Who Would Like This Book:
If you crave Regency romance with mature, well-developed characters and a dash of intrigue, this one's for you! Mary Balogh excels at exploring the inner lives of her leads, so you'll get plenty of moving introspection alongside the polite society drama. Fans of satisfying slow-burn romances, found-family feels, and those who love watching characters grow into their best selves will adore Jessica and Gabriel's journey. The interwoven Westcott family relationships add warmth, and the underlying mystery peps up the standard courtship plot.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Readers looking for a high-stakes, passionate romance might find this one a bit too sedate and slow-burning. If you prefer stories that focus tightly on the main couple, you could be distracted by the abundant Westcott family scene-stealing. Some fans of earlier Westcott books felt that this installment repeated information or spent too much time with supporting characters rather than building chemistry between the leads. After eight books, those craving something truly fresh may want to start at the beginning of the series instead.
About:
Lady Jessica Archer, daughter of the late and sister to the current Duke of Netherby, has decided that this will be the year she finally marries. At 25, she has had many opportunities, but when her dearest friend and cousin Abby's life was upended by scandal, Jessica stood by her in solidarity, but Abby married two years ago and Jessica realizes romance is probably not in the cards for her. She decides that she will make a practical match, much to Abby's dismay. But little does she know that fate has something else in store for her. Gabriel Thorne, newly returned to England from America to claim his inheritance, immediately dislikes Jessica, believing she is the reason he has to give up the private parlor he paid handsomely for. Gabriel, actually Gabriel Rochford, the Earl of Lyndale, and soon to be declared dead, is back in England to clear his name and fulfill his duty by marrying. The book follows their courtship and marriage, intertwined with a mysterious past and the pursuit of justice, all set in Regency England.
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Has Romance?
The romance in the story is present but more understated, developing gradually as the characters navigate their relationship.
From The Publisher:
Love comes when you least expect it in this captivating new novel in the Westcott Regency romance series from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.
Lady Jessica Archer lost interest in the glittering excitement of romance after her cousin and dearest friend, Abigail, was rejected by the ton when her father was revealed to be a bigamist. Now that she is twenty-five, however, Jessica decides it is time to wed. Though she no longer believes she will find true love, she is still very eligible. She is, after all, the sister of Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby.
Jessica considers the many qualified gentlemen who court her. But then she meets the mysterious Gabriel Thorne, who has returned to England from the New World to claim an equally mysterious inheritance. Jessica considers him completely unsuitable, especially when, while they are still barely acquainted, he announces his intention to wed her.
When Jessica guesses who Gabriel really is, however, and watches the lengths to which he will go in order to protect those who rely upon him, she is drawn to his cause-and to the man.
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