The Heir and the Spare by Maya Rodale
Things for Emilia Highhart are going well at her first London ball, for though she trips and nearly falls, she’s caught by a devilishly handsome man and falls in love at first sight. She is later alone with him that night, due to a slightly negligent chaperone, and he kisses her, which cements her affections for him.
But the next time they meet, things are not the same. He doesn’t seem to remember her or their kiss. Emilia is not happy with the turn of events, but when her dashing lord waltzes with her and mentions the kiss she starts to get confused. Though falling for him, she realizes that maybe he’s not the man she thinks he is, and wanting to find out the truth, goes to a house party he invited her to.
The lord in question is Phillip Kensington, Marquess Huntley, heir to the Duke of Buckingham who is a scoundrel of epic proportions, having ruined at least four women during his past during the London Season. But on that fateful night, Emilia has been rescued by Philip’s twin brother, Devon, who has returned to England to care for their dying father.
Devon ran away five years before after too many years impersonating his twin at one function or another, the last straw having to fight a duel for his irresponsible brother (the reason for the duel is definitely something I would think any man would fight over). Having made his own way in America, he’s back as a successful and wealthy man on his own. When he sees his brother courting Emilia, he goes out of his way to make sure that doesn’t happen, but begins to desire her for himself.
The fact that the twins loathe each other, and have for many years, takes something away from the love story. Devon takes some time to tell Emilia the truth, because he’s always been “the spare” and thinks that she won’t love her for himself. There are some sweet moments when Devon’s cousin and finacee step in to help the romance along. Though gone for five years, Devon has more friends than his brother, who never left.
Devon and Emilia do work well together, and her openness and caring show him that he’s his own man, whether in America or England. And the caring of their friends and family, as well as the things to help the romance along, as well as helping the passion along, since there is the requisite moment that they’re caught in a compromising position.
There are a few other cliched moments, and the ending is a little too Hollywood tied up in a neat little bow. However, overall the story works and the hero and heroine made caring about them pretty easy. And though the ending is cliched, it is still a happy ending for all concerned.
Grade: B-
