Synopsis
The first rule of setting a trap is not to get caught in it yourself…
Miss Athene Hartville must marry quickly, or risk spending the rest of her days in a gloomy garret, embroidering baby’s gowns. When her flirtatious chaperone secures an invitation to spend the week with an eccentric duke and his guests, Athene’s hopes of finding a rich husband soar. Until, that is, her childhood nemesis Viscount Rushbourne, arrives. He threatens to trample her ambitions into the dust.
Miss Athene Hartville must marry quickly, or risk spending the rest of her days in a gloomy garret, embroidering baby’s gowns. When her flirtatious chaperone secures an invitation to spend the week with an eccentric duke and his guests, Athene’s hopes of finding a rich husband soar. Until, that is, her childhood nemesis Viscount Rushbourne, arrives. He threatens to trample her ambitions into the dust.
Struggling to manage his ailing father, a maverick younger brother, and an unwieldy earldom, Rushbourne’s reunion with the fiery Athene is a welcome distraction. Then he uncovers a conspiracy against him that could lead to his total ruin.
His only hope is to win Athene’s heart…but can he pay the price and accept her bitter revenge?
His only hope is to win Athene’s heart…but can he pay the price and accept her bitter revenge?
Review
This book is a page-turner. I was hooked right from the very beginning. I've read and loved previous works by this author so I had high hopes when I started this book and I must say it is even better than what I hoped for. It is true that I'm partial to historical fictions and I do love a good enemy-to-lover story, but this book is so much more. I loved the characters. I loved how well-written it is. I loved every single detail about the settings and the situations that these characters are facing. It's intriguing, romantic, and at times very funny. All is all, I think this story is a work of art, it's perfection and I'd definitely recommend it if you like historical fiction. In fact, pick it up even if you don't like historical fiction and this book might just change your mind about the genre. The best thing is that it's easy to read and ends quite well.
Miss Athene is about to learn that it is very much possible for one to fall into one's own trap. She set out to seek revenge on her childhood tormentor but ended up falling for him. Has Viscount Rushbourne really changed that much from the time when she knew him? Or is he still the same brute pretending to be a gentleman? She is going to find out the hard way and there is nothing she can do about it.
Viscount Rushbourne doesn't remember the things Athene accuse him of. He remembers having a crush on a girl and trying stupid things to get her attention. He had no idea that she thought of him as cruel or that she was still holding a grudge after all those years. In any case, he is willing to do anything to make her see that he has changed. And that he wants her in his life, not to torment her but to love her. But does he stand a chance against years of hatred?
P.S. I received a complimentary copy of this book.