All he wants is someone he can trust. All she wants is to belong. But when compromising circumstances force them together, do they have a chance at finding love?Silas Riley, Earl of Inglewood, is known among his peers in Parliament as the man made of stone. As a wealthy peer, there are few he trusts with his friendship. He guards his heart and his honor with vigilance, and when an accident nearly … vigilance, and when an accident nearly takes his life, he’s faced with a situation which threatens his standing in society.
Growing up in the shadow of her older brother, Esther Fox’s acceptance in his circle has been indifferent at best. So when she ends up in a compromising situation as she saves the life of her brother’s dearest friend, the Earl of Inglewood, she is forced to marry him to save her own reputation. Once again, she finds herself accepted only because of the situation, and not because she is truly wanted.
Neither are prepared for a loss which further complicates their new relationship. With such a difficult beginning, can they ever hope to understand one another, let alone find love?
more
Not the usual romantic book
I loved the story and characters in this book. I really felt the compromise between Silas and Esther. The anticipation that everything just had to work out because they were meant to be. I also enjoyed getting to know the group of Friends. Definite joy to read.
I enjoyed the book and the well developed characters.
Well-written. Kept me wanting to keep reading instead of getting to work on things that I needed to get done!!
An enjoyable read for the most part, the reason this fell to a 3 is because the female protagonist was a bit (make that a lot) on the overly dramatic, selfish, and dare I say emo “no-one-understands-me-or-would-care-if-I-disappeared” side.
I love her books!
Friendship and love conquer all.
I listened to the audiobook and it was great; I love British accents. Esther Fox grew up playing with her older brothers and their friend Silas Riley, who is now the Earl of Inglewood. While Esther is out walking with a friend she sees a man about to be killed by a statue, because the ropes hauling it to the second story of a house had given way. She rushes towards the man and pushes him out of the way, landing on top of him right before the statue falls to the ground. It isn’t until later Esther finds out it’s Lord Inglewood!
Because everyone in area of the accident witnessed Esther falling on top of Silas, her reputation could be ruined, even though they can verify that nothing untoward happened. Esther is sent to the country to live until the scandalous incident is forgotten, but of course something else happens and Silas can’t let his dear friend’s sister have her reputation ruined so he and Esther marry. This is just the beginning of problems for these two.
Esther hasn’t had the easiest life. She feels as if she doesn’t belong anywhere and because she’s a woman, she doesn’t have a say in anything. She’s never been asked her opinion on matters even when they concern her. Silas isn’t used to trusting others, and plays things close to the vest.
This is my first book by Sally Britton and I really liked it. I like to see how marriage of convenience couples find their way to each other, and watch them fall in love. Because of their own issues and insecurities, Esther and Silas didn’t communicate well with each other, which of course lead to misunderstandings. This story was well done and we see how these two struggled, but eventually learn to trust each other and work things out.
This story had me feeling all kinds of emotions–I was happy, sad, angry, I laughed. You name it I probably felt it while listening to this book. I already own the next book in this series Discovering Grace and need to find time to read it.
This book begins with a bang, literally. Walking with an acquaintance to Gunter’s, Esther Fox sees that the rope holding a statue of the Greek God Hermes is unraveling as it is being lifted, and it will most certainly fall on a gentleman, Silas Riley, Earl of Inglewood, oblivious to his surroundings, walking nearby. Swiftly she knocks Silas out of the way, and in the process falls on Silas saving him from serious injury or death, but seriously damaging her reputation. Esther’s act of saving Silas Riley, and another incident involving Silas and Esther, compromised Esther, and she is forced to marry Silas.
Esther is the younger sister to Isaac Fox. Growing up Isaac had a set of friends that he was intimately tied to, and the bonds to these childhood friends remain tight. Esther desired to be apart of this intimate circle, but never succeeded. As it turns out, Silas, is also a part of her brother’s intimate circle of friends. Esther spends a good part of her life feeling unwanted, and now as a married woman, she still feels unwanted and unaccepted with her husband and brother’s circle of friends. She also feels very frustrated that she is not allowed to make her own decisions.
She takes up painting, and a favorite part of the book for me, was when she would send the paintings to her husband while he was away.
This is a lovely story that Sally Britton has crafted, and I could really relate to Esther. I was the fifth of five children all born within the time span of six and one-half years. Many times, I felt left behind or if I was included, I often felt like a tag-along.
I enjoyed seeing the growth in Esther and Silas, and I was always rooting for them to succeed as a couple and come to a happy ending. Both Silas and Esther, though having miscommunication issues and struggles, were very likeable.
Marian Hussey is a very capable and talented voice, and she voices the variety of characters with distinction. She moved from female to male voices seamlessly. I read both the book and listened to the audiobook.
Esther is all grown up and ready to be seen as such. When a dramatic experience pushes her to the front scene and all “see” her, it’s not quite what she had in mind. Nevertheless, Silas is an honorable gentleman and marries Esther to help protect her. It would be so much easier if it really was a marriage of convenience; however, Silas is fully aware that Esther is no longer the same little Essie who used to beg to be included in the fun and games. I truly loved how Silas was determined to cherish Esther, which is exactly what her heart craved. Through trials and tribulations, they learn that standing by one another really does pave the way for love to grow and flourish. I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
(I listened to this as an audiobook)
Story: 5 stars
An excellently written story! We journey with the H and h through the gentle evolution of their feelings for one another. The author doesn’t rush, but takes her time and it all feels natural and perfectly timed.
The characters really do evolve and change and it is wonderful to see their growth.
I’m hoping this is part of a series, because I really didn’t want it to end.
Narration: 5 stars
Excellent narrator who truly does a wonderful job with the various voices. It is so true that a narrator can ‘make or break’ a book and this narrator makes a wonderful book all the better!
*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special
What a wonderful story about turning my mishap into something wonderful. Esther is a caring and compassionate woman. She saw someone in danger and risked her life to save them. Once she realizes it was her brother’s best friend, everything changed. This is a clean regency romance. I’ve read a number of Sally Britton’s books and this one does not disappoint!
A good clean romance. Esther rescues a man from a fall statue, to find it’s her brother’s best friend Silas. In the process she has ruin her reputation and they marry. She has always lived in the shadows of her brother and his friends. Will that continue in her marriage?
The emotions were so real in this one! From the loneliness, to the feeling of not being wanted by anyone and to the love growing between the two. A wonderful book! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
While the premise is a little silly in some ways (let’s face it, most historical rom-coms are), this is a fun story. I really enjoyed it.
I adored the heroine and her struggle. The need to feel loved and needed by others is something that most people can identify with, and I think that the story does a really good job of using that without making the heroine whiny. And the way that weakness is used to amp up the tension is wonderful. The miscommunication and misunderstanding between the hero and heroine is believable and isn’t over-the-top or carried on too long.
I’m definitely going to check out the next books coming out in the series.
England 1814
Esther Fox has been living in London with her step-brother and his wife for the past 2 years while her only remaining family member, her brother Isaac, was off fighting Napoleon in Europe. She had been placed there without any input into the decision by her brother when he put his affairs in order to go to war. Once again, Esther found herself excluded from decision making regarding herself. After her efforts saved the life of young man, she was excluded in any discussion of what was to be done with her, to protect her ‘reputation’, and was sent out of the city supposedly to visit friends. Even when she is to become betrothed to Silas Riley, Earl of Inglewood, she is not asked by him to marry him, but he announces her as his betrothed to a crowd! Thus, in such a depersonalized way she enters into that most personal relationship of being a wife.
The story could have been named, “The Education of Lord Inglewood”, as it is a study in how Silas becomes acquainted with, and sympathetic to, the way Esther has had important decisions about her, ripped away by other well-meaning people without regard for her thoughts and wishes. A wonderful storyline, fine characters in the H & h, a budding romance and a HEA, make a wonderful story. Further, it provides a deep look at what life must have been like for millions of young women —for centuries.
I received a free copy of the book. My review is voluntary.
This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Ms. Britton’s characters are simply sublime. You will laugh. You will cry. You will love this book. Classic Regency Romance at its best.
I love Sally Britton and excited to read this book. I love how it started, keeping us intrigued with the statue. I loved seeing Silas and Esther learning about each other and figuring out their way. The end was a shock as I didnt expect that to happen, but Silas and Esther on the beach – all the heart eye emojis! Happy there’s another book to follow up with characters.
With her brother fighting in the war, Esther has been tossed around, going where she’s told to go. But, when an attempt to save a man’s life gets turned by the gossips into a compromise to her reputation, she’s sent away again, but this time at the command of the man she saved, her brother’s oldest friend, Lord Inglewood.
Silas, Earl of Inglewood, simply thinks he’s protecting his best friend’s sister. Yet, when they get caught in another compromise, he decides he must marry her – thinking he’s protecting her again. But, he’s unprepared for Esther’s reaction when she feels that everyone decides everything for her.
What follows is a very emotional, and even melancholy, story of two people who find themselves married, yet are little more than strangers. Esther has been searching all her life for a place to belong and friends to want to be with her by choice and not because they were told. Silas grew up with very few people around him whom he could trust.
In many ways, my heart broke for Esther. She was tired of being ignored and sent away. Yet, she felt powerless to change her fate. Silas, on his part, had grown up mostly alone and didn’t understand anything other than being in charge. Fortunately, he understood that he was doing something wrong and accepted the advice of a close friend.
This is a very different tone from the author’s previous works, yet as I continued reading, I felt the emotions of each character. I felt Esther’s frustration and despair. I felt Silas’ confusion at her misunderstanding his motives. Then, as they began to understand each other better, the romance grew and was so pure and real that when Silas defended his wife to his friends, I wanted to cheer!
Trigger warning – reference to war, death, battle injuries. Also, description of depression and loneliness.
Romance – PG / kissing
Language – clean
Violence – near death experience from falling statue. Battle description
My rating – 5 stars
I won’t spoil details. Suffice to say there were many scenes I loved in this book! I love the romance and progression of this story. I love the format where we get to understand the inner thoughts of both the man and woman. I love the anticipation for when they finally communicate openly and resolve their conflict. It’s all wonderful! If you’re wanting a twisty, clean romance to love, I certainly recommend this one. Sally Britton has done it again!