In the game of love… rather see him die, Georgiana blurts out that he’s her fiancé. She’ll nurse the hateful man back to health and make him vow to leave and never return. The man who wakes up, though, is nothing like the heartless rogue Georgiana thought she knew…
You have to risk it all
He wakes up with no memory of being assaulted—or of who he is. The bewitching beauty tending him so devotedly calls him Rob and claims she’s his fiancée even as she avoids his touch. Though he can’t remember how he won her hand, he’s now determined to win her heart. But as his memory returns and the truth is revealed, Rob must decide if the game is up—or if he’ll take a chance on a love that defies all odds.
more
Oh my goodness, I had SO MUCH FUN with this one! I didn’t know WHAT was going to happen when the Marquess was found in the state in which he was found. I was over the moon when Georgina not only got her way with the horse groom, but saved the savaged soul with her blatant lie. I couldn’t believe how even without his memory, he FELT when things were or weren’t right, and when revelations came about a little under halfway through the book, my heart leaped for joy at his understanding. As things continued, I was at my wit’s end trying to see what would or wouldn’t happen for both her and him, while watching some things unravel, familial connections become further frayed, and Georgina come out of any remaining shell.
All in all, a WONDERFUL read for Historical Romance fans. The tension is there throughout the story, as are the stolen moments, but the steam factor is kept to a scene or two, so you won’t have to hide your face behind a fan while stemming off a fit of reddening. While my first time reading this series, it stands perfectly on its own, so no worries about having to read the others first, though you know, the more the merrier!
**copy received for review; opinions are my own
I am loving this series!
Though amnesia plots can often test the boundaries of believability, Ms. Linden did a really good job with this one. Yes, Georgiana spent way too much of the story lying to Rob about who he was (convenient that he had the same first name as her actual fiance, though!) but she did have a valid reason for it and fessed up to her sins nicely (eventually…) and Rob, true romance hero that he is, forgave her.
But he didn’t forget her, of course…because, romance hero 😉
What followed is an engrossing tale as we watch two people who met under dodgy circumstances get to know each other better and fall in love. Georgiana had some personal issues to resolve–the fact that she was already engaged being just the tip of the iceburg–and Rob had an espionage-y type mission to complete (with the help of an earlier series hero and heroine!) before we can finally get to the HEA.
Which we do, of course. And it’s glorious.
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Georgiana Lucas is taking a break from her enjoyable London season by visiting her friend Kitty, who lives in the country. Georgiana has been engaged for two years to Viscount Sterling, who lives next door to her family home, and whom she has loved forever. Kitty receives word from her husband that the notorious Marquess Westmorland has won their home in a wager, and may be on his way to cast them out into the streets. Under no circumstances should he be admitted to their home, and the fiery Kitty is angry enough to do him bodily harm if he should appear.
The marquess is indeed on his way to Kitty’s home, but not for the purpose she imagines. Though he is a drinker, a gambler, and a rogue, he has no intention of taking a home away from a family. In fact, he did his best to discourage Sir Charles’s wager, but his advice fell on deaf ears. As he gets near to the home, he is accosted by three men, who manage to beat him senseless. He’s only rescued when Georgiana and her servant scare them away. The marquess, Robert, looks to be near death’s door, and Georgiana has him taken to Kitty’s home and summons a doctor.
As Georgiana is washing the blood away from his face, she recognizes who the stranger is. If Kitty discovers it’s the man who now owns her home, she may toss him out, regardless of his grave condition. Georgiana has no love for Robert, as he and his set are often cruel, and she has been the victim of one of his mocking insults. Still, she can’t leave anyone to die, so she concocts the story that Robert is really her fiancé, Sterling. It’s the best she can think of at the moment, and buys her some time until Robert regains consciousness, and she can explain the situation to him.
Only, there’s one slight flaw in her plan. The severe injury to Robert’s head causes him to waken with no memory of who he is, and the attending doctor jumps right in and introduces Georgiana as his fiancée. This Robert, who now thinks he is Sterling, is nothing like the sarcastic wastrel Georgiana saw in London. Since everyone thinks they are betrothed, the household allows her to spend basically all her time with him, nursing him, reading to him, and taking her meals with him. Georgiana fears telling him the truth because of the effect it may have on his recovery. This kind and charming man is having quite an effect on Georgiana!
This idyll is absolutely brilliant and romantic. Robert senses the little distance between himself and Georgiana, and believes he has committed some transgression that he is determined to atone for. He tells Georgiana how lovely she is, how lucky he is, and he begins to genuinely care for her. Robert has lost all of his arrogance and has seemingly changed into a caring and considerate man. As for Georgiana, she can’t deny that she’s attracted to Robert, but she is engaged, and that’s something she’s not going to change. The longing and smoldering desire between them literally jumps off the pages.
As is bound to happen, reality intrudes in the form of Robert’s brother, who has come looking for him. Slowly, some of his memories begin to return. I absolutely love that he doesn’t immediately berate Georgiana for her actions, but listens to her reasons, and understands her motive. As it’s time for him to return to his life, he finds that he truly wants Georgiana to be his wife. Will he revert to his old personality once he’s back among his friends? Will his feelings change once he’s away from Georgiana? Will she continue with her engagement? Who attacked Robert, and why? WHEN THE MARQUESS WAS MINE is genuinely romantic, heartwarming, and entertaining. I love this couple, and their unlikely meeting that led to a beautiful and lasting love. This book was a joy to read and I highly recommend it.
As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-YV
I really enjoyed reading this book. It had the flavor of the movie “While you were sleeping” with Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. This book is written with the H/h as mature characters. I was even impressed with the secondary characters. I liked how the Rob and Georgiana slowly got to know one another. There was no insta-love or insta-lust which I have read plenty of. I liked the witty repartee Rob and Georgiana had going between them. Their blossoming friendship that grew to love was refreshing in the fact that it was organic, logical and down-to-earth. There was no hiding of true feelings or childhood history. At the beginning, their being together was of an unusual occurrence and circumstances. Georgiana was in the country visiting a dear friend Kitty when they received word from Kitty’s husband that the Marquess of Westmorland (Rob) had cheated Kitty’s husband Charles out their home. Charles turned everyone in the household against Rob. Kitty was determined to bar Westmorland from entering the house from throwing them out. She was so determined to stop him she went as far as readying a pistol. When Georgiana and Angus were out riding, they came upon three highwaymen attacking someone. Angus the stable master wanted them to leave and have nothing to do with it. Georgiana for the sake of her conscious could never leave a poor soul alone in danger. Angus with his pistol scared the highwaymen away and they found a man bloody and badly beaten unconscious on the ground. She could not turn away from helping the man. He was bleeding to death. Angus was reluctant but got him to Kitty’s home. When the man’s body was turned over and she saw who he was she gasped. It was Westmorland. To protect his identity, she had to lie in order for him to get the medical attention he needed. Otherwise if Kitty’s family knew who he really was they may turn him out. She told Kitty and her family that he was Sterling her fiancé. One lie lead to another lie and soon she was filled with guilt, doubt and feared the repercussions from her dearest friend Kitty and of course Rob. When Rob could not remember who he was, he became the person that was always hidden underneath his rakish, cavalier, arrogant attitude, a person Georgiana could admire and respect and not loath. One of the subplots was that of Georgiana’s two-year betrothal to Sterling. I thought it was handled with thoughtfulness, truth and care. When Georgiana broke up with Sterling there was no immature crying or pouting or screaming or tempers flaring. Confusion and anger yes, but none of the other. Another subplot was Georgiana’s eldest and only brother Alistair who was twenty years older than her. They had the same father but different mothers. He was miserly with Georgiana’s pin money and wished she was never born. There was no love lost between them. Their personalities were like day and night. Georgiana was considerate of all around her, even the staff. Alistair was a cruel taskmaster only thinking of himself. The storyline here was why was there a delay in her marriage to Sterling. When the truth reveals itself, Georgiana was blindsided. Another subplot involved Rob and one of his friends. They were to spy on and bring the downfall of a man in the shipping business whose cargo was slaves. It was illegal in England but no one could pin a thing on this man. Now this portion of the story as short as it had a flavor of the movie “The Sting” with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. I loved how at the end those that deserved it got their comeuppance. That included Alistair and the shipping magnet Forester. The plot and subplot storylines all flowed and tied into to one another seamlessly. I was unaware of any spelling or editing problems in this book. Which surprised me. A very good surprise. There is much to praise about this book. All I can say is that it is a must read. You will not be disappointed.
During a drunken card game Robert Churchill-Grey wins the deed to Sir Charles Winston’s house. Winston is an idiot who shouldn’t be gambling to begin with, but he insists on his participation and the bet. Rob doesn’t even remember winning the deed and doesn’t want the house. On his way to set things straight and return the deed to Winston’s wife, he is beaten and left for dead. Lady Georgiana Lucas, a friend of Winston’s wife, Kitty, rescues him and recognizes him as the “Malicious Marquess.” Since Winston has spun a tale painting Rob as the villain in this tale, Georgiana is afraid Kitty won’t let him in the house and lies about his identity, even to him when he awakens with amnesia. The story? He is her fiancé. All goes well, and they are getting to know each other (sort of) until Rob’s brother shows up. Now what happens? To Rob and Georgiana? To the house?
The third installment in the Wagers of Sin series is an interesting story with a lot of humor, a bit of intrigue, and a love story that needs a little untangling. At the beginning, Rob, who is the Marquess of Westmoreland, is the typical society rake, wealthy and self-centered, arrogant and rude. He is much nicer when he can’t remember who he is. When he regains his memory, he likes the new him. Lady Georgiana Lucas is an orphan who was sent away to school by her hateful half-brother when she was very young. She is a beautiful, intelligent, and caring person. At first glance, it’s hard to see how these two could ever fit together, but things, and people, change. I like the way Sophie, the Duchess of Ware, advises and encourages Georgiana. Rob’s brother Tom is awesome. A soldier, a fighter, a great brother, and a huge annoyance, he definitely has Rob’s back. There’s a little excitement at the Vega Club near the end of the story, and Nick Dashwood, the club’s owner, steps in to keep things from getting out of hand (hehe). I am really enjoying this series. I look forward to what comes next. Maybe Tom or Dashwood?
I received an ARC of this book from the author and publisher via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary.
Georgina is visiting her friend Kitty’s house in Derbyshire when a missive is sent not to let in the Marquess of Westmorland. Unbeknownst to the ladies in the country, Kitty’s husband has wagered away the family home.
Robert Churchchill-Gray is on the way to the property when he is beset and arrives bloody. Georgina claims that he’s her fiancé.
Likable characters, an idiot who gambles and a memory to recover (Robert).
Cuz Robert wakes up with no memory and a fiancée he doesn’t know.
Guess it takes several blows to the head and memory loss to turn a Malicious Marquess into the wildly romantic Rob.
First of all I love this cover. Rob is living the life he wants. He has a loving family, wealth and status. His perspective changes the day he wakes up gazing into the beautiful face of Georgiana. She is an orphan waiting on her day to marry while she enjoys society. What starts as a lie to protect her friends and Rob soon becomes a reality.
This is an exciting story that brings two unexpected hearts together. It is glorious to watch as Georgiana becomes the fierce young woman she was meant to be. The characters are marvelous, Tom, who annoys his brother Rob and Sophie, who is a dear friend to Georgiana. As they come together to demolish a foe and ensure that the two lovebirds can get their happily ever after.
This is a fun, lighthearted read with a really sweet romance that’s kind of a friends-to-lovers on the guy’s part and a hate-to-love on the woman’s. 🙂
***
At the Vega Club, a gambling, loser gentleman (Charles) is “swindled” out of his home by a group of scandalous lords, specifically the Marquess of Westmorland (Rob). Charles warns his wife, Kitty, that Rob might be coming to their country home, and she shouldn’t let him in the door. Turns out Rob doesn’t even remember winning the house – he was drunk. Instead of just giving it back to Charles, he decides to basically go tattle on him to his wife and family and give his side of the story. But on his way there, he is attacked by thugs and left unconscious. Kitty’s houseguest, Lady Georgiana, finds him on the road and rescues him. As she gets him to Kitty’s house, Georgiana realizes she actually knows him – that he is the cruel marquess that is coming to kick her friend out of the house as well as the jerk who said mean things about her behind her back. Well, since Georgiana is so nice, she decides to help Rob anyway, but thinks Kitty won’t if she knows who he really is, so Georgiana lies and says that the injured man is her real fiance, Sterling. Lucky for her, when he wakes up, Rob has amnesia and just goes along with being her fiance.
***
I love the romance that develops between the two main characters. Rob wakes up to find he apparently has a fiancee, and he just feels like crap for 1) not remembering and 2) apparently not being that affectionate toward her (because her real fiance – who luckily has the same first name – is a loser). It was so enjoyable to see Rob try to become the man that he feels like Georgiana deserves.
On the other hand, Georgiana is really conflicted throughout the book because Rob is apparently a completely different person post-amnesia. She’s really confused that the man she hated doesn’t seem to exist anymore. I get that the situation changed him (plus, he really wasn’t as bad as Georgiana built him up to be in her mind), but the fact is before the events of the story, she did overhear him insult her at a ball to a group of people, and he never had to answer for that, so that was just a loose end I would have liked to have seen addressed.
It is the Wagers of Sin series, so the ending takes us back to the Vega Club. As much as I enjoyed reading the scene on the page, the card game scene just didn’t seem to mesh with the rest of the story, taking it in a half-hearted spy novel direction.
Rob & Georgiana’s romance is a bit of a slow-burn and really develops from friendship to love as she takes care of him after his attack. Sophie’s book (My Once and Future Duke) is still my fave, but I love this series’ cast of characters and can’t wait to see more of the Vega Club – especially the owner.
When Georgiana comes across a man being beaten to death, she has to intervene. She has him brought back to the home of the friend she is staying to get medical attention. But when she sees his face, she realizes that it is the Marquess of Westmoreland, the very man that is going to throw her friend out of their home. She knows her friend will never all that man in her home and might actually harm him, so she tells everyone that the man is her fiancé, that no one has met yet. The only problem is what happens when the man wakes up and contradicts what she has told them.
Rob wakes up and has no memory of what has happened or who he is. But he does know that the woman who claims to be his fiancée intrigues him like no other. But she doesn’t act like a fiancée should and he knows there is more to the story than she is telling him.
What happens when Rob regains his memory and the truth comes out to all involved?
I absolutely adored Georgiana and Rob’s story! I loved watching them get to know one anther. Georgiana has a picture of Rob from just seeing him in London over the years and that is not the man she is coming to know. We see her struggle with what her brain is telling her and what her heart is saying. This was a great addition to the Wagers of Sin series and I’m excited to see what Linden has in store for use next!
What an absolute joy to read. I adored the characters and the unique twist on the amnesia trope and blazed my way through this in nearly one sitting. When Caroline Linden put Lady Georgiana and Robert Churchill-Gray together, sparks fly from the page.
When Lady Georgiana Lucas makes an impulsive decision, she does so with great panache. She finds herself in the predicament of holding a man’s life in her hands and being the good girl, she lies to keep him alive. It’s a completely understandable reaction. But what follows is not something she has thought through, and so to keep up pretenses, the lies grow bigger and bigger. But so does affection.
Rob, the Marquess of Westmoreland has just awoken from a near-death experience to see an angel, in the form of Georgiana. Why wouldn’t he believe everything she tells him? As she continues to nurse him back to health, a bond grows and the electric connection solidifies. But there are many facts of life separating them and much will need to be tossed aside if we are to see these two together.
I have to say that this book invoked all the feelings that encompass the “warm fuzzies”. I found myself smiling at their banter, I felt a flutter in my heart as they so easily develop a friendship, and I was immensely happy with Rob as he sets out to win her heart. They connect on such a cellular level and I loved how Georgiana stood up for herself and her happiness.
This is the first book by Caroline Linden that I’ve read and it won’t be my last. Her writing is impeccable and her gift for storytelling kept me captivated. There’s an element of suspense surrounding Georgiana’s family fortune which drives the plot forward and gives us cause to be elated with the ending. 5 Stars and recommendation!
How the Marquess Was Mine is a surprisingly sweet story for the final installment of the Wagers of Sin series.
The crux of the story centers on an unexpected romance that emerges when an injury gives a haughty lord a fresh chance at life as a happier, kinder, more thoughtful man.
Georgiana is a refreshing heroine who doesn’t always think clearly on her feet. I liked how she made the mistake and tried to mitigate it without having regrets about saving a life, even with the mess she made. Linden did a beautiful job portraying her stress, conviction, surprise, and developing love as Georgiana was confronted with a man nothing like she expected.
The romance in this was sweet, but well-developed. I was so glad Linden didn’t cram in extra heat because it wasn’t suited for this story. Georgiana had a fiance she remained loyal to (and brava Caroline Linden, there was no love triangle!!) and the tension was all the better as a result.
Rob was also a very likable character and I really appreciated how he processed through what had happened to him and didn’t lash out at others. He was easygoing and funny and I loved his devotion to Georgiana.
The only quibbles I had were the following:
-It was not clearly explained how Rob’s personality changed. People just said he was bad before but aside from Georgiana’s example, we aren’t given too many glimpses into how he changed as a result of his injury.
-Some of the final drama surrounding Rob’s dabbling in the spy arena felt out of place and were not given enough page time earlier in the story for me to care much at the end.
Overall, a sweet story with likable leads, a well-executed amnesia plotline (I know it has been done before, but Linden does it well), and a final visit to the Vega Club. A nice way to spend an afternoon <3
When the Marquess Was Mine is the third 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 Georgiana Lucas.
Lady Georgiana Lucas is beautiful, vivacious and been engaged since she turned eighteen to Viscount Sterling. Their fathers were friends and they grew up together on neighboring estates. Her hateful half brother has been her guardian since her parent’s death and has delayed the settlements for over two years.
Robert Churchill-Gray, Marquess of Westmorland is tall, handsome, charming, and a rake who is heir to the Duke of Rowland. He’s considered one of the most eligible men in England, and along with his friends leads a life full of debauchery. To Lady Georgiana, he’s nicknamed the Malicious Marquess.
Oh my! I’ve been waiting for this book ever since I heard about it and Ms. Linden did not disappoint! For those of us who have read the previous books in this series, we’ve already met Georgiana and heard of her fiancé Sterling, and how she’s been in love with him since she was a little girl. So I was quite surprised to find out that Georgiana’s HEA didn’t include Sterling. But I trust Ms. Linden and her writing and was willing to give her a chance to take me and Georgiana down a different path. 😉
So our couple first meets while Georgiana is visiting her friend Kitty in the country, she stumbles across a badly beaten man who is near death and rescues him. When she realizes it is Rob, the Marquess of Westmoreland, she panics as Kitty hates the Marquess. Kitty has been told by her husband that Rob stole the deed to their home. So in a moment of duress, she claims Rob is her fiancé, Lord Sterling. I absolutely loved Rob and Georgiana’s time together while he recovered from amnesia. Rob is not at all who Georgiana thought he was and she starts to question her feelings for him and for Sterling. Ms. Linden did a wonderful job of dealing with Rob’s amnesia and Georgiana’s conflicting feelings.
I absolutely loved Rob & Georgiana’s story! Although this book is third in the series, it could easily be a stand-alone. But I do highly recommend the previous books in the series. It was fabulous to see past characters from the previous stories and we have a bunch of new characters that helped make this story perfect. I would love to see Sterling get his HEA in the future and would love to find out more about Rob’s brothers and family. Such a wonderful story and couple, that I struggled to put this book down. Will look forward to seeing what Ms. Linden has in store for us next, I know I can’t wait! Highly recommend!
Charles Winston got carried away at the exclusive Vega Club and lost his money and the deed to his home to the Marquess of Westmoreland. It was Westmoreland’s birthday and he and his friends were partying. Later, Westmoreland was on his way to Winston’s estate to return the deed when he was attacked and injured near the estate.
Georgiana Lucas is visiting her friend Kitty, Lady Winston, when they learned of what happened. She’s avoiding her brother who wants her to marry his friend. Georgie was out riding when she discovered Westmoreland, and with help, took him to the Winston’s home. Georgie uses another name for him as she thinks he’s come to take their home. When he awakens, he doesn’t know who he is, so she gives him a false name and says she’s his fiancée.
In the meantime, his brother has been searching for and finds him. She returns to London and he returns to his father’s estate. He is angry, but his father encourages him to visit her in London. They do have a HEA, but with many other things going on. You’ll enjoy this wonderful book by Caroline Linden!!
Robert Churchill-Gray, the Marquess of Westmoreland, has cultivated his reputation as a wild rake, all part and parcel of his plan to help his friend’s uncle by revealing a certain gentleman’s illegal trade practices. All is going well until an inexperienced young man outside his friend group wagers his house on a card game and Rob wins. Of course Rob doesn’t want the house, but when the embarrased and now house-poor Sir Charles Winston drags Rob’s name through the mud, denouncing him as a cheat, Rob cannot simply return the house as he’d intended, but feels he must teach Charles a lesson. Rob sets out for Derbyshire to the property in question with the intent of warning Winston’s family of his irresponsible behavior.
Lady Georgiana Lucas has no use for the hateful, haughty marquess she met in London and she assures her friend Kitty, distressed by her husband’s frantic letters, that the marquess would never deign to venture to the wilds of Derbyshire to turn them out of their house. So when Lord Westmoreland turns up beaten and unconscious on the road to Osbourne House, Georgiana is shocked. So shocked in fact that she lies and declares him to be her fiance, Lord Sterling, in order to ensure that Kitty will care for him and not leave him to die. She hopes to get him back on his feet in exchange for forcing him to relinquish Osbourne House. But when Rob awakens with no memory of the assault, or even his own identity, Georgiana’s lies become more complicated. Rob can’t remember acquiring a fiance but now he’s determined to keep her. But as Rob’s memory returns and Georgiana’s deception is revealed, they must both decide if they’ll stay the course they’ve set or make abrupt changes to their lives.
This book was different and I loved that. It seems like the amnesia trope is rarely applied to the hero and I liked that it was here. What bothered me was the sheer volume of lying from Georgiana. Lying is a huge issue for me and lying about someone’s identity for what are ultimately rather selfish reasons, no matter how justified, was hard for me to get over. I know Rob forgave her but still. I also didn’t really buy that Rob woke up a different man, completely changed from his cold, roguish ways, however he did turn out to be a very likable hero for me and his family was especially delightful.
This book was well-written, but I did struggle with the pacing and by about 60% I had a hard time paying attention. I really did not care for Georgiana, even with her growth and good intentions, her consistent refusal to be open with Rob even after he regained his memory and the truth was out was a turn off for me. Also, somehow despite the rather instant chemistry these two had, it was rather a slow burn for me and that contributed to my difficulty in staying invested in their story. This story also took some turns that made it seem a bit discombobulated, though it picked up towards the end and pulled me back in and I enjoyed that. I truly loved Rob and he saved the story for me so I’d now like to read the rest of the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Georgiana Lucas despises the arrogant and cruel Marquis of Westmorland even before learning that he’s won the deed to her friend Kitty’s home in a card game. Still, Georgiana assures Kitty that there’s no way he’ll personally throw them out—until he shows up, bloody and unconscious. He wakes up with no memory of who he is & Georgiana blurts out that he’s her fiancé Rob.
The trope of lost memory & not being told who he really is, is probably my least favourite. However the author is a must read for me & I was intrigued to see how the story would develop & it developed extremely well in fact I think this is the first time I’ve given a book with this trope a five star rating.. A well written engrossing read, it did take me a little while to be thoroughly enthralled but once I was the pages flew by & it was the small hours by the time I finished it. Well rounded characters & a story that flowed well. There are a couple of mysteries to be resolved as well as romance. I also hope Tom has his story.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
You know how a lake ripples when you toss in a small rock with the concentric circles of the ripples growing larger and larger? That is how the story of Lady Georgiana Lucas and Robert Churchill-Grey, Marquess of Westmoreland, goes. One small action leads to the next and on to the next. Normally I don’t care for the trope where one person misidentifies another when their memory is lost. However, I found it perfectly acceptable in this book because it was done out of fear, to save a man’s life, and to protect him while he healed.
Georgiana is happy in her life even though she’s lost both of her parents. She attends balls, soirees, garden parties, enjoys dancing, has lovely friends and a fiancé she’s loved since she was eight years old. She does, however, thoroughly dislike her despicable brother, and she’s not overly fond of her chaperone, Lady Sidlow.
Happily, Georgiana convinced her chaperone to allow her to travel to Maryfield to visit one of her best friends, Kitty, who has a new baby. While enjoying a fast ride across the countryside, she and the groom who was accompanying her came across three men beating another man to death. When the thugs run off and leave the man lying, unmoving, in the ditch, Georgiana knows she has to help him. She witnessed her father’s death and she absolutely cannot watch someone else die – she won’t. The groom is reluctant to help, but Georgiana insists and they take him back to Kitty’s house. When the man falls off the horse and turns on his back, Georgiana gasps. She recognizes the vile Marquess of Westmoreland – the dastard who is coming to throw her friend out of her home. Still, she can’t let him die and if she tells Kitty who he is, that is exactly what Kitty will do – she’ll leave him untreated and will let him die. So, Georgiana identifies the man as Lord Sterling, her betrothed, because she knows that Kitty will do all she can to save his life.
Westmoreland celebrated his twenty-ninth birthday with his friends in a drunken night of debauchery and gambling. He doesn’t even remember it the next day. Then he finds out he won a man’s home. Surely that isn’t so – he doesn’t want another home. But, the man shouldn’t bet his only estate in a card game. How can he remedy all of it?
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The characters are compelling and very relatable and the writing is excellent. It was lovely to see these two as they journeyed toward their HEA.
“We stand here today, besotted husband and adoring wire, due entirely to the actions of a drunken fool and his idiot mate.”
I also enjoyed meeting Tom, Westmoreland’s younger brother and would love to see him featured in a book.
I have read all of the other books in this series, but I believe this can be read as a stand-alone. Of course, the entire series has been great and you can’t go wrong with going back and reading those first.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.