An Unlikely Duchess

GIVEAWAY

NELSON, JESSICA

AN UNLIKELY DUCHESS

A marriage of convenience is the only way to save her family...

Widow Sophia Seymour never planned to marry again -- let alone become a duchess. But with her father missing and her family impoverished, and old betrothal contract promising her hand to a notorious duke is her only hope. And Edmund DeVane intends to honour the agreement -- in name only. After all, Edmund needs a wife with an impeccable reputation to protect his debuting niece. But as their arrangement starts to feel much more real, can their budding love survive Edmund's deepest secret?

My Review:

Eeeepppp! Eeeeeeppppp!! Eeeeeeeppppp!!! I have stumbled onto a treasure trove of bookish delight -- Love Inspired Historicals are back in production...at least two new releases a month though they make it very hard on readers to source 'em out. Thanks to bookish friends who have guided my way! Of course I had to start with a Regency! :-)

So, we have a forthright widow who isn't afraid to speak her mind or live her life outside the norms of elite society. Sophia did not marry well, but she married for love and now that she's a widow, she pours her attention out upon her family and charitable works. Until the untimely disappearance of her father puts everything in jeopardy and she finds herself in....(insert drumroll here)...A marriage of convenience! One of my favourite tropes -- do not ask me why because I have no sane answer. I just get soooooo over-the-top excited when I come across one (in fiction, not real life of course!)

And dear Edmund does not make anything easy. He definitely lives up to the nickname "Beast"! He holds the ton in great disdain, abhors all the social gatherings and mindless niceties they entail. The man is in a constant fit of temper or contempt and has perfected the art of glowering. But there is one chink in his armour -- the niece he dotes upon. She is all the family he has left and he would do anything for her including dragging his sulky self into a marriage of convenience. Bwahahaha!

The banter! The romantic tension! The way Sophia surprises him -- no, shocks Edmund -- at every turn. She's one of the few people in his life who will stand up to him  and it's clear early on that he's in way over his head. Of course, he doesn't realize that until pretty near the end of the book which makes for one absolutely delightful read.

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading, London setting

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Unlikely Duchess, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 12 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck