Eva Devon

Eva Devon is masterful in this deep, thoughtful story. I normally would say that this is a delightful read, but delight wasn't found here. It was heartbreaking and sad at times. This is a story of two people who are perfectly matched if only they can allow the other to help them heal from their painful pasts.
This title is somewhat deceiving. It sounds like this will be a light romantic romp where the lovable rogue meets his match and finds that marriage is worth giving up his roguish ways. show more Instead, we meet two people whose painful pasts have made them wary of future relationships. These two characters are intelligent and strong but keep their emotions reigned in. Trust and true friendships are held-back.
There is no coy, ballroom flirting, no stolen kisses behind a column, no silly misunderstandings keeping the two apart. Both Andromeda and Damian have such painful pasts, they can't go forward until they are able to overcome their individual fears from their past. In each other, they are able to not only confront their fears but help the other heal and overcome them. This couple is one who truly deserves their Happily Ever After. show less

When Entangled Publishing asked me for a review of another Eva Devon historical romance, I couldn't pass it up. After all, when a daring kiss leads to an unwanted marriage, the sparks will fly.

Edward Andrew Richard Stanhope, sixteenth Duke of Thornfield, is a private man with a very public title. His chilling and stoic temperament as well as his reputation as a rake is legendary so when he finds himself in a predicament with a spinster of questionable intentions and way beneath his station, show more it's either ruination or marriage. One is out of the question and the other is going to be a challenge. Regardless, the woman is a menace and very enticing.

Miss Georgiana Bly just wanted to be by herself tucked away from the ball in the Duke's private library, but because of mistaken identity she accepts a challenge and is now to wed a very beautiful and overbearing Duke. "She’d rather join a convent than marry a man of his importance", but it is what it is and Georgiana is prepared to "rule the room". He plans to train her how to be a better Duchess so she will train him how to be a better man.

The interaction between Georgiana and Edward is volatile and tantalizing. His superior attitude and her bold talk are a fiery combination that starts as a slow burn and ends in an unexpected morning after. Edward is an honorable and unusual hero who is much more than what he seems. His control is important, but it is a façade. His struggle to tell Georgiana about his true self is heartbreaking and very revealing. Georgiana is extremely confident and smart and watching her rock the Duchess vibe is fun. However, it's her love and acceptance of Edward that is truly her best trait.

The supporting characters are fun and essential to the growth of the main characters. Edward's Aunt Agatha is essential for Georgiana's training and Edward's sanity. Georgiana's mother is her strength and her buffoon of a father is reckless for whom Edward makes a selfless sacrifice. Of course, Edward's one true friend, Andrew Althorpe, Laird of MacLiesh, Earl of Montrose, is great teasing comic relief and a nice love interest for Georgiana's wise sister, Elizabeth.

I recommend this lovely historical romance with intriguing and awkward main characters who overcome their insecurities to make their marriage work.

Thank you to Ms. Devon, Entangled Publishing, and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

I love Eva Devon's passionate and stubborn characters. Throw in a marriage of convenience and there are bound to be some interesting agreements and promises meant to be broken.

Lady Beatrice is a very vocal activist for women's rights in a time when women are treated like property. It's this very reason that she swears never to marry. To get her message across she must find a parliamentarian who will support her cause and, unfortunately, it is her future arrogant and dismissive brother-in-law show more who she seeks out. However, she finds him more amiable to her cause and her person than she once thought.

William Easton, the Duke of Blackheath, is a well-respected orator in parliament and doesn't believe in love until a feisty, outspoken activist catches his attention. She is soon to be his sister-in-law and he feels an obligation to help her in her endeavors, but he has a secret. He has an intense admiration for her, but he would never confess it to anyone. And he never figured he would have to change his single status in order to help her unfortunate demise.

I loved Will and Beatrice's intellectually-stimulating verbal sparring about the issues facing women and the poor in their time. But I adored how they slowly fell for each other with their misgivings about love and marriage. Beatrice is a strong female character who is in tune with what she wants and is not afraid to go against the norm. She's also not afraid to tell Will how she really feels when their life appears to be falling apart. Will is truly a good man and he really listens to Beatrice and respects her. Will's abandonment of his mother is a major milestone in his life which is the motive behind his support of women's rights and also his refusal to let himself love someone. It's lovely to find out how much Will and Beatrice have in common and becoming friends is a natural progression. The boxing lessons are a great addition. But it's when Beatrice's financial woes lead them to a marriage of convenience and new feelings which changes their circumstances and causes havoc in their relationship. Don't worry, there is definitely a happy ever after with a grand gesture to remember.

What I loved most in this book was the band of brothers. Will's brothers Ben and Kit are a splendid support system for both Will and Beatrice. Their relationship with Beatrice is so heartwarming and their devotion to their brother is touching.

I highly recommend this delightful historical romance filled with humor and lovely characters. I hope to read a future book about Will's brother, Ben, who stole the show for me in this book.

Thank you to Ms. Devon for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

We begin with a hand in marriage given away like so many poker chips, and while not the best sounding of foundations, it works for both their purposes. He the notorious rake who wishes to continue his ways while never having an heir. She the woman perfectly content with her own company that desires to dive into the past not herald a new future. He has the well known "beauty" and she the plainness that would not draw unwanted attention, nor even the adoration of her own husband. Ah yes, a show more union that would be for the poets...err, um...okay, well it would secure both the futures they seek and provide companionship in times of need...HOWEVER, ladies and gentlemen, the heart wants what the heart wants, and closeness can open the soul's eyes to things beyond fancy trappings, and decorations. As more often than not proved, once you get to REALLY know a person, their true beauty shines...and these two could potentially be a match made in heaven. If, that is, they can each get out of their own way...

I was whole heartedly glued to the page, and while I guessed where it was going to implode, it did nothing to take away from the moment, nor the steps taken afterward. Dare I say, I was perhaps even more excited to see where things went having pondered the idea for all the preceding pages! It's definitely a story of plans going awry, appearances being deceiving, and the ton's knowledge being guided by idle gossip that they believe to be truths instead of actual fact. Does that work in their favor? Absolutely, until it doesn't anymore because hearts can change, and feelings, or a lack thereof, grow into something even more noteworthy...like the big "L" word.


**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own show less