A scarred and lonely viscount and an independent young woman are forced into an arranged marriage. What hope do they have for a happily ever after?
Rebecca Devon lives under the severe eye of her aunt and the iron will of her father. Though she wears what she is told and befriends the people they choose for her, she spends every moment longing to do as she wishes. Knowing freedom will only come … wishes. Knowing freedom will only come through marriage, her hopes for a happy union are stolen away when her father arranges her marriage to a complete stranger.
Christian Hundley, Lord Easton, has learned the hard way that English society won’t accept a person who looks or behaves differently than their ideal. He has hidden himself away from scornful eyes for years, until his aging grandfather takes matters in hand and finds Christian a bride. Knowing he must agree to the marriage, Christian shields his heart. If the whole of society cannot accept him, why should his bride?
Rebecca knows she must have love in her life, but Christian is convinced there is nothing so fraught with danger and pain as entrusting one’s heart to another. Rebecca does everything she can to change his mind, but Christian is determined to remain aloof. Can an arranged marriage ever be anything other than a business partnership?
While this is the fifth book in the Regency romance series, Branches of Love, it can be read as a stand-alone romance.
Other titles in the series are:
Martha’s Patience, a prequel novella
The Social Tutor
The Gentleman Physician
His Bluestocking Bride
The Earl and His Lady
Miss Devon’s Choice
…and Book Six is coming Spring 2019.
more
A wonderfully well written nice heartwarming sweet story. This nice flowing clean romance was engaging with a nice balance of emotions. It’s a wonderful journey as Rebecca slowly breaks through defenses looking past the disfigurement and allusiveness. The characters are sympathetic and compelling in a beautifully narrated story.
Overall Rating: 5 stars
Story Rating: 5 stars
Narrator-Kim Bretton: 5 stars
Loving is a choice.
What I liked or noticed:
• What do you do with an arranged marriage? Rebecca’s father arranged a marriage for her without her ever meeting the groom to be, Christian. This caught my interest right away.
• I liked Rebecca. She was smart, kind, and wanted to make the most of what life gave her. She was determined to get to know her betrothed and try to fall in love with him. Will Rebecca be able to make more than a business partnership marriage? Will she be able to turn this match into a love match?
• There were many secondary players in this novel. They were varied, well developed, interesting, and added depth to the storyline.
• The descriptions of locations and emotions were very well done, easy to visualize, and to feel.
• The pacing of this story was good. It was neither too fast nor too slow.
• There was a smooth, coherent flow to this book. The author’s writing style was descriptive, clear, and concise.
• This was a clean read and I appreciated that.
• The narrator did an excellent job in differentiating the various characters’ voices. She had a pleasant voice.
• I really enjoyed this book. I will be reading more books by Sally Britton.
At my request, I was given a free copy of this audiobook from the author. I have voluntarily left my review and my opinions were my own.
A 4.5.
I always enjoy Sally Britton’s writing; she is a must read for me, but I have to say that Miss Devon’s Choice is one of my favorites!
Rebecca Devon’s father is forcing her to marry Christian Hundley, Lord Easton, even though they have never met before. Rebecca’s father and Christian’s grandfather believe this marriage will improve their social, political, and financial standing in society. Rebecca has been invited to a house party at her cousin’s home, and Rebecca feels like a house party would be the perfect opportunity to get to know her betrothed. Rebecca contrives to invite Lord Easton to the house party, and he accepts the invitation.
When Rebecca and Elizabeth meet, neither are impressed with each other. If she must marry, Rebecca is determined to fall in love with her husband. Her older sisters are both happily married, and they are in love with their husbands; however Christian sees this marriage as nothing more than a business arrangement. Will Rebecca’s desire for a marriage of love be possible?
This is a delightful story of bringing two wounded hearts together. I am a huge fan of stories set at house parties, and this house party is being hosted by her lovable cousin Virginia, married to the Earl of Annesbury. At the house party, we meet both her sisters, Christine and Julia, and their very amiable husbands. I loved the loving relationships that she and her sisters share.
This really is a sweet romance, and it really melted my heart. I adored both Rebecca and Christian and kept on rooting for them through the twists and turns of their relationship.
I read both the book and listened to the audio book narrated by Kim Bretton. I was amazed at the variety of voices she was able to portray.
Rebecca has always done what everyone expects, but longs for her own happy union. When her cruel father arranges a marriage for her, she’s determined to find the good in the situation. She meets Christian prior to the wedding during a prearranged holiday and tells him she’s determined to love him. Christian has built tough walls around his heart and doesn’t even know what to do this information. In time though, he begins to see the generous and beautiful heart of Rebecca and love triumphs. I love their mutual interest in books and the genuine support of their loved ones. Characters are well written and previous friends make appearances as well. Part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone. I received a free copy of this book from the author. All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own, freely given.
Rebecca Devon’s father is a nasty, unfeeling man who arranges a marriage for her for his benefit to a man she has never even seen, Christian Hundley. She decides to make the best of it and have him invited to a week of outings at her cousin’s the Duke’s house to get to know him. Christian has been tormented and ridiculed his whole life for being half Italian and scarred from smallpox, so he refuses to have love in the marriage arrangement even after Rebecca tells him she wants love in the marriage. Who will win the love battle?
This is my favorite of the series, and maybe my favorite of Sally Britton’s so far (though I do love Rescuing Lord Inglewood a ton, too). While this is a classic “marriage of convenience” trope mixed with “Beauty and the Beast,” the story does things that are unique and interesting that take it away from being too formulaic.
I especially loved the heroine. While she is outspoken at times and a strong character, she doesn’t lapse into being too modern. She’s bound by the strictures of her controlling father and aunt, but she still has moments where she fights against it–in believable ways that fit a woman of that time period. On top of that, she’s so determined to make the best of the situation, which is endearing. She does what she can to find happiness in the horrid situation she’s forced into.
Rebecca father and aunt are tyrants and force marriage and society rules upon her in the most uncaring ways. Meeting her fiancee she see a man with scars not just in his face but his heart too. Good book
She was forced to do everything by her about and rather while all the long she wants what she needs. A marriage is arranged and she is not happy. He is good he must marry but he is unhappy about it as well. Could two disillusioned people finally find the love they both need and deserve? See how they will finally get sorted
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A wonderfully written story. Two outcasts forced into an arranged marriage for business purposes. Rebecca chooses to fall in love with her betrothed. Christian is determined to keep thing impersonal. As Rebecca breaks through Christians defenses he feels that he is not good enough for her. With Rebecca’s tenacity he realizes he does want to marry her, but he sets something in motion that might ruin his chances. But love is patient. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing.
The fifth book in the Branches of Love series it is a well-written book that held my interest throughout. Rebecca Devon has lived under the harsh rules of her Aunt and Father she wants to marry for love but her Father has other plans. Christian Hundley, Lord Easton is the man chosen but he also wants different things too. I was not putting this book down until I had finished it I had to know what was going to happen. A book I would recommend. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is one of those wholesome romances that when I finished, I felt satisfied, content, and peaceful. Now, that was at the end of the story; getting there caused different feelings altogether. Sally Britton did an excellent job developing her characters. Christian and Rebecca want different things from their upcoming arranged marriage which naturally causes tension. There are twists and turns to the plot. The majority of the setting is in rural England at a two-week house party. I would recommend this to readers of historical romance and to readers of sweet romance. I received an ARC. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this well-written book.