ABOUT THE BOOK

An invitation to Venice…
To save their marriage!

Suggesting divorce to her estranged husband, Jamie, Duke of Byson, takes all of Rose Wilkins’s courage. Years of distance and heartbreak have taken a toll—she needs a new start. But Jamie won’t hear of divorce, because of the scandal alone. His counteroffer is a trip to Venice… Might discovering Venice’s delights together rekindle the still-simmering desire that drew Rose to Jamie as a starry-eyed young American heiress?

MY REVIEW

An estranged husband. A lonely wife. It’s time to save their marriage or get a divorce. Scandal be damned.

Duchess Rose Byson is loved by her peers. She is known as the American Beauty Rose with her exceptional beauty and her kindness to all. However, Rose wears a mask for all to see. She wants a happy marriage and family, but she lost that when she failed as a Duchess and could not produce an heir for the husband she loved beyond reason. Her husband turned to drink and Rose spiraled into unhappiness as the young couple did not know how to handle such heartache resulting in her leaving him and living a lie as a happy and carefree lady of London. Rose is tired of living a lonely life and she asks the Duke for a divorce. His answer is to woo the wife he never stopped loving. Will he win her back or is it too late?

Rose and Jamie were so young and inexperienced in life when they fell in love and married so quickly. Her shyness and his love of literature and scholarly work made an unconventional union. So when problems arose in the marriage such as Rose’s miscarriage and Jamie’s unexpected title as Duke when his father and older brother died suddenly, it tore them apart not knowing how to handle such sorrow and change. Jamie turned to drink and nights out with his fellow scholars and Rose grieved alone with no support from her husband. Rose left her husband’s house, purchased a new house and jumped into her role as Duchess of Byron attending parties and becoming a sought-after muse to many artists in London.  I admire Rose’s courage and confidence to finally confront her estranged husband in person and ask for a divorce. However, one sees the love they still hold for each other. Jamie has to prove that he is worthy of her love and he slowly won my vote. Becoming the Duke of Byron is still fairly new to Jamie, but he’s making changes such as giving up the drink and getting his priorities straight. Namely, persuading his wife to visit his family ducal home as Duchess and encouraging her to join him on his trip to Venice. It’s a new beginning for these two lovers that is worth the wait as they let their hair down and discover the confident and mature people they have become. 

The author does a very good job discussing alcoholism in a historical romance. It’s something that is just not covered, but important to note. 

I haven’t read the previous two books in the series, but one can easily read this as a standalone. I look forward to going back and reading about Rose’s sisters’ stories.

If you enjoy slow-burn second chance historical romances with loveable characters and beautiful settings, give this book a try. 

Thank you to Ms. McCabe for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen–a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject…)

 She’s never since used algebra, but her books have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion.  She lives in Santa Fe with a Poodle, a cat, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections. 

 When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network–even though she doesn’t cook. 

Follow Amanda on Facebook, Instagram, website, and Twitter.

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