Will this disheveled runaway…
Become the diamond of the Season?
When the Marquess of Cheswick -- Wick -- takes in a
mysterious woman, he's shocked to discover she is Lady Louisa, an heiress who's
escaped her cruel aunt! Grieving the loss of two siblings, Wick avoids opening
his heart to anyone else and stays away from the marriage mart. But when Louisa
needs a husband in order to claim her inheritance, Wick's determined to help --
even if it means stepping back into his worst nightmare: the Season!
Fun Cinderella-style story. Louisa is an heiress who has been
kept under the thumb of her cruel aunt and uncle since she was ten years old. Upon
learning that they plan to marry her to their ne'er-do-well son, Louisa runs
away, hoping to take refuge with her other uncle and finally get the London
Season she's dreamed about. But she's waylaid on the way by a gentleman who believes
she is his sisters' governess.
Wick is the head of his family while his parents are
away, leaving him in charge of his three younger sisters. The girls are quite mischievous
and have driven away several governesses. Wick takes his responsibilities very
seriously and is often overwhelmed by their antics.
I liked both Wick and Louisa. Louisa's aunt has done a
number on her self-confidence and belief in her own worth, but she has enough
spunk to escape when she learns of her plans. Louisa is a kind soul who only
wants to love and be loved. I loved how she was taken in by the Stringhams and
made to feel like part of the family. As she experienced life away from her
aunt, her self-confidence and worth grew. By the end, she had the strength and
independence to stand up for herself. I especially enjoyed the friendship that developed
between her and Wick's sister, Mantheria, something she'd never had before.
Wick is a good man but a little too wrapped up in
responsibility. He is still grieving the loss of two of his siblings ten years
earlier. He believes their deaths were his fault, even though the circumstances
were beyond his control. I loved his relationships with his sisters and
brother. There is a great deal of love there, which shows in their
interactions. Seeing how the girls tried his patience was fun, yet he always
had their backs.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Wick
and Louisa. The attraction was there from the moment they met, but Wick fought
hard against it. Louisa initially had a strong case of hero worship, but as she
got to know him, those feelings turned to love. There are some sweet scenes
between them, from balls to walks with his sisters. Wick can't deny his
attraction but vehemently argues that he isn't in love. Because of those guilty
feelings from the past, he believes he is not worthy of love. When a run-in with
her cousin risks Louisa's reputation, Wick steps up to do the right thing. But
Louisa doesn't want a marriage based on duty, not love. It takes some time with
his sisters to finally let go of the past and believe in a future with Louisa.
I loved the ending.
The secondary characters were great. I loved Wick's
sisters. They are quirky, fun, and loving. Each has a unique personality, and I
would love to see more of them. I ached for Mantheria and her heartbreaking
situation. I also adored Wick's friend, Sunny. I liked how he supported Wick
but also called him out when Wick denied his feelings for Louisa. The
housekeeper was terrific and made me laugh out loud in the scene with the
snake.
Meanwhile, Louisa's relatives were awful. The aunt and
uncle who raised her were downright criminal in their treatment of her. Their
son was even worse and deserved every bad thing that might happen to him. The
other aunt and uncle were unsympathetic creatures, more concerned with their
status than helping Louisa.
No comments:
Post a Comment