Synopsis
After a lifetime of rakish behaviour, Lord Maxfeld must pretend he’s reformed and find a fake wife. And there is nobody more suitable than Lady Phoebe. Trouble is, Phoebe will not agree to a false engagement and leaves Max no option but to blackmail her into agreeing to his scheme.Phoebe will go to great lengths to avoid anything remotely dishonourable and blackmails Max right back—directly to the altar. Once married, though, Phoebe wants more than just Max’s ring -- she wants his heart, something he can never give....
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Review
Lady Phoebe fears scandal. Her family has suffered enough due to her father's problems. Society hasn't forgotten. They were poor for a long time. Now that her sister has married well things have turned around. Old acquaintances, who turned their backs on them, now wants to reconnect. But she remembers. And she promised herself that no matter what there must not be any scandal associated with her ever. So when Lord Maxfeld asked her to be his fiance for a few months she simply cannot say yes. It can only end in a scandal and she won't do that to her family.
Maxfeld wants his nephew more than anything else in the world. The only way his mother will let Thomas live with him is he were to marry. But marriage is not for him. He promised himself that he will never marry nor will he ever have children of his own. It's too risky. What if he turned out to be just like his father? He can never hurt anyone the way his father hurt his mother. So the only choice is to find someone who will pretend to be his fiance long enough to convince his mother. That's all. There will be no happily-ever-after for him. Fortunately he knows just the lady... he will convince her no matter by what means.
It's a very well-written novel. I thoroughly enjoyed Lady Phoebe and Lord Maxfeld's story. Both are interesting characters and the book kept me on my toes. It was the right amount of romantic, emotional, and intriguing.