Veena’s review of The Girl With The Pearl Pin (Society for Single Ladies, Book 1) by Lynne Connolly
Historical Romance published by Lyrical Press 10 Sep 19
Phoebe North certainly did not qualify as the bride the illustrious Duke of Leomore might chose, but circumstances make it so. Caught in a compromising situation at a London ball where the Duke has signaled his intent to take a bride this season, they take the ton by storm. Their engagement isn’t the only excitement at the ball – one of the stalwarts of the ton gets her jewels stolen and accuses Phoebe of the theft. The story is off to an exciting start with a lot of different plot lines that takes the author’s deft touch to braid together into a delightful story.
The Duke has vowed never to fall in love, thanks to the extreme example set by his parents. Brought up by his grandmother, he steps into the marriage mart to ensure the succession. Little does he know that Phoebe North would blow all his perceptions out of the water. Determined to be her knight errant and protect her from society’s cruelty, he finds himself sucked deep into what his fiancée considers a pretend engagement. I will say the duke stands steadfast in the face of Phoebe’s family, particularly her spoiled sister, who covets everything Phoebe has, including him, as well the London social scene.
For Phoebe to hold up her head in society, the mystery of the missing jewels must be solved. Who took them and why? It’s eye opening to read about the plot of the hired help who thieve from their employers, which is a step in solving the jewelry theft. The women’s group make able detectives as they work through the finer details in solving the case.
Aside from the mystery, the story came complete with a villain who has no qualms about resorting to kidnapping to get his nasty way. All in all, an enjoyable tale, though I did find it a tad slow in parts. I can’t wait to see the other ladies in the group find their happily ever after.
Grade: B
Summary:
Founded by the wealthiest woman in London, an unconventional crime-solving club brings together single lords and overlooked ladies from every rung of society. It’s a perfectly scandalous match …
As London’s most sought-after bachelor, the Duke of Leomore stuns society when he announces his engagement to a woman who has just been branded a thief. Yet as his painfully shy “bride-to-be” understands, it is merely a ruse until The Society for Single Ladies apprehends the true culprit—and a ploy to further delay Leo’s obligation to wed. For him, marriage will be a purely practical affair. Still, why does a stolen kiss with his faux fiancée conjure such tempting visions of romance?…
As if being falsely accused weren’t mortifying enough, Phoebe North is now the talk of the town. And while she knows Leo did the honorable thing to protect her reputation, she can’t help but long for more. It would be an impossible match given their unequal stations, and Leo has made his view of marriage quite clear. Yet his kiss and flirtatious ways say something else. If only she could persuade him of how delightful it would be to thumb their noses at convention—and become fools for love…
No excerpt available.
