JoRead

It was a fast paced, charming story that focused more in the romance than in the historical aspect of the times. And for once that was a good thing.

There was plenty to like (and dislike) about Ashton and Caroline as individuals and that gave them a relatable side. I also liked the way the sexual tension was handled; the author expertly maneuvered around the subject making it sound sensual yet controlled, passionate yet full of love.

The story began a little silly and there were times I wanted to jump in and slap the heroine as she sounded dismally hostile. I get that she had plenty of reasons to be against marriage and what was coming her way but the way she was trying to argue her way out of it was what put me off. However as the story progressed and the relationship between Ashton and Caroline took off, the story had more fluidity and even the second characters had more relevance in the story. Towards the end it had a feel of "I love you but I can't let you know" that may at times drive me up the wall but given the circumstances of their "arrangement" it was understandable up to a point so I'm willing to overlook their reserves since they eventually got to their HEA.

This was my first read by this author but will definitely not be my last. 

** I received a copy of this story by Netgally in exchange for an honest review **