Falling for His Pretend Countess - Lauri Robinson (HH #1721 - May 2023)

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.

The Making of His Marchioness - Lauri Robinson (HH #1704 - Jan 2023)

Series: Southern Belles in London (Book 2)
 
She trusted him with her life…
But what about her heart?
 
After the American Civil War propels widow Clara and her daughter to England, they're given refuge by the enigmatic Marquess of Clairmount. Being the damsel in distress doesn't come easy to independent Clara, so after finding his estate in disarray, she seizes her chance to help him. As she plays the role of marchioness, her attraction to the guarded marquess is bittersweet, as this Cinderella knows she doesn't belong in his aristocratic world…
 
Excellent second installment in the series. In the previous book, The Return of His Promised Duchess, Clara's friend Annabelle found happiness and a new life in England after fleeing the ravages of the US Civil War. At the end of that book, Annabelle and her husband ask Roger, Marquess of Clairmount, to find her friends Clara, Clara's daughter Abigail, and Suzanne and bring them to England. This book opens as they arrive in England.
 
Clara is in rough shape. She is grieving the death of her husband and the loss of their dreams and home. The ravages of their living conditions physically wear her down before they are found and swept away to safety in England. However, Clara's independent and stubborn nature is still strong, and she doesn't react well to what greets her on arrival. I wanted to shake her for being rude, but I also understood that she felt overwhelmed and out of her depth.
 
Roger was happy to help Annabelle and Drew while they were away. He planned to take Clara and the others to his country home, Clairmount, where they could stay while waiting, and he would return to London. But something about Clara drew him to her, and he wanted to spend more time with her.
 
The development of the relationship between Roger and Clara was interesting. Clara is so wrapped up in her grief for her husband that she isn't living her life. But once she is away from Virginia and the home of her grief, the outside world begins to break through the wall she's built around herself. Clara resists the feelings Roger's kindness and attention stir in her and feels guilty over what she sees as a betrayal of her husband's love. The more time she spends with him, the harder it is to deny her growing feelings for Roger. But she believes she doesn't belong in his aristocratic world and pushes him away.
 
Roger has spent most of his life firmly resisting the idea of ever getting married, the background of which is heartbreaking. But from the moment he met them, Clara and little Abigail made their way into his heart. The way he took care of Clara when she was ill and the thoughtfulness of his actions showed a different Roger than the one seen by the rest of the world. I loved the scenes with Abigail and her "Doger." His conversations with Drew as he adjusted to the changes in his views of love and marriage were fantastic. I ached for him as Clara pushed him away, and I loved how he continued to find ways to help her.
 
The ending was terrific. I loved seeing Clara finally break out of her prison of grief and realize that she could love again. Her big scene with Roger was emotional and very satisfying. I liked the epilogue and seeing the happiness that Roger and Clara have finally allowed themselves to experience.
 
I'm looking forward to reading Suzanne's story. 

The Return of His Promised Duchess - Lauri Robinson (HH #2072 - June 2022)

Series: Southern Belles in London (Book 1)
 
The duke's Southern belle…
Causing a stir in society!
 
Committed bachelor Andrew, Duke of Mansfield, is content to believe the lady he's been betrothed to since childhood will never return. But when the American Civil War drives Annabelle from her life in Virginia to England, Andrew finds himself reluctantly captivated by her! Luckily, she is as unwilling to wed as he is -- yet when inhibitions are lowered at a masked ball, Andrew's intrigued to know the real Annabelle…
 
Terrific story of an American Southern belle and an English duke who discover they have more in common than either would have believed.
 
The story opens as Virginian Annabelle is put on a ship bound for England and her maternal grandfather by her stepfather, who wants to keep her safe from the US Civil War. She is furious and determined to return as soon as she can. During the voyage, she reads her mother's diary and discovers that she is not the daughter of a merchant and that her father was a duke. The things she reads reinforce her determination never to marry a nobleman. It comes as a shock when she arrives in England and finds out that she was betrothed to the Duke of Mansfield as a child. Her grandfather is a terrible man who plans to prove that Annabelle is a fraud to keep control of her inheritance. He immediately sends her to Mansfield to keep anyone from knowing she is there.
 
Andrew, Duke of Mansfield, has known of the betrothal for years. But since his fiancée has been missing for twenty years, he doesn't expect her to return. As a committed bachelor, he has no desire to marry. He's shocked when he finds out she is on her way to England, especially when she shows up on his doorstep.
 
I enjoyed the first meeting between Drew and Annabelle. It was an impromptu meeting as he found her hiding in the stable. I liked their conversation and seeing Drew utterly charmed by Annabelle. They continued their conversation over breakfast. Drew found Annabelle's honesty refreshing, if a bit naïve, as she explained her intention to return to America. I liked their discussion of why he doesn't want to marry her and their mutual relief that they are on the same page. Unfortunately for Drew, he is sure she is Lady Annabelle, and they will therefore be required to marry.
 
I liked watching the relationship develop between Drew and Annabelle. Because they share the reluctance to marry, it is easier for them to be themselves around each other. Annabelle is honest about her dislike of the British peerage system and how they treat those they see as beneath them. She is pleasantly surprised to find that Drew agrees with her and makes the welfare of his workers one of his top priorities. Drew is impressed by Annabelle's kindness to everyone, especially how she jumps in to help when Gunnar's wife is in labor. It isn't long before each realizes their feelings are growing, but neither wants to admit it.
 
I liked seeing Drew, Annabelle, and Drew's friend Roger conspire to foil her grandfather's intentions. Hosting a house party at Mansfield enables society members to get to know Miss Annabelle Smith without giving away her connection to the earl. It does, however, pave the way for when her true identity is revealed, making it harder for him to declare her a fraud. Her grandfather isn't going to take the potential loss of income easily and sets up an "accident" that puts Drew's life in danger. I loved seeing Annabelle take control of the situation as only she could and bring the perfect resolution. All that remained was for her and Drew to finally admit their feelings for each other and plan their future together.
 
There were some tense moments when Annabelle received word that her hometown had been burned and her stepfather was missing. I loved Drew's determination to help her discover what happened to him. I loved the ending and seeing how everything turned out.

I liked Drew's friend Roger and would love to see him get his own story. He needs shaking up.