ABOUT THE BOOK
Introducing the Bow Street Bachelors—men who work undercover for London’s first official police force—and the women they serve to protect. . .and wed?
Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is done with men who covet her purse more than her person. Even worse than the ton’s lecherous fortune hunters, however, is the cruel cousin determined to force Georgie into marriage. If only she could find a way to be . . . widowed? Georgie hatches a madcap scheme to wed a condemned criminal before he’s set to be executed. All she has to do is find an eligible bachelor in prison to marry her, and she’ll be free. What could possibly go wrong?
Benedict William Henry Wylde, scapegrace second son of the late Earl of Morcott and well-known rake, is in Newgate prison undercover, working for Bow Street. Georgie doesn’t realize who he is when she marries him—and she most certainly never expects to bump into her very-much-alive, and very handsome, husband of convenience at a society gathering weeks later. Soon Wylde finds himself courting his own wife, hoping to win her heart since he already has her hand. But how can this seductive rogue convince brazen, beautiful Georgie that he wants to be together…until actual death do they part?
MY REVIEW
I’m a big fan of historical romance so I was delighted to read about a romantic storyline that included an investigation into a plot to smuggle Emperor Napoleon off the island of St. Helena in a British-built submarine designed by the American, Robert Fulton. How cool is that?!
According to English law, as soon as Georgie married, all that would instantly become the property of her husband, to do with as he wished. That husband would not be Josiah.
Georgiana Caversteed (Georgie), an heiress to the Caversteed Shipping Company, is worth a fortune and is tired of men sniffing after her money, especially her idiot cousin Josiah. Her plan? To marry a criminal in Newgate Prison who will be forced to sign a pre-nuptial agreement and most likely be sentenced to death the next day making Georgie a widow and free to do anything she liked. However, her plan backfires and the man she forced to marry her is not who he seems.
Benedict Wylde is penniless from his father’s gambling debts. He is the “younger son, the ‘spare’ as opposed to the ‘heir’, shipped off to receive a decent education without the stifling expectation of one day inheriting a title or having to take their seat in the House of Lords.” However, his luck changed when Ms. Georgie Caversteed traipsed into Newgate Prison forcing him to marry her for a price. Will he find the price too high?
I loved the characters in this story! Georgie is a strong, competent woman who knows how to run a thriving company better than most men, but she also has believable insecurities about herself as a woman. Her wealth overshadowed true friendship and trust in others. Benedict is a dashing rogue who is charming and honorable with a passion for intrigue. His respect for Georgie as an entrepreneur and as a companion is pleasing to see, especially in a time period when it was unusual to see a woman running a company on her own.
If you like historical romances with intriguing mysteries, stolen moments, and passionate love scenes, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Bateman for giving me the opportunity to review this book with expectation of a positive review.
Bow Street Bachelors Series
1. This Earl of Mine (2019)
2. To Catch an Earl (2020)
3. The Princess and the Rogue (2020) – My review
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of historical romances, including her RITA® nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, and the novels in the Secrets & Spies series To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart. When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England. Follow her on Twitter to learn more.
