by Rebecca Connolly
ASIN : B09M5HS5Q4
Publisher : Independently published (November 23, 2021)
Language : English
Paperback : 244 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8772085677
One good scandal deserves another…
Lady Alexandrina Lawson has never minded her widowhood. After the disaster that was her first marriage, she found it rather enjoyable, despite the pity she received. What the public saw as devoted mourning to a respected man was, in fact, a complete disinterest in participating in anything Society could offer her ever again. When an invitation to a cousin’s London event proves disastrous for Alexandrina, her reputation, and that of her child, her choice becomes simple: rescue or ruin.
Enter Taft Debenham, Earl of Harwood.
Taft could not have less interest in Lady Lawson or her cold manner, but neither could he stand by and let her suffer a forced marriage to a drunken idiot. Sacrificing himself on the altar of Society, thinking how his own reputation might benefit, he provides a rather clever solution: marry the woman himself, and claim outrage for the offenses against her. Over the protests of his bride, and those of his own sanity, Taft begins the greatest scheme he could ever imagine. Nothing surprises him more than beginning to discover that his wife has a heart beneath her icy exterior.
And that he would do almost anything to claim it.
Taft Debenham (love his name!) is the extremely extroverted darling of society who loves throwing surprise house parties and thrives in the chaos. Lady Alexandrina Lawson hates society and all the fakeness and gossip that goes along with it. She has never looked favorably at Taft since he is society’s pet, but when she is caught wearing a torn dress alone in the garden with a drunk, it is Taft who steps in.
Taft wasn’t all fluff and no substance. Just mostly.
As Alexandrina points out, all people are flawed, but overall both she and Taft seem like good people. They are just so different from one another on the surface. Deep down Taft has always just been looking for love, and he surrounds himself with society just to have people with him. Alexandrina has lived through a horrible first marriage and had to fight for the right to even see her son. This has caused her to distrust people and close off from society.
“Why should I partake in Society? People as a whole aren’t worth associating with if all they do is gossip, spread lies, and judge a situation they know nothing about.”
The way that Alexandrina felt actually left me a little emotional, because I have been through a lot of that and it keeps me closed off from people and my emotions. You have to be sometimes in order to protect yourself.
Taft and Alexandrina would banter back and forth, but I appreciated that it never went over the top. Their bantering turned more fun. Taft really is a big kid at heart and having a wife and playmate in one really does seem ideal for him. They were a fun couple, and I love the dynamic that Adam added to the story.
This story was sweet, funny, and romantic, as well as thought provoking, and emotional. I totally recommend reading it!
*This book is clean, however, it does have some cursing.
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