When the desire to escape brings a marriage of convenience…

Synopsis

Her betrothed cheated on her. The duke offers to save her. Can a marriage of convenience turn into true love?

In this steamy historical romance, a sheltered baron’s daughter and a celebrated duke agree on a marriage of convenience, but he has a secret that may ruin it all.

She is desperate to escape …

When Miss Annabel Ridley learns her betrothed has been unfaithful, she knows she must cancel the wedding. The problem is no one else seems to agree with her, least of all her father. With her wedding day approaching, she must find a way to escape her doomed marriage. She seeks out the Duke of Halmesbury to request he intercede with her rakish betrothed to break it off before the wedding day.

He is ready to try again …

Widower Philip Markham has decided it is time to search for a new wife. He hopes to find a bold bride to avoid the mistakes of his past. Fate seems to be favoring him when he finds a captivating young woman in his study begging for his help to disengage from a despised figure from his past. He astonishes her with a proposal of his own—a marriage of convenience to suit them both. If she accepts, he resolves to never reveal the truth of his past lest it ruin their chances of possibly finding love.

The Duke Wins a Bride is the delightful first book in the Inconvenient Brides series of steamy Regency romance books. If you like worthy heroes, strong heroines, fast-paced plots, and enduring connections, then you’ll adore Nina Jarrett’s charming novel. Can be read as a standalone book.

My review

Miss Annabel Ridley cannot wait to marry her betrothed. That is until she finds out that he has been unfaithful and isn’t planning on making any changes in his behaviour. No matter how hard Annabel tries to cancel the wedding, both her father as Richard want the wedding to take place.
Her only option left is to ask the Duke of Halmesbury for help.
But what Annabel doesn’t know, is that the Duke, Philip Markham, has just decided that the time has come to search for a new wife, after losing his first one. Wanting to avoid the mistakes of the past, he hopes that he can find a bold bride, even a fierce one.
So when he finds Annabel in his study, he thinks that she may be the answer. Because a marriage of convenience is what they both need to solve their problems. And it for sure helps that Philip is captivated by Annabel.
But even in Regency, can a marriage of convenience work, when Annabel is not perse looking for love, but at least respect? And where Philip has already been burnt in a marriage before?

I can truly enjoy reading a Regency story. But I enjoy those stories even more when there is a strong female lead, ready to fight for herself and her happiness.

And that is exactly the kind of character that Annabel is. We meet her when her wedding is approaching. And while perhaps there isn’t that big passionate love with her betrothed, there is a good base to start a marriage with.
Until the moment she discovers that he has been unfaithful…

I have to admit, that moment, despite the tragedy for Annabel, put a little smile on my face, reading how Annabel sees the situation and compares it with well, animals… 😊

But of course it’s terrible for Annabel to see what Richard has been doing behind her back and isn’t even a tiny bit remorseful about it, or has any thoughts about acting differently after getting married to Annabel.

Just like Annabel, it angered me to read how both her father as Richard expected to just let the wedding take place, despite everything that happened…
I was especially disappointed in her father, his lack of interest, his lack of even love towards Annabel and how only the title and reputation count for him…

So yes, while perhaps it isn’t the smartest idea, I could completely comprehend why Annabel decides to fight for herself and even isn’t afraid to put herself into danger, as long as it means that she can get the much needed help to escape that marriage.

Annabel is clearly not that meek woman everyone expects a woman to be. Even while requesting the help from the Duke, she doesn’t let him intimidate her, but she stands her ground. And only after realizing that what Philip offers is the best possible option, AND after she has made her own ‘inspection’ and added a few of her own stipulations, she agrees to the marriage of convenience.

It could have been a weird tactic of Philip, proposing marriage to a woman he just literally met. But slowly learning about his previous marriage, and understanding how that and losing his wife affected him, well it made a lot clear of the persona Philip is.
He also immediately sees the fire that Annabel is, and that is exactly what he is looking for in his wife. So why would he look any further? And of course it helps a bit getting his own revenge.

Revenge that perhaps was also understandable, but also perhaps based on conclusions that were made too quickly, making him lose also his best friend…

But it was great to see Annabel and Philip slowly getting to know each other, learning from each other. Of course there are some hiccups and that trust isn’t gained all that easily. But slowly they are getting there, the both of them wanting to see the other one happy. Even if that means putting your own personal thoughts aside.

And their attraction for sure sparks from each page, but those sparks never take the spotlight. It is an important aspect in the relationship, but it’s also the emotional bond that they have that is just great to see, and the mutual interests that they have.

This was a lovely book to read, about strong characters trying to find a way to happiness. And while it all starts with a marriage of convenience, there is growth as a couple, understanding each other, and also most important, respect from both parties. And also learning to understand one’s own feelings and admitting them and not let fear hold you hold.

As this was the start of a brand new series, I cannot wait to see what else this author has in store for her readers! 😊