Yessssssssss so much great insecurity and angst!!! Even though there is a little bit of love triangle-y stuff that I am not so fond of and the end was a wee bit over the top (though with the theme of the gothic novelist, it can be seen as appropriate). ADORED all the misunderstanding and hurt feelings and insecurity - right up my alley.

Additional thoughts on re-read: I have a hard time imagining being small, making it a strange contrast, in my mind, for the heroine to both be chubby and petite; that didn't feel terribly relatable. But still, I sooooo get the challenges of being a smart, talented, clever, but not conventionally attractive woman, despairing that anyone would want you. I love this book and it is an annual re-read. ( )

The last time Emilia Carrington saw Septimus Evander Brody was when he and his friends made fun of a poem she had written about her infatuation with him.

She has despised him ever since...but now she has no choice but to blackmail him into marrying her. After a freak accident killed her father,brother and sister-in law her nephew was left orphaned and under the guardianship of his maternal uncle,a greedy and unpleasant man.

Her plan is to marry Vander for one year only so she can get custody over her disabled nephew. Vander misunderstands her and believe shes just desperate for any man to marry her. He has no choice but to agree to her extortionate demand,but he has his own stipulations.

He Will only have marital relations wirh her for four nights a year and then only if she begs him for it.Of course things doesnt go as he or she plans it.

Did I like this book? Well kind of but it has many weak points.

The villainous uncle guardian of the heroines nephew is so cartoonish its hard to take him seriously and he is not so much in the book.

Furthermore I wonder why the heroine didnt consider that a wife would be under her husbands control and that a divorce wouldnt be so essily had.

There are mentions of other female authors like "Julia Quiplet" and "Lisa Klampas"

This book might not be the best of the authors work but its still not a bad one for an introduction to her books. ( )

I was a little annoyed by the way the Duke kept avoiding Mia's arguments and emotions by taking advantage of her physical attraction to him. Stop kissing and listen to her! Argh. ( )

It's always wonderful to read a historical romance where the heroine is curvy, smart, and very strong of personality, and Mia does not disappoint. I particularly like that her strength is matched in Vander. Delightful!

Advanced reading copy provided by Edelweiss. ( )

Great fun, the Duke of Villiers has only a small role, but the romance is delightful ( )