Just for the Season by Rachel Griffiths

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: None Given

Release Date: July 7, 2026

When her half-brother Julian, Earl Ramsay and his wife Anna leave for a prolonged trip, Julian asks his best friend, Wolfgang Latham, the Duke of Warrick to keep an eye on his sister Lady Charlotte. Charlotte is not happy about this turn of events, as she and Warrick have a history, she thought they had been courting a few years ago, but without any explanation, Warrick cut off communication with her and acts if there was never anything between them. Charlotte was hurt, but she didn’t wallow in her pain, instead she focused her energy on fulling her dream of opening a silk mill. Things are going well, until she learns that her mother is in town and in debt, in an attempt to speak to her mother, she goes to a risqué ball, she learns the magnitude of her mother’s debt, runs into Warrick and is accosted by another guest. This sparks a scandal that has Queen Charlotte insisting that Charlotte must marry by the end of the summer. Too bad the only man she has ever considered marrying can’t stand her.

Three years ago, Wolfgang Latham was just a second son and a solider when he fell in love with Charlotte, but and overheard conversation and the death of his older brother changed everything. He vowed to forget about Charlotte and until her brother requested a favor, he was pretty much succeeding. Wolfgang reluctantly agrees, but when Charlotte is embroiled in a scandal and is ordered to marry, he regrets his agreement, because watching Charlotte be courted by other men will be its own form of torture. Things only get worse when he learns the truth of what he overheard three years ago, but is it too late to make things right with Charlotte or will he have to watch her marry another man?

What a fun story! Charlotte and Wolfgang are clearly meant to be, but a very well executed misunderstanding trope keeps readers wondering how they are going to be able to find their HEA until almost the end of the book. This story has a very strong heroine, a hero who struggles with survivor guilt, a dowager who had plans of her own, a steady stream of suitors, lots of witty banter, some steamyish love scenes, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. This is the second book in the series and I didn’t read the first book, but that had no impact on my reading experience. I really liked this author’s writing style, but did feel like this story did drag a bit in the middle, however, the ending was very satisfying and I would happily recommend this title to my fellow HR readers or anyone who enjoys a strong heroine and a hero who will do whatever it takes to make her happy.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *