Sandy M’s review of An Affair with a Notorious Heiress (Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, Book 4) by Lorraine Heath
Historical Romance published by Avon 30 May 17
As usual, Lorraine Heath kept me turning the pages of this latest addition to her Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. Rexton and Tillie are both in a spot when it comes to their futures, so adding in their attraction to each other just makes for a sticky wicket. But what fun – and challenges – ensue, giving the reader another lovely and heart-wrenching read from Ms. Heath.
Alistair Mabry, Marquess of Rexton, is determined to marry a proper and respectable woman. He knows what it’s like to be the child of scandal, bullied as a kid as he was in school. He loves his parents to no end, but their way to marriage just isn’t for him. So imagine his dilemma when he meets a very notoriously scandal-clad American heiress and is drawn to her time and time again. His deal with Lady Landsdowne’s uncle to breed his best horse with the man’s prized stallion is only to court her sister to a few balls and the theater to garner interest in the young woman. He never imagined the tangle his life would become as these two ladies worm their way under his skin.
Tillie is still drowning in the scandal her divorced caused years before. She very rarely ventures outside the home she managed to obtain from her ex. But when Rexton shows an interest in her sister, Tillie watches him like a hawk to make sure his feelings are true and he doesn’t want just a dowry, as her husband did with her. Of course, things become very complicated with all three characters following their own agendas. Rexton and Tillie try their darnedest to keep their feelings at bay, but fate has other plans. When they finally throw caution to the wind, their chemistry explodes and the pages catch fire. Heat and sizzle never had it so good.
Of course, there’s lots of ups and downs for these two on the way to their future. Tillie is set on returning to America as soon as Gina is married and settled. Rexton should be happy to see her go, to see his torment end, but in the end he just can’t let her run from his life. I enjoyed seeing the Mabry family again as they help Rexton make Tillie a little more respectable once more to the ton. As Tillie’s circumstances are slowly unveiled throughout this tumultuous love affair, you can’t help but cheer her on to make the right decision for her and to hell with everyone else. And I like that Gina is not anything like what she first appears to be.
All in all, a wonderfully crafted romance that pulls on the heartstrings as well as tickles the funny bone when Rex and Tillie are engaged with one another. I simply enjoyed every word. Lorraine Heath has a way of making that happen for me with every one of her books. No wonder I can’t wait for her next one and then her next and so on to release.
Grade: A+
Summary:
The son of a duke and an infamous mother, Alistair Mabry, Marquess of Rexton, fought his way to respectability. Now, the most eligible bachelor in London, marriage-shy Rexton will take only a wife with an impeccable reputation, good breeding, and a penchant for staying out of the gossip sheets. But when he strikes a deal to be seen “courting” a sweet young debutante whose notorious older sister has blemished her chances for marriage, Rexton is unexpectedly drawn to the highly inappropriate, calamitous Tillie, Lady Landsdowne herself.
After a scandalous incident that sent shockwaves throughout society and disgraced her, Tillie refuses to cower in the face of the ton. Instead, she will hold her head high as she serves as chaperone for her younger sister, but Tillie is convinced Rexton’s courtship is shrouded with secrets—ones she vows to uncover. However, doing so requires getting dangerously close to the devilishly handsome and forbidden marquess…
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
