Veena’s review of A Worthington Wedding (Here Come the Grooms, Book 1) by Ella Quinn
Historical Romance published by Zebra Books 26 Nov 24
What is the saying about good deeds that pave the road to hell? And so it is for poor Charlie, Earl of Stanwood. Charlie is not a gambler, but he enters a game to win a property so he can safeguard it for the gambler’s ward, only to find that the lady actually owns the property outright, wants nothing to do with a gambler like Charlie, even as he has determined that she will make the perfect Countess for him. A bit slow, but therein begins this rout with a large number of family members and retainers all vying for space on the stage of this romance.
Oriana has had to send back numerous gentlemen with a flea in their ear when they come with tales of owning her property, which her guardian has no ownership of and no right to gamble. Needless to say, the first meeting between Charlie and Oriana definitely starts off on the wrong foot.
Oriana is, however, intrigued at how Charlie is treated on his estate, which adjoins hers, and they mutually matchmake a romance between two members of each of their villages. Charlie slowly begins to grow on Oriana as she finds him more progressive than most gentlemen of her generation. Of course, her aunt takes a hand in trying to foster a relationship between the two.
The story is a bit slow, but if you’ve read the Worthingtons, you get to visit with the ever-growing tribe. This is the first in a trilogy of gentlemen seeking their brides, so we’ll see more of these wonderful folks as the series progresses.
Grade: B
Summary:
Charlie, Earl of Stanwood, is at his gentleman’s club when he overhears from a nearby card game that the Viscount Ognon plans to gamble away a property in which some of his family live. Charlie takes a dim view of those who mistreat their dependents, and though he rarely gambles, he always wins. This time is no different. Triumphant, Charlie is determined to sign the property over to the appropriate family member . . .
Miss Oriana Ognon comes from a family in which the men are incorrigible gamblers, while the women mitigate the losses. Fortunately, she inherited her estate from a maternal aunt and is independent of her cousin, who repeatedly attempts to gamble it away. Needless to say, when the Earl of Stanwood comes to call, he is promptly presented with proof of Oriana’s homeownership—and no offer of refreshment. . .. Even if he was the handsomest man, she’d ever seen . . .
Intrigued by headstrong Oriana, Charles sets out to discover more about her—and concludes she may be exactly the wife he’s looking for. Meanwhile, Oriana learns more about Charles, and her interest is piqued. But as saboteurs and rivals compromise their possible future together, they just might find themselves in an irresistibly compromising position of their own . . .
