Series: Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James #4
Published by Avon on May 30th 2017
Genres: Historical
Pages: 384
Goodreads
FINAL DECISION: Lyrical and emotional story of a woman who is a scandal and the man who wants to avoid scandal and yet ends up not wanting to avoid her. I loved the unexpected sweetness and romance of this story.
THE STORY: Alistair Mabry, Marquess of Rexton and future duke, has no plans to marry soon, but when he does he will choose a bride with a perfect reputation. His own childhood showed him the consequences of being the child of a scandalous union. While he loves his parents, he has no desire to repeat their story. When he is asked to court a young sweet woman in order to help her marriage prospects, he agrees, but finds himself spending more time thinking about her older and scandalous sister, Tillie, Lady Lansdowne. Divorced after her affair with a footman became known, the American heiress lives separate from society but is determined to see her sister happily married. She doesn’t think that Rexton is the man for her sister, but can’t stop thinking about him herself.
OPINION: This book follows two books that are among my all time favorites. The stories of Rexton’s parents and that of his sister are so heartbreakingly beautiful. As I began this book, I was honestly a bit disappointed because I thought Rexton’s attitude toward his mother’s past was not worthy of the oldest son of his parents. As the book progressed, however, I fell in love with Rexton and understood his position (even if thought it misguided).
Heath has a marvelous way of making the romance between Rexton and Tillie seem completely hopeless. There seems to be no future for these characters, but all that is needed is complete and utter surrender to love. I am always done in by Heath’s way of ripping into my emotions. This romance is quieter and sweeter than I expected — perhaps because their outward challenges are so large and overwhelming.
I love watching these two fall in love.
The man who thinks that he wants perfection, but discovers that all he really wants is love — even if it is messy and imperfect — and perhaps because it is. The woman who has been so thoroughly disappointed by love that she fears risking any part of herself again. And perhaps she has internalized her lack of worth because no one has ever put her first.
The story slowly built until reaching a wonderful crescendo. This book wasn’t as gut wrenching as my other favorites in this world, but the intense sweetness was worth the journey.
WORTH MENTIONING: Fans of the series will be pleased to see quite a bit of Rexton’s family.
CONNECTED BOOKS: AN AFFAIR WITH A NOTORIOUS HEIRESS is the fourth book in the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. The book can be read as standalone, but honestly is much better after reading both the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series and the connected series about the parents generation, the Scoundrels of St. James series.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.