Series:
Triplet Orphans (Book 1)
An unsuitable match for the viscount
And not just because she vexes him!
Bookworm Rose Lennox has no interest in making her debut.
She's only in London to discover the truth of her parentage. Her sponsor's
nephew, James, the Viscount Ashbourne, is equally cynical about the marriage
mart, yet they still rile each other every time they speak! But the sparks of
animosity soon become flames of attraction. Still, Rose's unknown past means
she can never be a viscount's wife…
Good start to an intriguing series. The book opens with a
prologue about a pregnant woman running for her life. The narrative was so
vivid I felt as though I was there, experiencing the woman's fear and her worry
about the child she carries. The end of the prologue leaves many questions
about the who and the why and leads into the story proper.
Twenty-one years later, the orphaned triplet daughters of
the woman find out they are to be sent from their guardian's home in Scotland
to his sister in London. There, she will present them to Society in hopes of
finding husbands for all three. They are also tasked with discovering the truth
of their parentage despite having little knowledge to go on.
Annabelle, the oldest and known for her practical nature,
is tasked with finding out what led their mother to flee to Elgin, Scotland.
Isobel, the middle triplet and adventurous one, is to discover their father's
identity. Rosabelle, the youngest and quietest sister, is supposed to learn the
true identity of their mother. This book focuses on Rose, her quest, and her
experiences in London. Rose is the least interested in making her debut in
London. She prefers books to people and plans to become a teacher at the school
she and her sisters attended in Scotland.
Lady Ashbourne is a delightful woman who is excited to
have three young girls to sponsor in Society. I laughed at her stunned surprise
at having three identical girls and loved her plan to keep them secret until
their Court presentation. She knew that their uniqueness would help counteract
their unknown antecedents. The only fly in her ointment is her nephew, James,
Viscount Ashbourne, who believes that no good will come of his aunt's plans.
James is very protective of his aunt and the family name.
After the typical shenanigans of a young nobleman were cut short by his
unexpected inheriting of the title, James became prudent and cautious in all
his actions. He is cynical about the marriage mart and what he sees of the
young women Society approves of. He is dismayed at having three young women
underfoot and wary of their suitability. He acted as a wet blanket on his
aunt's excitement.
Rose and James butt heads from the moment they meet. James
is predisposed to distrust the triplets from the get-go, and his tendency to
constantly warn them against making mistakes gets under Rose's skin. She finds
him cold and judgmental and pushes back every time. They can't be in the same
room for five minutes without coming to verbal blows. But underneath the
antagonism are sparks of attraction that Rose doesn't understand and James
doesn't want. They are thrown together often enough that the attraction
continues to grow, and they discover that they aren't so different after all.
But James is keenly aware of Rose's unknown parentage, and his sense of family
honor resists looking at her as a potential bride.
When James and Rose's attraction becomes a source of
gossip, it puts the women's futures at risk. Rose and James face the reality of
being parted forever if they allow Society's prejudices to dictate their lives.
I loved James's awakening to the truth and strength of his feelings and
watching him go after what he wanted. The reunion between him and Rose is sweet,
emotional, and realistic in that they accept there will be scandal attached.
Rose's quest also takes up much of her time in London. I
could feel Rose and her sisters' frustration and sadness as they ran into dead
end after dead end. I loved the twist at the end that exposed a lie and revealed
a truth. But there are still questions that need to be answered, and I can't
wait for the next book to see what happens there.
There is a secondary romance between James's best friend,
Robert, and Rose's new friend, Lady Mary. It was heartbreaking to see how awful
Mary's mother was about her feelings for Robert while pursuing a title for her
daughter. I liked James's attempt to help his friend and rooted for Robert's
success.
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