Review: Fast-paced and engaging this story is the perfect afternoon’s getaway.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 7, 2014
A delightful heroine, the only daughter of an ailing Earl, Mary is the highlight of the story. Unmarried, and thus at peril as laws will not allow her to inherit lands or title upon her father’s impending death, she is approaching the crisis point.  Her father’s illness has left him severely weakened, and while he is loath to leave his daughter untended, there just may be no chance.Solutions are many: she could marry her first cousin James, a good friend. But Mary wants more, James is not interested in women, and she would not confine him to the constrictions of a passionless marriage, even when the arrangement would suit them both handily in society.When the distant heir to the estate arrives with less than a week to the Lady’s Day celebrations, Mary is initially convinced he is there much like a vulture, ready to pick the spoils and eye the estate’s value.  In truth, Avery has no interest in the title or the lands, were he able to adjust the inheritance in such a way as to cede control to her, he would do so. But she intrigues him, and soon he is feeling much more for her than simple concern over her situation.Mary is conflicted: attracted to Avery yet wanting to see him as the enemy coming to take her home. While her past hurts after an early debut were substantial, the protection from her position in society and her father’s willingness to go gentle with her made a fairly simple, yet quite unusual event for a girl of her time and class, into a huge issue.  This has kept her reluctant to marry, despite her wishes and dreams to be swept off her feet in the most romantic way possible.Fenichel manages to build the characters and their attraction to one another in a way that constantly keeps both of them off balance and displays their magnetic attraction but never develops further to a simple kiss or touch.  Proper behavior is mentioned and approached, then flaunted with equal ease, as the story tells the highlights of the days leading to the ball, the highlight of the season’s festivities.  Fast-paced and engaging this story is the perfect afternoon’s getaway.I received an eBook copy from the Publisher for purpose of honest review with Tasty Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.