ABOUT THE BOOK
Bookish Arabella Bromley never gave a fig for society’s rules—until her sister ran off with a man below her station. Now Arabella is desperate to restore her family’s ruined reputation to favor amongst the ton. She’ll have to marry quickly and well. But in order to carry off her plan, Arabella needs a duke… and she has just the rakish fellow in mind.
The Duke of Whittsley has an ungentlemanly tendency to disregard the rules. Unfortunately, a sense of mischief doesn’t excuse a high-ranking noble from family duty—especially where it concerns producing a son. And that’s where he can’t quite resist Arabella’s distinctly outrageous plan: if he saves her family, she’ll give him an heir.
Now the deal’s been struck. They have one year to achieve their goals and ten iron-clad rules to keep them on track. Like long, scorching kisses and ensuring they’re both exquisitely satisfied. And the only thing that could ruin their plan is the one thing they never planned on: love.
MY REVIEW
When her family name is in ruins, a bookish and determined spinster makes a deal with an intrigued and incorrigible Duke to produce an heir in return for his help in finding a suitable husband for her sister.
Miss Arabella “Ari” Bromley will sacrifice everything to make her youngest sister happy. Even wed a stranger and have his heir. What she doesn’t anticipate is that the very charming Duke of Whittsley would accept her proposition, be a noble and thorough champion for her family, and stir something in her that she never expected.
Lord Silas Spencer, Duke of Whittsley, does not want to be married, but when the beautiful and intriguing Ms. Arabella Bromley literally falls into his arms and proposes an offer that might just get his grandfather off his back, he concedes. To his chagrin, the more time he spends with his new wife, the more he doesn’t want to follow all of the rules in the marriage contract. He can’t have feelings for her. It wasn’t part of the agreement, and he has a secret that would ruin everything.
Arabella and Silas bring out the best in each other with their teasing banter and strong attraction. When Arabella gets nervous, having Silas nearby seems to calm her. And the more time Silas spends with Arabella, the more comforted and settled he becomes. Arabella is an introvert who would rather read books than attend balls. Silas is an extrovert who is very mischievous, funny and, likes attention. They may be opposites, but once they become hitched, they can’t keep their hands off each other. The respect and admiration they discover for each other are captivating. There are some troubling times with a secret Silas has held for years, but all is revealed, feelings are expressed, and a happily ever after is found.
The patient and loyal Charlotte is a great companion for Arabella, especially when she has to chaperone and keep the exuberant couple in line for propriety’s sake. And Silas’s grandfather, Lord Mosley, is a hard nut to crack, but Arabella helps soften his relationship with his grandson.
I highly recommend this delightful opposites-attract historical romance trope which is witty, steamy, and a testament that rules are meant to be broken.
For another lovely Michelle McLean recommendation, see my review for Hitched to a Gunslinger.
Thank you to Ms. McLean for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle McLean is a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl who is addicted to chocolate and goldfish crackers and spent most of her formative years with her nose in a book. She has a B.S. in History, a M.A. in English, and loves her romance with a touch of suspenseful mystery. She resides in PA with her husband and two amazing children.
Follow Michelle on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
