Series: Penniless Brides of Convenience (Book 1)
A countess in name only…
…tempted by a night with her husband!
Eloise Brannagh has witnessed firsthand the damage unruly
passion can cause. Yet she craves freedom, so a convenient marriage to the Earl
of Fearnoch seems the perfect solution! Except Alexander Sinclair is more
handsome, more intriguing, more everything than Eloise anticipated. She's set
her own rules for their marriage, but her irresistible husband might just tempt
her to break them!
Terrific start to the new series. Eloise and her twin
sisters, Phoebe and Estelle, have lived with their aunt ever since their
parents and brother died. Eloise is a practical young woman, and when her uncle
informs her that a friend is interested in a marriage of convenience with her,
she gives the offer serious consideration. The promise of the freedom of a
married woman without the downfalls of the intimate side of marriage is very
appealing.
Alexander never expected to inherit the earldom, and to
fulfill the conditions of the inheritance he must marry by age thirty, just a
few weeks away. Otherwise, everything goes to a cousin who is well-known for
his profligate ways. It would also leave Alex's mother in dire financial
straits. He hadn't planned to marry at all, his work as “Victualling
Commissioner for the Admiralty” keeps him busy and frequently out of the
country. There are also other issues that cause him to insist on an in name
only marriage, issues that have haunted him for years.
I loved the first meeting between Eloise and Alex.
Neither is what the other expected, which throws each of them slightly off-kilter.
However, they are open and honest about their expectations, and a deal is
quickly reached. They also didn't expect the sparks that flew between them,
ones they tried desperately to ignore. To protect the public illusion that
their marriage is a love match, Alex and Eloise must spend time together. As
they do so, they discover that they like each other, and that liking adds fuel
to the attraction that continues to grow. Every time that attraction flared to
life it made keeping their distance even harder.
I loved seeing Alex and Eloise get to know each other. Both
of them have excellent observation skills and quickly learn the little things
that please each other. I especially loved the gift that Eloise made for Alex and
how it showcased her understanding of him along with a sense of humor. Alex
also demonstrated his understanding of Eloise and what makes her tick with the
unexpected gift near the end of the book. One thing they have in common is
their cynical views of marriage and their determination to avoid those
pitfalls. But the time they spend together has each looking upon their pasts
with different perspectives, and their feelings begin to change. But not
everything is as it seems, and Eloise starts to suspect that there is more to
Alex than he shows the world. I loved the scene where she confronted him with
her suspicions and ached for them both as he finally confessed the events that
had such a significant effect on him. I ached for Eloise as she finally admits her
feelings, first to herself and then to Alex, only to realize that he won't
return those feelings. There are some eye-opening twists and turns on Alex's
horizon, and I loved seeing them each come to pass. His big moment at the end
was fantastic as he let go of his fears and opened his heart.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series. Eloise's
sisters are as intriguing as she is and I look forward to seeing how their dreams
work out. I expect that one of the books will be Kate and Daniel's story. I
have a feeling that, like Alex, there is more to Daniel than Kate knows about.
I also hope to see more of Eloise and Alex in the later books.
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