I’ll Always Love You by Ella Quinn
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Worthingtons, #5.5

Release Date: November 27, 2018

This was a sweet little addition to the Worthington series, featuring Louisa’s sister by marriage Lady Lucinda Hughlot and Gerald, Earl Elliot.

Lucinda is finally getting her London season thanks to Louisa and Rothwell being able to convince the dowager duchess that she must sponsor her – the dowager has not been in town since her husband’s death and has avoided returning due to the scandals her late husband caused. She informs Lucinda that she has spoken to her dear friend the Marchioness of Quorndon and they have decided that her son the Marquess and Lucinda will be a perfect match. Lucinda is dismayed, she wanted to choose her own husband and dreamt of a love match. But she agrees to meet the Marquess to keep the peace.

Gerald has not had much success in his quest for a bride, he seems to only notice a woman once she has become attached to another man. Far from heartbroken, he decides that this is the season that he will find the perfect woman. While visiting his club he sees Quorndon and learns that he will probably be married soon to Lucinda, as his mother believes they will be a good match, their conversation is overheard by Rothwell, who immediately asks Gerald to watch out for his sister. Gerald agrees thinking that it will give him a chance to meet potential brides.

When Lucinda meets Gerald, she is smitten, he is perfect for her! But she has promised to meet Quorndon and hopes that he inspires the same level of interest. He does not and now Lucinda has to find a way out of this arrangement. As luck would have it she meets the perfect woman for Quorndon in the form of Miss. Arabella Marlowe – who is just as interested in him as he is in her. She suggests an outing and invites Gerald along. It is clear that Arabella and Quorndon are a perfect match, but Gerald does seem to see that Lucinda is his perfect mate as well.

As the weeks pass and they spend more time together, she knows that she is in love with him, but has no idea what his feelings are or how to find out, but when her mother informs her that she will be announcing her betrothal to Quarndon in a week, she will have to gather up all her courage and ask him or lose the one man she may not be able to live without.

Even when their true feelings are revealed, they will still have to overcome their mother’s disapproval before they can have their HEA.

I thought this was a very sweet story and I loved Lucinda and Gerald – but I will admit that I thought Gerald was dumber than a box of rocks more than once and more than a little dense. He was perfectly charming and I enjoyed his interactions with Lucinda, but it was like he refused to see what was right in front of him – this was not your typical hero denial – he really came across as obtuse and a little slow on the uptake. However, he manages to pull his head out of his butt and realize that Lucinda is the woman he has always wanted before it is too late. I got a kick out of his mother and how well she played him 🙂 This was well written, fast paced, easy to read story with a little bit of steam at the end and not a whole lot of drama. I really enjoyed the book and would be happy to recommend, it is part of the Worthington series, but it could be read as a stand alone with no problems at all.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*