Review: Wonderful writing, wonderful story!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 18, 2013
Orphaned at 6yrs, Mirabelle Fitzhenry (Mira) has been living with her Uncle, Aunt & younger cousin who bears the same name Mirabelle Fitzhenry (Belle). A little bit of a Cinderella story, Mira's aunt is always putting her down declaring her to be plain compared to the picture perfect, blond Belle. When Mira's uncle incurs a huge gambling debt, he trades "Mirabelle's" hand to settle the debt but forces Mira instead of his precious daughter to be wed to the notorious Nicholas Ellerby,Viscount Ashfield, widely rumoured to have done away with 3 women; one of which was his almost betrothed.I loved the characters of Mira & Nicholas. Mira, who is hardly plain but rather, a voluptuous redhead is intelligent & lively. She & Nicholas have a wonderful chemistry. The scenes btwn them are amazing, breathtaking & full of suppressed emotion. Nicholas is sarcastic, witty, he calls Mira "Mira-mine" - yeah that kinda made me melt. I couldn't put down the book!Love the part where Mira & Nicholas go for a ride in the park (for the 1st time) & she tells him the story behind the identical names of the 2 cousins:"Nicholas completely lost his composure, erupting in deep, rusty laughter. He had to steer the phaeton to the side of the path until he could recover himself. Mira was utterly delighted by thesight of him shaking with laughter. And the fact she had been the one to make him laugh gave her an unaccountable rush of pleasure."At that point I fell in love with both characters who became very real and warm.This is the 1st book I've read from this author & I'm definitely looking forward to reading more.