Graham Ashdowne, Marquis of Grantley is forty-one, he’s avoided society, but now he’s decided to do his duty to the title and find a wife. The marquisate is nearly bankrupt , then an acquaintance comes to call bearing that upends his entire existence. Life is daunting at best and doesn’t help his stutter while in public. Wealthy and independent, Mary Pellingham, widowed three years from a horrid marriage, she is thoroughly enjoying society but is not looking for another union. An accidental engagement can reverse unsavoury circumstances…As Graham and Mary learn how to navigate the obstacles blocking their paths, unexpected desire flares hot, leading her to teach the shy lord a few tricks, and that forced proximity leads to a surprising friendship.
This is the fourth full length book in the series & we meet the other Winterbournes. It could be read on its own but I would recommend reading Louisa’s story (Teasing Miss Atherby) as it serves as an introduction to the rest of the series. A well written with strong characters & it also flows effortlessly. I really liked Graham who started to stammer after an incident when he was fifteen, he has low self esteem but is caring, honourable & protective. I struggled to like Mary to begin with but gradually liked her the more I read. I did like the chemistry between the couple & how they supported each other. Their journey to a HEA wasn’t easy & there were obstacles I their way but it did make for an entertaining read
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

A scandal, a shock and a rescue.

Graham Ashdowne, Marquess of Grantley discovers that he and his siblings are not their father’s children. Suddenly things make sense to him. Graham has stuttered since he was fifteen when he found his mother in the arms of the Earl of Ettesmere.
Currently his burden is to try to settle all the debts incurred by the former Marquess of Grantley who Graham had believed was his father, a cold distant man.
Mary Pellingham, a lovely vivacious widow is wealthy. Having been in an abusive marriage she has no wish to go there again. Unfortunately the odious Lord Middleton won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.
At a masked rout Mary meets and introduces the forty-one ears old, virginal, and tipsy Graham into the pleasures of sexual play. Discovered the next morning in the library by their hostess Lady Admore in a state of dishabille, Mary states that they’re engaged. Graham sticks to the fiction of the fake engagement hoping to weather the storm of gossip and to protect Mary.
Lord Middleton takes the news with a good deal of rancour and disbelief.
Meanwhile Graham has to tell his siblings the truth surrounding their parentage and their subsequent connection to the Winterbournes. As you can imagine this was not well received.
Unfortunately, the promise of a jolly good plot just doesn’t live up to expectations.
I found the conversations, the execution of dialogue, somewhat wooden and stilted. I didn’t make a connection with Mary, although I had some sympathy for Graham.

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

He strove to rise from the ashes of scandal and penury like a phoenix. And with her assistance, he slowly achieves it, This is a lovely tale of courage, acceptance, generosity, support and family relationships. She brings light and order to his otherwise chaotic circumstances. He is the love of her life, Enjoyable HEA read!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.