Member Review

Emmeline Lockhart fell in love with charming Simon Reeves and was ready to marry him when he disappeared from society. The scandal ruined her marriage prospects, but she's content to write novels and publish them anonymously for the rest of her life. Her aunt, however, is determined that she at least manage to find any husband. Annoying but doable, until Simon returns as the new Viscount of Ravenscross, in search of a rich wife to help rescue the title and estate from the debts and ruin left behind by his cousin and father. Can Emme grow to see Simon as nothing more than a friend, or will seeing him and his half-feral younger siblings drown in sorrow make her forget they're not a suitable match?

It's a very sweet, no-spice romance that puts all the emphasis on the ways that Emme and Simon are perfect for each other. Even the inclusion of rambunctious kids, which is usually a dealbreaker for me, is so well done that you can't help but feel like Emme is meant to be a part of the Reeves family.
This brings me to my main point of contention. Emme is way too perfect in everything she does, and her kindness and sacrificial attitude did get a tiny bit tiring. I would have liked the story more if the character growth wasn't as one-sided. Because all the growth on Simon's side is a big part of what made me like the book, and it put a spotlight on the fact that the only change in Emme is her attitude towards people knowing she's an author. Yes, it's a big deal for the era, but it only made her even more of a too perfect character.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the sweet romance read!