Review: The Stranger She Married
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 10, 2013
For full post please visit Buried Under RomanceThe Stranger She Married has a Cinderella theme with a charming viscount who is not all that he seems, and a sweet heroine who is kind and loyal to others despite her own desperate situation. Alicia Palmer first meets Viscount Amesbury at a ball, where she was modest and delightfully genuine."A playful smile hovered over the corners of his mouth. 'You are a fortune hunter?'...'I am'." (pg 23/408)Alicia knows she is no match in fortune, beauty, and position for Amesbury, yet she cannot forget him, and neither can he. While Amesbury plays the charming gentleman to the ton, he is actually a reprobate (to which he admits) and cynical and jaded with regards to women. Alicia was like a refreshing breeze for him, an intrigue that he can't figure out. Except, she might have a reason to despise him, for after the death of her parents and twin brother she is left at the mercy of her greedy uncle, and Amesbury shot her twin, Armand, in a duel. Amesbury knows he only shot Armand in the arm, so how did he die from the wound? And will this matter prevent Alicia from ever fully trusting him?The novel employs the scarred hero trope, though this is more original than many others, as Amesbury has such hidden depths that they are slowly revealed through his action and dialogue throughout the novel. He is more than he seems, though he never puts on a mask of cynicism, but rather general bonhomie that is indifference and boredom. Contrary, Alicia is a straightforward character, one without deceit and reveals every emotion clearly on her face. Precisely because of that it is clear how Amesbury can fall in love with her, but it takes her much longer to understand his heart.With delicious dialogue and stunning characterization, I highly recommend this book to all fans of historical romance. The plot is fast-paced and abound with intrigue, yet it is the characters whom we fall in love with as they fall in love with each other and learn to look beneath the surface of events and people. A delightful read!*Review copy provided from Irresistible Reads Book Tour, but written of my honest opinion