Once upon a time there were three young ladies who, despite their fortunes, had been on the Marriage Mart a bit too long. They were known as the “Spinster Heiresses” . . . He’s inherited a title, but not a penny to speak of, so the Earl of Rochdale knows he must find a wife—preferably one tolerably pretty and good-tempered, but definitely wealthy, and willing to exchange her fortune for his … exchange her fortune for his family name.
His choice: Leonie Charnock, one of the season’s “Spinster Heiresses.” Years before, the earl had saved the dark-eyed beauty’s reputation, and she is still breathtakingly lovely, leading Rochdale to hope that their marriage will be more than in name only.
However, Leonie doesn’t want to be anyone’s wife. Nearly destroyed by the secrets in her past, Leonie agrees to their union with one condition: there will be a wedding but no bedding. But it’s a condition the new Countess Rochdale isn’t sure even she can keep . . .
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Many kudos to Ms. Maxwell for dealing with some tough issues – and doing it superbly. Our heroine isn’t the normal skittish maiden. She has some excellent reasons for not wanting to marry and some real issues to overcome. Our hero has his own set of issues and you wonder how they are going to overcome them individually and together to finally reach that HEA they deserve. I do not enjoy dark books at all and I was fearful this one would be dark – but it wasn’t – it was wonderfully hopeful while still leaving you to wonder if they could overcome. However, it isn’t an easy read – definitely not a fluffy and light read. There were times when I wanted to turn both characters over my knee and spank them, but as you learn more about them and come to understand them, you begin to not only like, but respect them.
Leonie Charnock is a very flawed young lady who has no desire to marry. However, her parents want her to marry – and to marry into the aristocracy. Yes, she is literally for sale. That really is a sad commentary on the times, isn’t it? Her home is not a happy one. Her parents live totally separate lives and both ignore her. She has never known love and has no idea what love or happiness is. So, you can imagine how difficult it would be for her to recognize it if she found it. Then, throw in the horrendous thing that happened to her and you have the makings of a total disaster of a life. However, a little tipple now and then makes all the pain and loneliness a little easier to bear.
Roman Gilchrist is now, unexpectedly, the Earl of Rochdale. Sadly, he has inherited a debt-ridden estate and his man of business tells him the only way out is to marry an heiress – a very rich heiress. Roman is a romantic and always wanted to marry for love. His whole family has married for love and they are still in love – he wants that for himself. He soon realizes that the only way to take care of his family is to pay off the earldom’s debts and restore the family seat to a habitable condition. He also feels a deep responsibility for the tenants and others on the estate who depend on him. Therefore, he considers what his man of business has to say – and when the man of business gives him the name of the richest heiress – his mouth drops open. Leonie Charnock!
Roman and Leonie have a history from several years ago when her father worked in India for the East India Company and Roman was a soldier stationed there. I won’t tell you the story because that would be a spoiler – but I can tell you Roman never forgot Leonie. Sometimes that remembrance was not with fondness, but he never forgot her.
I absolutely loved the book, the characters, the writing – well – all of it. My only wish is that it could have been a tad longer so that we could have seen more of the friendship and interactions between the ‘Spinster Heiresses’. I would have also loved an epilogue a year or so out in the future so we could see Leonie and Roman with their bouncing baby AND also see her shocked parents visiting for the first time – shock at the changes in their daughter and how she and Roman are living.
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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 most definitely not your run of the mill Historical Romance novel, Ms. Maxwell has written a very emotional thought provoking story of two people who are not perfect, but perfect for each other. This review might be slightly spoilerish!!
Roman Gilchrist is the new Earl of Rochdale and he is broke. His godfather suggests he marry an heiress to garner the funds he needs to pay off his uncle’s debts and to set the estate to rights. Roman is vehemently opposed to the idea, until he learns that Leonie Charnock is one of the “Spinster Heiresses”.
Leonie and Roman have a past, years ago Roman saved Leonie and paid for the act with his military career. While he has no desire for a loveless marriage for money, he feels that Leonie owes him.
Leonie has no desire to marry and even if she did, Roman would be the last man she would ever consider. Roman is the only person in the world who knows Leonie’s secret shame. When he approaches her at a ball, she slaps him and runs away. Roman follows her and tells her that they will marry and that he already has her father’s permission. She confronts her father and learns that Roman is telling the truth. Later while dancing with the Duke of Camberly, she has a flashback to the worst night of her life and feeling ill, leaves the ball without dancing with Roman.
Her father tells her that she will marry him and she decides to plead her case to her mother. Her mother reinforces her father’s decision and Leonie knows that she will have to marry Roman, and she tries to set the terms of their relationship, to no avail.
Leonie struggles with her past, she wasn’t aware that Roman suffered by covering for her and she is more than a little scared of the intimate side of marriage. So she does what she has always done to calm herself since that awful night, she drinks. Not enough to get drunk, but just a “nip” to help settle herself. Roman smells the brandy on her breathe and is concerned, but she waves it off and convinces him that it was a one time thing. Roman is leery, but tries to be understanding. All seems to be progressing well until the night before the wedding. Leonie drinks too much wine and wakes with a hangover, to settle herself, she decides to have a “nip” and ends up getting foxed.
She makes it through the wedding ceremony and then passes out. Again, Roman protects her, he knows that he loves her, but he is hurt and angry. When she wakes, he confronts her and she admits everything and is shocked to learn, he already knew what happened to her in India. He consoles her even though his is angry and she falls asleep again. When she wakes the next morning, she is told to pack for the country. She decides that she will not drink anymore and sets out with Roman. In the coach, she begins to feel the effects of withdrawal and when they stop for the night, she yearns for a “nip”. But there is no alcohol with dinner and she is ashamed that she wants to drink. She tries to make up to Roman for the previous night and when they retire for the night, she trusts Roman with her body. They make love and she is shocked that she enjoyed it. When they settle down to sleep, Roman tells her he loves her and falls asleep.
Unable to sleep, Leonie goes to the water closet and then wanders into the tap room, she spies a bottle on the table and decides to take “just a sip” – she NEEDS the drink and promises herself that tomorrow she will stop drinking. But this sip leads to another and then she is confronted by the owner of the bottle. He attacks her and she screams. Roman saves her and beats the man, he then discovers she had been drinking. He is livid and orders brandy – he leaves her with the bottle and tells her to choose – she can go back to London or she can come with him.
The next day she chooses to go with Roman, but he shuts himself off from her. She feels terrible about her actions and for being dishonest with him – until they reach his estate and she learns that she is not the only one who lied, and she plots how to repay him.
Leonie meets his family and is charmed, later when they are alone, she lets him know what she thinks of his “holier than thou” act and refuses to share a bed with him. She leaves the room and finds an opened bottle of wine, she finishes the bottle and then settles down to sleep. But Roman has come for her, they kiss and he tastes the wine, he is angry and leaves the room. She follows and apologizes, she tells him she needs help. They make love and he tells her that he still loves her. But he begins to shut her out. She knows she can no longer drink or she will lose Roman.
Leonie begins a journey of self acceptance and forgiveness, but still Roman keeps his distance. He doesn’t trust her not to drink and she doesn’t trust herself. Leonie is confused about her feelings and needs to bare her soul before she can finally move forward.
These two are clearly meant for each other, but there are huge obstacles that must be overcome before they can have a HEA. The story is well written and gripping, the material has triggers that might be difficult for some readers, the secondary characters are wonderful and the love scenes are well done and on the “warm” side. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the other heiresses stories! The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because of the way Roman treated her after she asked for help, in my opinion he did nothing to help her, he claimed to love her, but basically ignored her and kept watching and waiting for her to either fail or prove herself.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher*
A True Hero
There is more to Leonie’s secret than a saved reputation. The Earl of Rochdale rescued her years ago, but both of them are still dealing with the after-effects. Leonie and the Earl of Rochdale are admirable characters in the way they deal with their problems in this story. Their relationship is honest and forthright early on, refreshingly void of prolonged misconceptions, guile, and silly schemes.
This book is well-written, although a bit slow at times. Still, a pleasant read.
Historical romances contain lots of scenes with characters daily drinking of liquor. This is the first to address concerns with alcohol use. Well done.
Interesting tale of two imperfect people with haunting pasts who find love!
In sickness and in health – I loved this book because the heroine wasn’t perfect. I loved the hero because he loved a woman who wasn’t perfect. A very entertaining read, really well written with characters I could love. Bravo. Well done.
The characters are not perfect who redeem themselves in the end.
This novel portrays difficult subjects with honesty and sensitivity. The characters are memorable, and the storyline is memorable as well. This is a good story that’s deeper and more challenging than many historical romance novels. It’s unforgettable.
She is an alcoholic, and he finds out after the wedding. It’s a journey for them both – wonderful.
The book was written well enough that I searched and read several more of her stories!
Love love loved this! A great twist on a typical romanceplot.
Love all her books, this one did not disappoint.
If Ever I Should Love You started off pretty well and then it started going down-hill for me. Leonie Charnock has a lot of baggage and we had reminders quite frequently throughout the story. The Earl of Rochdale, loved Leonie from their time in India together. Between the two of them, it was not a joyful experience during the many rehashes as they each revisited the past as if they sat in a psychiatrist chair. The joyful times had too many gray times and the pendulum went back and forth more times than I would have liked. The ending was a pat happily ever after as if all of their issues could be solved neatly.
Warning: Adult Sexual Content – which you can skip over and still fully enjoy the book.
This story was a good read, but a little different from most of Maxwell’s other books. Here, we have a flawed heroine and a nurturing hero. We come to see the grown of Leonie – as she faces demons from her past and present. We also have a hero (Roman) who learns to truly accept his love as she is, and that sometimes strength means standing back – instead of charging in. I hope we are given a peek into their future as we follow the stories of the other two Spinster Heiresses.
Simple is never part of the equation when it comes to love. Nothing involving the heart ever is. However, the ballad of Leonie and Roman is like is like an onion. The layers run deep and the tears are no surprise. Cathy Maxwell has a talent for breaking a heart in the sweetest of ways. Leonie is stuck in the past, reliving her mistakes and punishing herself for them. It’s hard to like her, but in time you will understand her. Her burden of guilt has flawed her soul. Roman was never meant to be a hero, but he ended up being a twofold one. He had the courage to listen to his heart and pursue the one woman he had to work the hardest for and the foresight to empathize and help mend an at times callous, but brutally broken heart. If Ever I Should Love You may run hot and cold, but it appeals to what makes us human.