Cinderella and the Scarred Viscount
An imperfect proposal…
But a perfect match?
Major James Rossington, Viscount Austerfield, survived Waterloo, but can he survive the Season as London’s most eligible bachelor? Convinced his battle scars make him unlovable, and to escape Society’s matchmakers, Ross proposes a wedding in name only to shy, sensible Carenza Bettridge. Liberated from her cruel stepmother and bullying half-sisters, she blossoms into a confident, altogether desirable woman. He promised Carenza a convenient marriage, but inconveniently finds himself wanting more…
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Author Bio:
Sarah Mallory is an award-winning author who has published more than 30 historical romances with Harlequin Mills & Boon. She loves history, especially the Georgian and Regency. She won the prestigious RoNA Rose Award from the Romantic Novelists Association in 2012 and 2013. Sarah also writes romantic historical adventures as Melinda Hammond. Sarah lived for many years on the Yorkshire Pennines, taking inspiration from the wild and rugged moors. Then in 2018 she fell in love with Scotland and ran away to live on the rugged North West Coast, which is proving even more inspiring.
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Tracy’s Review:
Cinderella and the Scarred Viscount by Sarah Mallory
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Release Date: November 30, 2021
Scarred inside and out by the war, James “Ross” Rossington, Viscount Austerfield, is sure that he will never marry, but when his female relatives gang up on him, he grudgingly attends the season to hunt for a bride and becomes even more convinced that matrimony is not for him, but makes the mistake of telling his sister that the Bettridge girls have caught his eye. His sister wastes no time alerting Lady Bettridge and Ross finds himself agreeing to visit their country home. No sooner has he arrived than he is determined to leave, but then he meets the eldest sister, Carenza.
Carenza Bettridge is Lord Bettridge’s daughter from his beloved first wife and she carries her mother’s dark beauty, causing her to be reviled by her step-mother and half-sisters, who treat her like a servant. Her father is ill and Carenza worries for his health, so she doesn’t burden him with her troubles, but he knows, and that causes him to suggest that Ross marry her. An idea that Ross is against until he sees that sweet Carenza will be forsaken the moment her father dies, so he proposes a marriage in name only, one that offers her protection and that will get his relatives to leave him alone – it is a win-win, as long as Careneza remembers that a friendship is all it will ever be.
This was a well-written, nicely paced story with very likable characters who both suffer from insecurities and the belief that they are not good enough for the other and that are fed by people who are jealous of them. The book features a marriage of convenience trope, a hero with PSTD and physical scars and heroine with a heart of gold who has been led to believe she is unworthy of love and respect, some well-meaning and some not-so well-meaning relatives, some mild loves scenes, and a bit of drama and a HEA complete with an epilogue. This was my first time reading this author, but it will not be my last, I enjoyed this story and am happy to recommend it.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*
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