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@ratcliffe_mj @debbiereadsbook
They can save their families.
But will it cost them their hearts?
Louisa Silverton is the daughter of a wealthy American businessman, brought up to believe a healthy profit is the only route to happiness. With the family company over-leveraged and in need of a capital injection, she travels to England to find a rich husband.
The Honourable Miss Sarah Davenport has no time for romance. The family estate of Kenilborough is mired in debt and only she can save it. Unconventional and outspoken, Sarah is dismayed that somebody as intelligent and attractive as Louisa is willing to sacrifice herself for financial gain.
As Louisa pursues her campaign, Sarah realises her objections to the project run deeper than mere principles. At the same time, Louisa finds herself captivated by Sarah's independent spirit. Yet to indulge their unexpected passion would surely mean the ruin of both their families. Bound by duty, will they ever be free to follow their hearts?
4 out of 5 (very good)
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is, I think, the first I've read of this author, and I really enjoyed it.
I'm not afraid to say I like my books on the steamier and smexier side, you know I'm not but what I liked the most about this was the fact that there is NO smexy stuff!
Oh, don't get me wrong, there is love and passion and emotions all over the place but it's very much a fade-to-black book, and I liked that it was.
Louisa is in a tricky spot, having been sent by her father to secure a husband in England with enough money to save his business. Sarah is just trying to keep a head above herself; her sister; her father and stepmother and the waste of space that is her stepbrother.
Several marriage offers later, and a terrible attack on Louisa and the ladies realise that they need each other. But Sarah has been alone for so long and accepting the help and love that Louisa offers is hard and she pushes her away, often. Tragedy strikes and Sarah knows to where he must go for help.
I think the thing I struggled the most with, was how long this book is. There is a huge amount of back story, that seemed to drag on. Back stories are great, but I found myself skipping huge chunks. I didn't feel I missed anything by doing so, so maybe they didn't need to be there.
I loved the supporting cast. Eleanor especially, was a joy, even if she was shunned by most of "polite society" in those days.
I didn't feel anything from either woman about what might happen if they let themselves love on each other, you know? Neither were bothered by their feelings and what might happen. Found that a bit odd, given the time they lived in. The romance element sort of popped up too, there didn't seem to be any build up!
But all in all, a nice read, with some drama and some passion; some love and some danger.
4 stars
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Adventurous or cautious? Cautious
Antique or brand new? antique
Asking questions or answering questions? Asking questions
Bagels or muffins? Bagels (poppy seed, smoked salmon and cream cheese)
Black and white or colour? colour
Black leather or brown leather? Brown leather
Books or movies? books
Boots or sandals? boots
Bright colours or neutral tones? neutral
Cake or pie? Pie
Call or text? text
Chinese or Italian? Chinese
Chocolate or vanilla? vanilla
Cowboys or aliens? aliens
Dancing or singing? Neither. I’ll sit quietly and watch, thank you very much!
Dogs or cats? Dogs, 100%
Drawings or paintings? drawings
Dress up or dress down? Dress down
Dresses or skirts? Trousers please!
Facial hair or clean-shaven? No facial hair
Favourite colour Blue
Fiction or non-fiction? Both
Football or Rugby Football
Freckles or dimples? Freckles
Fruit or vegetables? vegetables
Glasses or contacts? Glasses – I tried contacts, could not get on with them
Hardwood or carpet? hardwood
Hugs or kisses? hugs
Ice cream or yoghurt? Ice-creat
Internet or cell phone? internet
Introvert or extrovert? introvert
Ketchup or mustard? ketchup
Leather or denim? denim
Light or dark chocolate dark chocolate
Light side or dark side You need both
Long hair or short hair? Short hair
Marvel or DC? Studio Ghibly
Morning, noon or night? morning
Numbers or letters? letters
Orange juice or apple juice? Apple juice
Pancakes or waffles? pancakes
Pen or pencil? pen
Pepsi or Coke? I’ve never been able to tell the difference
Personal chef or personal fitness trainer? Chef, hands down!
Picnic or nice restaurant? Nice restaurant
Raisins or nuts? Depends on the nut. Cashews, pistachios and peanuts, then yes please. Walnuts or pecans – no thanks!
Rural or urban? rural
Sausage or bacon? Don’t make me choose!
Saver or spender? saver
Sci-Fi or fantasy? fantasy
Scrambled or fried? scramble
Silver or gold? gold
Spicy or mild? Mildly spicy
Spring or fall? Fall
Tan or pale? tan
Tattoos or piercings? Nope
Tea or coffee Tea
Think before you talk or talk before you think? Think before talking
Truth or dare? pass
Washing dishes or doing laundry? Washing dishes
Whole wheat or white? I buy whole wheat, but secretly wish I’d bought white
Wine or beer? wine
Winter or summer? summer
Marianne Ratcliffe grew up in Lincolnshire. A biochemist by training, she has always found creating new worlds and interesting characters every bit as rewarding as discoveries at a laboratory bench. She had short stories published in literary magazines and was runner up in the Guildford Book Festival short story competition in 2010. In 2017, redundancy spurred her to focus on creative writing; the result being The Secret of Matterdale Hall, a sapphic romance/mystery set in the Victorian era. The book was a finalist in the Golden Crown Literary Society Awards for 2023. Her latest book, A Lady to Treasure, a Regency romance inspired by the life and character of Anne Lister (aka Gentleman Jack) is due for publication in October 2023.
Marianne lives in Cheshire with her wife and two dogs.