DNF
Never engaged me

Prettige personages, goede mix tussen sexy en (wouldbe) historie. ( )

The heroine was almost ridiculously stubborn and contrary, and I don't like it when the heroine is consistently a pill but somehow the hero always finds the behavior darling. There's a difference between someone who doesn't give you the deference you're used to from others, and someone who is just difficult and oppositional at every turn. And both characters were fools a time or two. The affections seemed pretty mild for almost all of the story, I prefer when at least one of the characters is more certain earlier and not just in the last two chapters or so. But there was attraction, and they were largely likable (besides the issues I mentioned with the heroine). I was entertained, and will read the next in the series. ( )

Satisfying romance, focusing on American Heiresses in Britain. The Duke is a little more introspective a hero than most, and August is delightfully brainy. Definitely feels like a book written with a modern perspective in the mix, but it only adds to the love affair.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )

Excellent book. As the book opens, August and Violet watch, horrified, as their best friend Camille is married off to an older British nobleman, her parents exchanging American dollars for a title for their daughter. Surely their parents wouldn't be so heartless?

Several months later, the Crenshaw family is in London, where Mr. Crenshaw plans to expand his railroad and ironworks businesses. August is well aware of the plans as she has been deeply involved in the business for many years, something very unusual for women of their class. August has made it clear that she is not interested in marriage, only in continuing to work for the business. August is brilliant, beautiful, and a supporter of all things progressive. Her outspokenness and bluestocking ways cause her to be unappealing to the aristocrats looking for brides, which is fine with her. That is until she discovers her parents' plans to marry Violet off to an impoverished Duke.

I will say right here and now that I detested Mr. and Mrs. Crenshaw. She is an out-and-out social climber who doesn't care whether her daughters are happy or not, as long as she can lord it over the "old money" people like Mrs. Astor back in New York. Her actions and attitudes throughout the book were appalling. Yes, I know it was typical of the period, but it was still terrible. Meanwhile, Mr. Crenshaw seems happy to have August working with him, her brilliant mind helping to earn more money for the company. I approved of how he involved her in the discussions about expanding to India. But when push came to shove, he was ready to pat the little woman on the head and shove her out the door to be a wife and mother. He was also a coward, leaving it to his wife to break the news of the death of August's dreams.

Evan, Duke of Rothschild, is trapped. He recently inherited the dukedom from his father, only to discover that he has crumbling estates, many bills, and nothing to pay them with. Though he attempts to keep them afloat by bare-knuckle fighting and gambling winnings, it's soon evident that it isn't enough. The only thing he can do is find a wealthy heiress to marry. He hates the idea of marrying one of the dim-witted debutantes, but he doesn't see any choice. But when his mother recommends Violet Crenshaw, Evan quickly realizes that he's much more interested in Violet's sister August.

I loved the first meeting between August and Evan. August, who is somewhere she should not be, encounters Evan in his "The Hellion" guise, an undefeated bare-knuckle fighter. She is horrified and intrigued by what she witnesses and grateful to him when Evan saves her from a nasty fall. He goads her into giving him a kiss that overwhelms them both. August never expects to see him again and is stunned to later recognize him as the man her parents want Violet to marry. A confrontation and another kiss later, and Evan knows that the only woman for him is August. Accustomed to getting what he wants, he doesn't expect any trouble. Meanwhile, August plans to spend time at the ball he's supposed to attend, convincing him to stay away from Violet. I enjoyed that scene as she earnestly steers him away from Violet while he's busy staking his claim on her. She's furious when she learns the truth.

This began a thoroughly enjoyable story of their courtship. August makes it plain that she doesn't want to marry him or anyone else. She likes her life the way it is and has no intention of giving up her freedom to live under any man's thumb. I loved that Evan is quite sympathetic to her plight and more than willing to meet her halfway. A visit to his main estate gives them a chance to get to know each other better and the attraction between them to grow along with it. There are some heartwarming moments between them as they share events that profoundly affected their lives. They make great strides toward a healthy relationship when left to themselves, but outside interference throws everything into turmoil.

Just when everything looks promising for their future together, an unexpected twist changes everything for Evan. His honor and love for August won't allow him to see her forced to marry him. I ached for him because all he wants is for her to want him for himself. Unfortunately, August only sees that she's no longer needed. Rather than talk things out, neither of them is willing to risk putting their feelings out there for fear of being rejected. It doesn't help that when August realizes the truth of her feelings and tries to do something about it, she misinterprets something she sees and runs. The scene at the end as Violet confronts Evan is fantastic, especially when she decides to help him. While Evan could have done a little more groveling once he caught up with August, he wasn't the only one who was in the wrong. August should have done a little of her own.

I liked the foreshadowing of the events of the next book. Evan's friend, the Earl of Leigh, has set his sights on Violet while she wants nothing to do with him. The sparks bode well for another fun story. ( )