Review: Gifted by author for an honest review
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 5, 2014
The Duke of Hartridge is young, handsome and unbeknownst to him, he's about to meet his betrothed Duchess. It's a pact his father made with a dear friend before their children were born... in order to keep them from the dreadful scene of being in season in the 'ton, akin to spouse hunting.Edward didn't know about the pact when his mother took him to meet some "dear friends" of the family for the week. Turns out he was the only one who didn't know. Young Caroline had been educated to be his Duchess since she was born, due to the pact the fathers had concocted. She was proper, sat with her hands in her lap, had beautiful, shiny, golden hair and eyes like the sky. *insert eye roll here. Caroline was also a bit on the cold side. As if all of this work and preparation were a duty of sorts.Within minutes of arriving at the house and meeting Caroline, Edward caught on and was trying to find the right moment to put an end to the ridiculous idea of arranging his future wife, when he saw HER. She was cursing like a sailor, running from the grove of trees out onto the courtyard and up a marble man, to untangle the kite that wound itself around the unsuspecting statue. It was sight to behold and Edward is not only amused, but she is the most beautiful and unexpected woman he has ever seen. It is Caroline's younger sister, Rebecca. Full of life and reckless abandon, she was everything he was not considering for a future wife/Duchess.From the moment he saw her, he could think of no one or nothing else. He would lean in to smell her citrusy scent, tense up with desire at her chestnut hair that seemed to always be on the verge of exploding from the tight bun and hairpins trying to rein it in. He admired her quick wit and her beauty. Rebecca was unedited and completely the opposite of her proper family.Once Edward informs everyone he will not be in an arranged marriage, the pressure is off and the girls are encourage to have a season of their own in London with the 'Ton. This is when Edward realizes he may have made a mistake. Every man will want Rebecca, lust for Rebecca and despite the obvious electrical charge and attraction between the two of them, she may want the other men's attentions.This was a witty and charming story from the very beginning. Author, Nadine Millard, puts you there with them using all your senses and all of your emotions to keep you wanting to know "what on earth is going to happen next?!". She delivers on it too! It's a beautiful era and these are beloved characters to me now.I think perhaps I enjoyed this book right away, because I found myself in parts of Rebecca. She enjoyed life, was self deprecating and it's hard not to root for the underdog.Edward... the consummate gentleman. The kind of book boyfriend who ruins it for the real ones in your life. I'll be thinking of Edward for a long time to come. *devilish grin.Did I mention, this is her DEBUT NOVEL??!! Holy cow! She's a wonderful story teller! I'm wringing my hands waiting for the next one!