two spend time together.
Hugh Deveraux, Earl of Hastings, has had a huge shock. When his father died and Hugh inherited, he discovered that the estate wasn’t just broke, it was 80,000 pounds in debt. Everything was gone – nothing for his sisters’ dowries and nothing for his mother’s jointure. He can’t tell his family that the man they loved, practically worshiped, left them destitute, so he turns to what he is best at to try to keep them afloat – he plays cards at the Vega Club. He’s done pretty well keeping them afloat and managing to pay enough of the debts to keep the creditors at bay. However, now his sister is getting betrothed and he must come up with a dowry for her. Imagine his surprise when Edward Cross makes him an offer that he (literally) cannot refuse. Hugh is to court and then marry Cross’s daughter without her ever finding out about the bargain.
Hugh and Eliza’s first meeting is so delightfully funny. Willie, the dog, is a handful and does not like baths. When Hugh first comes to the Cross’s home Eliza is dressed in an old dress and she’s chasing Willie through the house to dry him after his bath. She literally falls at Hugh’s feet. He is not impressed.
Eliza is surprised and very pleased when her father’s new business partner begins to show up at their home or runs into them at the theater or balls. She is amazed that he seems to like her – to really see who she is. So, when he asks to court her and finally asks her to marry him – she can only shout YES!
I loved watching Hugh and his family come to truly love Eliza – but I always knew it was going to blow up in a big way. Eliza had made a number of comments to Hugh and others about honesty and being honest and forthright, so he knew how she felt about it. He knew he should tell her, but he just couldn’t and then he convinced himself she’d never find out. She did, of course, and in the worst possible way. I love that she confronted everybody involved and didn’t cut anyone any slack. It is a delightful love story in many ways. So, I hope you’ll read it and enjoy it as much as I did.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
This is the 2nd in this series and another winner that I really enjoyed! I especially loved the heroine in this one (Eliza) as she’s not the typical beautiful aristocratic young woman that mostly feature in these historicals. Her wealthy untitled father coerces a deal with an Earl whose father has left his family in deep debt to court and marry his “plain” daughter. Of course feelings are terribly hurt as the deal is discovered by Eliza and feelings must be sorted out.
So yes, this trope has been used before, but it’s Eliza and her big together with Hugh’s trying to do the right thing by his family that steal the show here. Normally I would be annoyed/upset with the hero’s tactics here, but Linden has written such a sympathetic and noble character in Hugh that I found I couldn’t hold a grudge here. Plus the fact that I think it would have been totally impossible for anyone not to fall for the amazing Eliza.
Thanks to #Edelweiss and #Avon for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
I have received an eARC from Caroline Linden in exchange for an honest review.
4.5*
This story is somewhat a marriage of convenience – at least for one of the parties involved.
I really liked Eliza, she was the sweetest. In the beginning, she wore pink glasses when looking at the world, but I have to admit I loved her innocence. Hugh, on the other hand, has no other choice but to see the world as it really is – and I think that’s one of the reasons why we readers can forgive him for acting the way he does. It was so romantic to see them develop their feelings for each other, and being so protective as well. Both main characters are so lovable that we just root for their happy ending from beginning to end, even with families imposing and trying to keep them apart. The book has a bit of mystery and lies in the middle, that helps the story flow and keeps the readers interested.
I read it just a few hours, that’s how much it kept me interested!
Gambling often does not turn out well when the person is desperate to make money. Or so they say!! Hugh Deveraux, Earl of Hastings inherited a bankrupt estate and needed to earn some funds quickly and marry a heiress for money. He had loved his father and his family had always been a happy one, so when he realized there was no money for his sister’s dowry or to take care of his mother, he did what he thought was best. As the best laid plans go, he was soon indebted to Edward Cross and the bargain was for him to court and wed his daughter and never let her know their arrangement!
So you know how this might go, don’t you? Hugh does meet Eliza Cross and starts courting her.. Eliza is such a sweet girl and had no hopes of attracting a suitor. But she starts to fall for Hugh and everything starts happening.
I loved this story and it is one of my favorite tropes of the marriage for convenience and tangle it seems to always cause! Caroline Linden gives us a well written heartwarming tale that will pull you through the pages as quickly as you can read. As I turned the last page all I could do was sigh and hope that the next book in this series will be written soon!
Linden has long been one of my favorite authors. With this book, she manages to create a hero with good intentions and then binds him in such a tightly woven web of conflicts that I marvel she was able to extricate him so well!
Earl Like You by Caroline Linden is book Two in The Wagers of Sin. This is the story of Hugh Deveraux, the Earl of Hastings and Eliza Cross. I have read the previous book, but feel this can be a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Hugh has just inherited his families title but he learns that there is not money and actually owes money. Hugh will do anything to same his family from this outrages predicament. Edward Cross offers him that much needed help but in the form of marrying his daughter whom he isn’t allowed to tell her that he is marrying her for the money. Eliza finds Hugh so charming and attentive to her that she can’t help but give into her feelings. But soon after they marriage she learns what has really been Hugh’s driving force. Hugh’s feeling have changed to being true and not he is out to convince Eliza of that.
Really enjoyed their story!!!
I have a confession: I’ve already enjoyed this book TWICE. It is a sweet story with characters that got under my skin and stayed with me long after I finished reading.
An Earl Like You opens inside of Hugh’s head where he learns that his golden-boy father lost the family’s inheritance and left Hugh, his mother, and his two sisters in such dire straits that they’d never be able to come back without a dramatic change in fortune. I really liked Hugh. He is a self-contained man who wants to protect his family at all costs, he shoulders all of the burdens alone, and his aristocratic bearing hides a man of deep integrity who is put in an impossible position.
Edward Cross will do anything to see his daughter Eliza marry into nobility. Even blackmail. Hugh is given an impossible choice: woo my daughter or I will call in all your father’s debts and ruin your entire family. Eliza is entirely unaware of this deal and believes she is swept off her feet by a prince as romantic and perfect as a fairy tale. Only, Hugh isn’t perfect. He is damn sexy and he slowly develops deeper feelings for Eliza, but he is also simply a man. A man who chose to save his family when the alternative was unthinkable. The deception is there, but what made this book different was that both characters are unwilling participants in it. Hugh wants to make the most of his marriage and he realizes early on that Eliza is as wholesome and good as they come and he adds her to the list of people he wants to protect from the world. Eliza is somewhat aware of her father’s nature, but she never imagines he’d go so far as to “buy” her a husband.
Throughout the story, it was easy to see Eliza grow in confidence and strength and how Hugh fell under her spell. Their romance was believable. It was a true story of how the unlikely girl gets the guy, not because of insta-lust, but because true romance really lies underneath the skin. While all this is happening, the reader knows that at some point the ax will fall. And when it does, the journey back is gripping to read.
This story ticked all the right boxes for me. It explored family bonds, the melding of families after marriage, the importance of trust, and how marriage means sharing burdens. I loved how Eliza worked to build a relationship with her new family (even though they were NOT easy). I also loved how Hugh started to see Eliza as a partner and someone he could share everything with. Pretty much I loved everything. The conflict was real, the characters were well fleshed out, and in usual Linden fashion, the sex scenes were steamy.
I’d recommend this story for HR readers looking for a story that doesn’t have unnecessary drama, that has a hero who has burdens but isn’t stupidly brooding, and has a heroine with a heart of gold who isn’t flight, obstinate, or blindingly beautiful. The writing style flows beautifully, the romance is satisfying, and the heroine is someone you’d want as a friend. What’s not to love?
Highly recommended. One of my favorites of Linden’s to date. Definitely has high re-read potential <3
Eliza Cross has stood on the sidelines for the longest time, since her first season she’s been a wallflower, the few suitors she’s had weren’t courting her they were really courting her dowery. She’s aware that she’s not a great beauty she’s come to terms that she’s never to marry. She’s content to take care of her father and her beloved dog Willie. But then her father has a new business partner and everything changes for her. Her father has made his fortunes by being a gambling man, wanting the best for his little girl he’s found the perfect husband for her – Hugh Deveraux the Earl of Hastings.
Hugh Deveraux has inherited an almost bankrupt Earldom and heavily in debt. He can’t let on that he’s destitute, he needs to find a way to stay a float until he somehow finds a way to repleanish the cofers. One way is to play cards at the Vega Club. Until Lady Luck wasn’t lucky for him. Until he gets indebted to Edward Cross. All debts forgiven if he courts his daughter. Being a gambling man Hugh has no choice but to accept. Plans never ever go as planned, he definitely gambled and lost his heart to Eliza, and now he might end up losing her when she realizes the truth.
I loved this, a marriage of convenience is my favourite type of story.
Well written and full of emotional turmoil, Eliza is the best kind of heroine, likeable and always kind to everyone. Not a pushover she has a quiet internal strength. Hugh was a decent man he never set out to hurt Eliza tried to do right for everyone and ended up losing his heart to her. This was another GEM by Caroline Linden.
I recieved a complimentary copy from the author/publisher via Edeilweise. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
An Earl Like You is the second book in author Caroline Linden’s newest series, The Wagers of Sin. This series focuses on three young girls from different backgrounds, who become friends while being students at Mrs. Upton’s Academy for Young Ladies. Each story focuses on one of the three girls and the journey to find their HEA. This story features Eliza Cross.
Eliza Cross is a very wealthy heiress, but to London society, she will never fit in because her father is in trade. She’s shy and quiet and would rather spend time with her dog or in her gardens than at a society ball. Her father longs to see her married, she longs for a love match.
Hugh Deveraux is shocked to find out after his father’s death that the estate is in deep debt. With two sisters without dowry’s and all the estates mortgaged, Hugh is desperate. Then Edward Cross approaches him with a deal to solve all his financial problems…
I loved Hugh and Eliza from the very beginning. Eliza is a sweet girl, warm, generous, honest, but quite shy. It’s been just her and her father since she was three years old when her mother died. Although many will not like her father for what he did, I actually did like him. I didn’t approve of what he did, but I did understand it and knew that it was done out of love for his only daughter. As for Hugh, I really felt bad for his situation. Losing his beloved father, to only find out his father has left the family in deep debt. He is a good man, trying to protect his family and to make things right again. Although he started courting Eliza in the beginning to better his family situation, it was obvious that the more he got to know her the more his feeling started to grow and it truly caught him off guard. Eliza not only won the hearts of Hugh’s family but Hugh himself!
This was such a beautifully written story and a unique twist on the marriage of convenience. Ms. Linden did a fabulous job giving us a story with a wonderful couple, fabulous secondary characters, a cute pup named Willy, and a perfect ending! Loved it!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The H and h were both likable, decent people. There were no stupid misunderstandings. The father of the h suggests a marriage of convenience to the H. The H desperately needs the h’s dowry but he won’t marry anyone unless he feels there is a chance that the marriage will be successful. He wants it to be a good marriage and he intends to be faithful. They marry and fall in love. The conflict comes from the father’s insistence that the h not be told this is a marriage of convenience. Of course, she finds out. The book was romantic and passionate and never dragged. A definite keeper.
I always have high expectations when beginning a Caroline Linden historical romance and this experience was no different. I fell in love with Hugh from the start and hoped I would be equally as excited about the heroine, Eliza. She’s wonderful too. The story did not disappoint. Both the heroine and hero are so endearing you can’t help but anxiously turn the pages wanting to read more. An absolute pleasure of a romance.
Loved the suspense around a blackmailed aristocrat who agrees to court and get a young lady from the working class to fall in love with him. Although the inheritance of enormous debt when his father died as well as his desire to protect his mother and sisters seemed to force his agreement to give in to the blackmail, it is the kindness and goodness of an overlooked young woman who sets the stage for a wonderful read – you’ll love it!
AJ R
Superb!
This is a book about the withholding of truths and the effect this has on those involved.
It is about the love between two special people and their families and friends.
It is passionate, fast paced, interesting and very entertaining with lots of twists and turns.
All the characters, especially the two main ones, are really well thought out and written about that one can see their characters evolving as the story progresses.
I love the way Caroline Linden finds a subject matter and works it into a story that is really worthwhile reading and I am very happy to recommend this one.