Sandra Sookoo

Good second chance romance. The story begins three years after Cora’s fiancé left her at the altar to continue his naval career. Family circumstances have forced her to take a paying position as a companion to a grouchy old woman. She hasn’t forgotten Perry or the heartbreak he caused her.

Perry has returned to London after a medical retirement from the navy. He is scarred, physically and emotionally, by what he has been through. He has never forgotten Cora and regrets his actions.

Their first encounter after Perry’s return is volatile, to say the least. There is no doubt that the chemistry between them is as strong as ever, but their path to a future together is full of challenges.

I had a difficult time liking Perry. I thought he was selfish. He never considered what leaving Cora at the altar would do to her reputation and went on his merry way. On his return to London, he couldn’t be bothered to check on her or apologize for his actions. It wasn’t until he mistook her for another woman that he was forced to face up to his actions. He then proceeded to be just as uncaring of propriety as before. Yes, he decided he wanted to marry her, but he was more concerned with his feelings than hers.

Cora is reluctant to trust Perry after his earlier betrayal but can’t deny her attraction to him. She has also taken her family’s financial burdens on her shoulders and stubbornly clings to that responsibility as her mission in life. She is loyal to her employer but can’t see how manipulative the woman is.

Perry determinedly pursues Cora. She is torn between her growing feelings for him and her self-imposed vision of her future. I liked his persistence and grew frustrated at Cora’s blindness. I ached for both when Perry issued his ultimatum. He is stunned and hurt by her decision. Cora has to face the consequences of her decision, especially when she learns the truth about her employer.

The ending was a little frustrating because I didn’t like Perry’s attitude when Cora showed up to talk to him, especially considering what a jerk he’d been before. I was happy they worked things out, but both still have some growing up to do.… (meer)

Good book with a different setup than other books from this series. Thomas was the winner, not the loser, in his game of chance, and Olivia was not looking for a husband of any kind, which is the opposite of most of Mrs. Dove-Lyons' matches.

Thomas is a man who has been mired in grief for seven years after his forbidden love died in childbirth. He has closed off his heart to any thought of love or romance. The Christmas season is the hardest, and to cope, he accompanies a friend to the Lyon's Den for an evening of gambling. But things take an unexpected turn when his opponent cannot pay his debt. Thomas doesn't want to marry, but if he doesn't, Mrs. Dove-Lyons threatens to reveal his closely guarded secret.

Conor Jameson foolishly wagered more than he could afford, and when the time came to pay, he offered his sister Olivia's hand in marriage. A consultation with Mrs. Dove-Lyons confirms the offer is legitimate. Conor doesn't look forward to telling Olivia, who has no interest in marriage either. She gives in to save her brother from debtor's prison. Olivia has spent years grieving the death of her best friend. When she learns that her groom-to-be is the man she holds responsible for Cynthia's death, she plots her revenge.

Olivia and Thomas enter this marriage with great anger and reluctance. I laughed out loud at the description of their wedding vows, vividly describing their feelings about the event. Things came to a head on their wedding night when Olivia attempted to stab him, and words were exchanged. The next morning, they confronted each other over her need for revenge. I ached for Thomas as he was forced to recount what happened to his beloved Cynthia. I also hurt for Olivia, who discovered her reasons were based on a misunderstanding of what happened. I liked seeing them acknowledge that each has some healing to do before they can expect a successful marriage. They decide to call a truce and continue in a marriage-in-name-only relationship while they get to know each other.

Neither expected the explosive chemistry between them. Olivia is no innocent virginal bride, and Thomas can't resist the sparks that fly between them. It isn't long before they can't keep their hands off each other, but what does that do to their attempts to get past the tragedies of the past? I liked seeing them learn to communicate with each other, slowly opening up about those things that have made them who they are. Their growing trust in each other made each revelation a little easier. My heart broke for Thomas when he told Olivia about Sally and his pain and guilt. Olivia, too, has a heartbreak to share with Thomas.

Though each has realized the depth of their feelings, both are wary of confessing them, fearing rejection. Just as both are ready to take a chance, a thoughtless comment and the harsh words lead to nearly result in tragedy. Of course, all ends well, as Thomas and Olivia finally break free of the chains that kept them tied to the past. I loved the epilogue and seeing what they've made of their lives. I also appreciated their realization that it takes work to make a successful relationship.

I liked the secondary characters of the Earl and Countess of Pennington, whose story I must read soon. I liked how Olivia and Lady Pennington connected and the advice she had for Olivia. I also liked Thomas's friend, Simon, and I hope he gets his story, too.… (meer)

I received an advance copy from the author for my honest review.

The Heroine
Julianna Quill is a spinster who has a deep passion for astronomy. Her mother and brother died, so she is the sole caregiver of her aging, Alzheimer's father. She has always been content with her life and lack of romance or never being married. But when Arthur kisses her, she realizes that maybe she missed out on more than she knew and it sparks a desire in her she had long shut away. Julianna was a very well written character who saw the trouble Arthur was going through to overcome his grief and showed understanding and patience. She allowed herself to explore their relationship while he worked through his emotions, but also knew when she was getting to close to pull back and force him to face his fears before she was irreparably hurt. She was so sweet to his children and even put herself in uncomfortable situations to attend his society events.

The Hero
Arthur Winterbourne, Earl of Ettesmere was in love with his first wife who bore him two beautiful children before you passed away. For five years, he has lived in a fog of grief and mourning his wife. But, when he meets the interesting Julianna he is smitten and, for this first time since his wife's death, she stirs feelings in him he never thought to find again. He struggles with the guilt and betrayal that he feels when he is with Julianna and can't seem to get past the idea of finding love again. He is so very sweet to Julianna and I loved his honesty about how he was feeling about his deceased wife. Ms. Sookoo handled the grief and transition to a new love with care and I was able to see his struggle and feel his ability to love again.

The Plot
I was a little concerned that this story was not going to have enough of a plot to hold my attention which held true for the first few chapters. I feel that is true with any first book in a new series; the author is trying to set up the storyline and the families involved. However, I was quickly pulled into the angst of the romance between Arthur and Julianna and devoured the rest of the book. I was also left excited to see which characters book comes next and can't wait to see their happily ever after!

The Steam
There were a couple of steamy scenes, all of which took place outside! LOL! And I loved it!

Tropes
Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Country Life, Beta Hero, Single Dad, Titled Hero, Widowed Hero, Bluestocking Heroine, Independent Heroine, Scientist Heroine, Spinster Heroine, Virgin Heroine, Outdoor Steam, Angst Romance, Class Difference, Friends to Lovers… (meer)

THE REVIEW
Lady Sophia Winterbourne-Stratford-Forrester has had her share of sorrow and grief. She lost her father when she was young, a sister-in-law, and two husbands. And now, she has been diagnosed with a heart disease and told she has maybe 1-6 months to live. She is dealing with a lot of emotions…sad that she will miss her daughter growing up, that her daughter will be left parent less, lonely at night when she is alone with her thoughts, scared of dying, it’s a lot to handle.

Oliver is an ambassador from America who has traveled to England for a summer holiday when his carriage breaks down and he is sent to Sophia’s doorstep for help. He is very ambitious and focused on his job, so he has never married and is, in fact, a Virgin! He also has no family and is quite lonely.

When Sophia and Oliver meet it is simply meant to be…Oliver finds an instant family in Sophia and her daughter and immediately embraces the roles! Sophia is desperate for companionship in her final days and Oliver is so sweet and funny! He takes such good care of her and would be an excellent father to her daughter after she is gone. So, naturally, Oliver proposes and they get married quickly. They spend the rest of the book settling into their marriage and fatherhood while dealing with her illness and the emotions that come along with facing death.

While it was a very sweet book, it was also incredibly sad! I mean the woman is dying and leaving all her family, her daughter and now a new husband that she comes to love! I cried numerous times! I loved Oliver; bless his heart, an older gentleman who never slowed down enough to find a wife, let alone someone he wanted to sleep with! It almost made my tooth hurt he was so sweet to Sophia! There is a little twist at the end (I kind of saw it coming) which made the story interesting again right when my enthusiasm was waning.

TROPES
Historical Romance, Regency Era, Country Life, American Hero, Beta/Cinnamon Roll Hero, Politician Hero, Virgin Hero, Experienced Heroine, Widowed Heroine, Single Mother Heroine, Age Gap Romance, Marriage of Convenience/Arranged Marriage, Four Star, Three Flame

… (meer)