Barbara's rating: 3.7 of 5 Stars
Series: The Worthingtons #9
Publication Date: 6/27/23
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 365
I love this author's attention to detail and she is one of the very few authors who actually writes a period-correct story. I also loved the characters in this story and I liked that there wasn't a lot of angsty navel-gazing going on. This story runs concurrent with the eighth book in the series, and if you haven't read that one, you might wonder why the dangers to Eleanor aren't given more page time in this book. The reason, of course, is that Eleanor's story has already been told. I have read all of the books in this series, but if you haven't, it is my opinion that you'll have a hard time keeping all of the supporting characters straight. Those characters appear in this book with little explanation of who they are. However, to me, what is really missing – and probably confusing if you haven't read the previous books – is how the family came to be a family in the first place – with cousins, and others who come together and become 'sisters' or brothers and are referred to as such. For me, I loved catching up with those previous characters and seeing where they currently are in their lives, but I do honestly think it would be a bit confusing for someone who hasn't read any of the previous books.
Lady Madeline Vivers is participating in her first season and she has a specific list of criteria for finding a husband. Madeline and her sisters have composed that list by observing the traits of their brothers and brothers-in-law. There are many traits and characteristics on that list and none of them are outrageous and several eligible men could meet those criteria. However, the most important thing on the list is love – he must love her and she must love him. Madeline's mother has an additional requirement though. The man must be a peer and the higher ranking the better. Madeline's mother has a candidate she is actively promoting, the Duke of Salforth. For Madeline, he meets many of her criteria, but does he love her and could she love him? There certainly aren't any tingles when he touches her. Now, Mr. Harry Stern – he causes tingles, but he is only a Mr. and not a peer.
Harry Stern is a highly respected and successful lawyer who has spent all of his time in Bristol since finishing school. However, he's recently been elected as a Member of Parliament for his district and is in London to take up that new role. He knows he'll need to find a wife to be successful in his MP role, but he isn't in a hurry – until he meets Madeline Vivers. Harry is intelligent, resourceful, steadfast, patient, caring, and kind, but he is not a peer – nor will he ever be. He is well connected as the grandson and nephew of a duke, but if Madeline requires a peer, it cannot be him. She doesn't strike him as someone who cares about that, but will her mother have enough influence over her to convince Madeline to choose the duke?
I enjoyed the story but would have appreciated fewer interactions with previous characters and more time with Harry and Madeline. I honestly didn't get Madeline's preoccupation with what her mother wanted. Her mother had caused untold amounts of trouble for other members of the family, and Madeline was a strong enough personality to stand up to her mother, so I didn't get the constant 'trying' to make herself care for the duke when she knew she didn't.
I can recommend this book to you if you have read and enjoyed previous books in the series. If you haven't read any of the previous books, I'd suggest reading at least a few of the earlier ones to 'get' the family dynamic before you try any of these later books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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