Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man by Violet Marsh

Tracy

March 2

Series: Standalone

Release Date: March 5, 2024

When Lady Charlotte Lovett's mother announces that Charlotte has been betrothed to Viscount Hawley, the heir to the Duke of Lansberry, and they will be announcing it in two months. Charlotte is horrified, especially when it is clear that her parents don't seem to care that he has buried two wives in three years, both dying from tragic accidents. So Charlotte does what any overwrought woman in Early-Georgian England would do – she bolts, in the gown she is being fitted for, to a sketchy part of town and then realizes that she is near the coffeeshop owned by her estranged cousin. Charlotte uses the opportunity to introduce herself and propose a business venture, but first, she needs to get out of this betrothal, and with only two months to prove that Hawley is a murderer she is going to need some help. That's where her cousin, brother, and brother's best friend (who happens to be Hawley's younger brother and the man she has long held a secret tendre) Dr. Lord Matthew Talbot, comes in.

Matthew Talbot is quite the Renaissance Man, he is a doctor, naturalist, author, illustrator, abolitionist, scholar, spy, and all-around good guy – who also happens to harbor a secret tendre for Charlotte and will do anything to save her from marrying his brother, but must be careful not to reveal his own secrets.

I so wanted to love this book, but it was just not for me. The writing wasn't bad per se and the plot had potential, but it was too wordy with too much going on and twists and turns that dragged the book down rather than further the story. There was too much modern verbiage and too many "talking points" with contemporary ideals, not to mention the author did not seem to have working knowledge of formal address or honorifics. The book does have positives; there are some humorous moments, the "good" characters are very likable and the villains are easy to hate, there are informative author's notes and there is a happy ending complete with an epilogue. I do wish there had been some steam or at least some chemistry, but this is pretty much a PG13 kissing book with a bit of mystery. I haven't decided if would read another book by this author, but I am not keen on recommending this title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*