Griffith, Duke of Riverton, likes order, logic, and control, and he naturally applies this rational approach to his search for a bride. He's certain Miss Frederica St. Claire is the perfect wife for him, but while Frederica is strangely elusive, he can't seem to stop running into her stunningly beautiful cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge.
Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, her uncle will only help them if she'll use her beauty to assist him in his political aims. Already uncomfortable with this agreement, the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she wishes to be free of her unfortunate obligation.
Will Griffith and Isabella be able to set aside their pride and face their fears in time to find their own happily-ever-after? AMAZON 3.5 STARS
The opening chapter to the book was interesting and different. It also explained some of the influences that make a big impact on Griffith and his future choices.
The book was okay with likable main characters. Griffith was observed as a problem solver and he has his work cut out for him in this. He is up to the challenge though when he began to understand what some of them were. And how he felt about them and "Bella".
The main flaw that I would mention is that it felt like it went on a bit too long at times.
There were some good people who were secondary but added to the story. Frederica, Isabella's cousin was one of those people. Quite a bit of mention was made to her one unfortunate feature; her rather large nose. But she had such a sweet, good-hearted nature. She also had a somewhat "doomed" love for a man in the military. One that her father has done everything he can think of to block , some of it is really dangerous. Percy is not a man to be easily crossed.
Speaking of Uncle Percy, he is one obsessed, manipulative man. Nothing seems to low for him to do to get what he wants. And Isabella's beauty is something that he thinks he can use to his benefit. He has a bill that he desperately wants passed and he sees Isabella as the "bee"to draw men in so that he can influence them.
Other people in the story that were amusing were some of Griffith's family members. They were amused as they had a better handle on what was going on with him. They knew before he did what and who he needed. He had his rigid, well planned list of characteristics he considered important in the woman he would marry. But he begins to realize he probably should tear it up because all he could see was Isabella. Oh not at first of course, but just being around her begins to wear him down.
One thing that continues throughout the story is the fact that Griffith only dances with family. So of course any time he is at a ball, everyone keeps an eager eye on him. If he asks a woman to dance that is not of his family, it's seen as almost a public declaration of the woman he wants to marry. Now that was something I found unusual but also funny at times. Funny because more than one woman tried to maneuver him to dance with them. He was pretty good at getting out of it without being totally rude. But the one woman he wanted to dance with and marry was not making it easy for him.
I received a copy of this book from Bethany House via Netgalley and this was my honest opinion of it.
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