Your rating:
Life has taught Lucas Kendrick, Duke of Harndon, that a heart is a decided liability. Betrayed by his elder brother, rejected by his fiancée, banished by his father, and shunned by his mother, Luke fled to Paris, where he became the most sought-after bachelor in fashionable society. Ten years later, fate has brought him back home to England as head of the family who rejected him. Unwilling as he is to be involved with them, he must assume responsibility for his younger siblings, the family estate he once loved—and the succession. He faces the prospect of marrying with the greatest reluctance—until he sees beguiling Lady Anna Marlowe across a ballroom one night. Anna, far from being the bright-eyed innocent Luke takes her for, is no more a stranger to the shadows of a painful past than he is. But for her, marriage cannot so easily solve what is wrong in her life—not when a tormentor stalks her to the very doors of Bowden Abbey, where Luke and Anna must learn to trust in each other or risk any chance they may have for a happy future.
Publication Year: 1995
No posts yet
Kick off the convo with a theory, question, musing, or update
Your rating:
0I was shocked by how kind this book was, and how forward thinking it was for having been written in 1996.
This was charming and fast paced, in my opinion and both the lead characters are so strong in their motivations and trauma. I was kind of shocked by how many people hated Anna, but for someone who was sexually assaulted and bullied and traumatized in that society, with a man as a husband who claims that he will never be capable of love, I think she’s really realistic. She was tied down and sodomized by a man who was exploiting her, and you’re shocked she’s not forthcoming with her emotionally aloof husband?? In the 1760’s? Be so for real.
That being said, Luke was great. His speech about having a daughter? His monologue about feeling love again for the first time? All so beautiful.
The plot was a little predictable, with the gold digging harpy sister in law, the comically evil villain, etc, but I was very happy reading this. I did not see that twist with Blaydon/Lomax/Blakely, though.
0Look. This is a fun book. It's just so irritating that every time Lucas puts on heels and makeup, the author HAS TO REMIND YOU that he is STILL A MANLY DUDE Y'ALL. *500 eyeroll emojis*
0
© 2024 Pagebound