Series:
Southern Belles in London (Book 3)
An intriguing encounter…
with the lady next door
Henry, Earl of Beaufort, was London's most eligible
bachelor. Only now someone is trying to frame him for murder! He finds an
unexpected ally in his enchanting neighbor, Suzanne, who, after fleeing the
American Civil War, also finds herself on the fringes of society. She agrees to
help prove his innocence, and a fake engagement provides the perfect cover.
Until his real feelings threaten their charade…
Terrific conclusion to the series. I've loved these books
about three Southern American women who escaped the Civil War privations by
going to England. Suzanne's friends found love and are now happily married. Suzanne
has no such aspirations. All she wants is to find a publisher for the book she
wrote about her experiences during the war and earn enough money to support
herself. While living in the London townhome of her friend, Suzanne learns that
her next-door neighbor, Henry, Earl of Beaufort, owns a publishing house. Her
attempt to get the editor to read her manuscript goes nowhere, so she plans to
ask Henry to intervene.
Henry is one of London's most eligible bachelors, but
that may not last long. Someone is trying to frame him for murder, and his reputation
is on the line. He has taken to sneaking out of various Society functions to
investigate on his own before returning to pretend he's been there all along.
However, he isn't making any progress, and his absences are being noticed.
I enjoyed the first meeting between Suzanne and Henry.
She has little regard for her reputation and follows Henry into a garden to
present him with her request for help. Instead, they are caught by one of the
ton's worst gossips. I liked Henry's need to protect Suzanne and her desire to
help him. After some thought and a few unexpected twists, they agree to fake an
engagement to cover their partnership - she'll help with his investigation, and
he will ensure that the editor reads her story.
Neither one expects the feelings that stir between them.
Henry resists the idea of love and marriage, influenced by his father's infidelity.
But he can't deny his fascination with Suzanne, her bravery, outlook on life,
and how she charms him with everything she says. Suzanne feels Henry is too far
above her for that dream to come true. She is an American with no dowry and a
questionable pedigree. She also has trust issues with men because of the aunt
who raised her. But the more time they spend together, the closer they become
and the deeper their feelings grow. Some terrific scenes between Henry and
Suzanne show how right they are for each other. But in the end, can Henry
convince Suzanne that she belongs in his life, and can Suzanne overcome the
insecurities holding her back?
I also enjoyed the mystery of the murders and who has it
in for Henry. The first death was that of his illegitimate half-sister, whom he
was hoping to help. Before he could do so, she was murdered, and an
incriminating piece of evidence was found near her body. Two more young women
are also killed, and Scotland Yard begins to close in on him. An unexpected
twist sent his investigation in a different direction. While I wasn't surprised
by who was behind it, some details surprised me. The final confrontation was
intense, and I loved Suzanne's part.
I liked the secondary characters. Suzanne's friends (the
heroines of the first two books) were steadfast in their support of her and
determined to find a way to keep her in England. I also liked their husbands
and their friendship with Henry. Seeing them talk about their American wives
and how they never expected to be so thoroughly besotted was amusing. I loved
Henry's sisters and how they took to Suzanne right away. It took me a little
longer to like his mother, but in the end, she was terrific.
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