Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Heirs of the Aristocracy #8
Publication Date: 4/14/23
Period: Early Victorian – 1844
Number of Pages: 330

I am always excited when I get a new book from this author! Her books are always filled with delightfully entertaining, witty, ready-for-romance characters you’ll absolutely wish were in your own life. Then, what could be better than getting two romances for the price of one? Yep, I think all of her books probably have two romances each. If you are tired of prickly, angsty, naval-gazing, will they/won’t they romances, then this is the author for you.

If you’ve read this author’s works, you know her characters are somewhat interconnected. It is similar to what Stephanie Laurens does with the Cynster family, only this author has several characters from different families who relate to or know each other. I like that because when one of those earlier characters pops up, you get to remember how lovely it was to read their book and it is nice to see where their lives have taken them since. However, don’t let that concern you because if you haven’t read any of those other books, you’ll do just fine reading this one.

We met and loved Ertugrul (pronounced Er-too-rule) and David Bennett-Jones, in The Lady of A Sultan, and we now get to see them find their HEAs. Ertugrul is the son and heir of Ziyaeddin, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and David is the son and heir of Viscount Bostwick. David has decided to end his Grand Tour and return to England to find a bride. Unbeknownst to David, Ertugrul, who is accompanying him, plans to find an English bride as well. Will it be a long and arduous Season for them? Will the matchmaking mamas drive them crazy? Or, does one of them already know who they want and they just have to make it happen? What about those matchmaking papas – that should make for some interesting situations. Hmmmmmm.

Lady Rose, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Arily, was a diamond of the first water when she had her come out, but now she is a wallflower. Why? There was a carriage accident that caused a severely broken leg that healed badly. Damaged goods? Even as a duke’s daughter it is hard for a suitor to get past her sometimes need for a cane or a wheeled chair. She’s not content to become a spinster, but she is resigned to that being the likelihood.

Adeline, who is David Bennett-Jones’s sister, has also become a wallflower, but that is mostly by her choice. Several of her friends – especially Rose – seem to be relegated to the ranks of wallflowers, so she’ll just join them. She’s not especially looking forward to becoming a spinster, but she has many plans for her future with or without a husband. Among those plans is running her mother’s charities. She works there two or three days a week and loves being able to help others. If someone wants her hand, they’ll have to find her because she isn’t actively looking.

It was lovely to see David, Rose, Ertugrul, and Adeline find their perfect mate and their lovely HEA. The book is excellently written, perfectly paced, and filled with memorable characters and romances that will make your heart sing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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