⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. Charlotte and Roth burn up the pages together in this gripping second-chance romance.
Widower James Ludlow, Earl of Rotherham, attends a house party in search of a mother for his two daughters, and his primary requirement is that he doesn’t fall in love. Having already given that emotion to his former wife without reciprocation, he prefers a mutually beneficial arrangement without sentimentality. However, he meets a charming widow with seemingly wonderful maternal instincts, and he can’t ignore the sparks between them. Perhaps a little passion wouldn’t be so unwelcome… Everyone thinks Charlotte Dunthorpe is a widow, but she’s only pretending to be. When her dear friend invites her to a matchmaking house party that isn’t only for the purposes of marriage, Charlotte is tempted to indulge in a short liaison. Instead, the dashing and kind-hearted Rotherham offers her the chance for the family she always wanted. She must refuse or risk exposing her devastating secrets and ensuring the absolute ruin of all that she holds dear.
MY THOUGHTS
I just loved the idea of a house party where men and women got together to either find a partner in marriage or a partner for just right now. Charlotte wanted a diversion for a moment, while Roth wanted something a lot more permanent. Their instant, strong attraction quickly overrode any logic and reason that wanted to drive a wedge between them.
Charlotte had tried to make the best of a situation fraught with heartbreak, secrecy, and fear of discovery. But unless she managed to find a way to overcome this, anything in her life would be temporary. Meeting Roth made her dream of what could be, if her circumstances were different. I liked both characters. Roth was confident, kind, and supportive. In Roth’s presence, Charlotte forgot her feelings of not quite fitting in at the party. She was compassionate, kind, and had a generous heart.
The author captured their sizzling chemistry perfectly. Every moment between them were so electrically charged, I basically held my breath whenever they got close to each other. And it’s this experience that tempered some of the scenes at the end that I found a bit too sweet.
The villain’s motivations were a bit vague, other than he was obviously a sad excuse of a human being.
I can highly recommend this book and the series if you like historical romance and second chances. Each book stands well on its own.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.
Genre: Historical Romance
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Matchmaking Chronicles
Other books in the series: The Rigid Duke, The Bachelor Earl, The Runaway Viscount
Tropes: Second Chances, Secrets, Instant Attraction
