I liked Rupert right away. Strong, dependable, stoic. Diana, on the other hand I didnt like till the end. I found her childish and petulant. The plot was great. I would have liked to have gotten to know the characters a little better. I think you will enjoy this story.

Second chance romance. What a delight this book was.! Diana and Rupert have been thrown back into each other’s lives and there is a lot of “tension”. I love the character of Rupert. Thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

After Lady Diana Somerville's brother,Jem dies in the Boer Wars, she comes back to England from South Africa. When she arrives at the house in London, there is already someone in the house. Rupert Lacey was betrothed to Diana at one time but it was broken off. He was with her brother when he was killed in South Africa. After seeing the solicitor, she realizes that her brother left his part of the inheritance to his friend Rupert who was in the war with Jem. The house, diamond mines, money and a racing horse are all to be divided. Since Diana and Rupert cannot live in the house together, they tell everyone that they are married. It is hard for them both as there are secrets about Jem's death keeping them apart. Will love be enough and what about the woman that Rupert had an interest in? Both need to have the last word. can they make this work. I loved this book. I remember reading about the Boer Wars and the history of the diamond mines. loved the story line and the ending as well as the rest of the book. I received this book from Net Galley and Kensington Books for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.

Sometimes the past coming back to haunt you is a very good thing! Lady Diana comes home to England after being away for over a year in South Africa to find her former fiance in possession of her family home, and discovers that he was left her brother's estate upon his death on the battlefield. Diana is shocked that her brother has left her saddled with Rupert, since he broke her heart, but Rupert refuses to leave. Can they do out their relationship and start again? I found the story to be enjoyable and an easy read. I was given an ARC by Netgalley for my honest opinion.

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you!
Diana Sommerville and Colonel Rupert Lacey were engaged, but Diana broke it off. Both still have feelings for the other, but they need to work out their issues with each other first. Diana is angry that her brother Jem left his half of their estate to Rupert. Rupert is dealing with his own grief of Jem's death and has never forgotten Diana. Rupert needs to tell Diana about the past so they can possibly have a future together. But Diana is stubborn and knows what she wants. Diana and Rupert "pretend" to be married since they are living under the same roof. Diana makes decisions without speaking to Rupert, which angers him, but both do not completely trust the other. As they spend more time together, their passion intensifies and just maybe they can have a second chance at love.

I regularly enjoy books by this author, but this one I couldn't finish. The family fortune built on diamond mines was a new, interesting twist but I found the characters to be mainly unlikable. Diana is a shrill female trope, completely unable to control her emotions (or her lust of course) and Rupert is indistinguishable from the standard Regency lord who enjoys pushing her buttons. They move into the same house and pretend to be married while hating each other because...reasons? There's also a will, then another will, and a race horse. I assume they get over their issues and marry in the end.

Ooh, who is Miss Sommerville, and how do they know each other? Young women usually didn't just show up at a bachelor's house like that in 1902.

The solicitor has some nerve. Obviously she would rather have her brother living than be wealthy and alone.

Wow, Rupert must have done something really bad to make her hate him so.

This "negotiation" is making even me tired.

Cooler heads have prevailed. Her friends are good for her.

Waste of a good meal.

She doesn't have to tell him everything. They are not actually married, and she is over the age of consent.

Brown Windsor soup sounds good, actually.

Geez, they broke off their engagement because he got butt-hurt?

Lord Roberts sounds like a lovely man. Compared to Hades!

Poor man has survivor's guilt in the worst way.

Lardy cake sounds like cinnamon bread with melted butter.

When you gotta go, you gotta go.

I would have gone back to Penrith for a honeymoon.

There is just so much sexual tension between Rupert and Diana, “well,” he murmured finally, “I don’t know why you unman me so, my sweet, but I cannot help myself. I didn’t come in here intending that to happen, I was ready for battle.” He moved his hand from his eyes dropping it heavily onto her belly." When he's with his lady, Rupert hates being disturbed, “no, we most definitely are not at home,” Rupert declared. “Send Mr. Marsden on his way, and for the rest of the day, we will not be at home to anyone. Is that clear, Barlow?” I really liked this book, I loved Rupert.

This one really wasn't my taste--the conflict holding the pair apart was a misunderstanding that some basic conversations could fix, the hero was way too domineering and "my girl!" for me to find him attractive, and the relationship was conflict-driven just for the sake of sparks. This may very well be someone else's very hot.

I received a free copy for an honest review from Netgalley. I give this book 3.5 because it was an enjoyable read however, the character personalities felt off and their motivation and conflict felt incomplete. I think this book needs to spend more time developing its characters and ideas. That said I did enjoy the relationship between Rupert and Diana.

Cute historical fiction romance with a fake marriage and stubborn couple. I liked that Rupert was convinced they were meant to be together, but Diana wasn't so sure.