An exciting new Regency Romance from a USA Today Bestselling Author!
Lady Charlotte Wynn is determined to gather a few memorable adventures before her father selects her future husband. Given Lord Wynn’s grumpy demeanor and lack of regard for her feelings, she is certain she’ll dislike the man. Yet she must accept his choice in order to help keep the peace between her parents. Her carefully laid plans are threatened by the return of her brother’s best friend. The handsome, somber man is nothing like she remembers, but his rugged appeal proves irresistible.
James Crosby, Viscount Redmond, has yet to find peace since his return to England six months earlier. He tries to bury his painful memories of the battlefield with drinking, gambling, and women, but those do little to fill the holes in his soul. His carousing is interrupted one evening when he finds his best friend’s little sister somewhere she shouldn’t be, making him realize the young girl he once knew is all grown up.
When James orders Charlotte to end her adventures, she boldly dares him to escort her on the next one. After all, if he’s so determined to protect her reputation, it’s the least he could do. Now, if only she could find a way to chase the shadows from his eyes while continuing to smooth her parents’ tumultuous marriage.
Charlotte’s beauty is more than James bargained for. Toss in her quest to enjoy life, and it’s all he can do to remember to protect rather than ravish. One magical kiss and his world is upended. She fills him with the hope that he isn’t as broken as he thought. But her father has already picked her husband, and nothing will change his mind. Can the pair find their happily ever after or will fate deny them the chance?
Review:
I really enjoyed Charlotte and James’s story! She’s the younger sister of his good friend, and he’s recently returned from the battlefield and still affected by PTSD (not that it had that name then). She’s promised to someone else (for reasons that will eventually be made known) and he’s decided, mostly due to his PTSD, that he should never marry, have children, or inherit the title.
But then she convinces him to help her go on a series of “adventures” before her father hands her off to another…you know where this is going, right? 😉
Except you don’t really! Yes, of course they’re going to fall in love, but why is Charlotte’s father so determined to marry her off to someone else? How can James, who doesn’t feel he can ask for help or even knows how or what to ask for, possibly get to a place where he feels he has something to offer others (a wife, children, his family and everyone else who would depend on him if/when he inherits)? What could possibly happen that would let these two find a much-deserved HEA together?
And just what “adventures” will they go on together?
(Here’s a hint–they do end up involving quite a few stolen kisses ;))
The romance is fairly slow burn–he doesn’t feel he has anything to offer her, and there’s the problem of her being his friend’s younger sister–there isn’t anything but kisses until nearly the end. I honestly enjoyed the two of them together so much, though, that I really didn’t mind. The progression felt natural for the two of them and the situation they were in.
This is the 4th full-length book in the Rogue Chronicles series, but it should work just fine as a standalone. Some of the other series characters are mentioned and/or play small roles here, but you don’t have to have read their books to enjoy this one. Personally, I’m crossing my fingers that Charlotte’s brother will have a book soon, though!
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.