Title:
The Bride Who Got Lucky
(The Cavansham Heiressees, Book 2)
Author:
Janna MacGregor
Release
Date: October 31, 2017 (ARC)
Publisher:
St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Category:
Regency Romance
Type:
Digital/Paperback
Blurb:
He
would do anything to protect her. Even marry her…
The
son of a cold-hearted duke, Nicholas St. Mauer isn’t one to involve himself in
society…or open his own heart to anyone. But driven by honor, the reclusive
Earl of Somerton feels obliged to keep a watchful eye on Lady Emma Cavensham.
She possesses a penchant for passions unbecoming a woman that finds Nick in
constant peril of losing his well-structured solitude. She even dared kiss Nick
once—an utterly unladylike, and delightful, lapse…
Emma
can’t deny the appeal of the earl’s attention, and occasional affection, but
she has no need for a man. There are worse fates than spinsterhood, as Emma
knows too well. She still mourns the loss of her dear friend Lena, and is
determined to prove Lena’s husband responsible for her death before he lures
another innocent woman into a brutal marriage. But as Emma pursues her prey, a
compromising moment upends all her plans. Now, with gossip swirling and her
reputation in tatters, Nick may be the only man brave enough to join in Emma’s
cause. . .and fight for her heart.
Excerpt: (from the Janna MacGregor website)
By
reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age.
If you
are under the age of 18, please exit this site.
Before she could say
more, the carriage door sprang open and a tall man dressed in black entered.
When he closed the door, the carriage lurched forward, continuing the path
they’d taken earlier.
“Who are you?” Her
heart beat so hard she feared it’d explode from her chest.
With his back to her,
the stranger blew out the sole carriage lantern that lit the interior. Then
with a stealthy grace, he sat on the bench opposite of her.
Trouble had found
her.
“Why did you
extinguish the light?” Her voice quavered, betraying her unease.
Hidden in the
shadows, he resembled some type of phantom, one who had settled into position
ready to attack. He didn’t waste a glance as he removed his hat and threw it on
the bench next to him.
“Who are you?” she
repeated as a hint of hysteria nipped at her reserve.
“Lady Emma,” the man
chided. “The light is out to lessen the chance someone might recognize
you.”
The stranger’s rich
but dark whisper intrigued her. Who was this mystery man who had taken control
of her carriage? Short-lived, her curiosity faded when they passed by a
streetlight.
“Lord Somerton,” she
hissed. The night she wanted to stay hidden, the elusive earl who rarely ever
showed his face in society found her. This wasn’t bad luck. This was fate
playing a cruel joke and then laughing hysterically.
There was no denying
he was breathtakingly handsome with his turquoise eyes and lithe stature.
However, she couldn’t be bothered with his looks or with him—not tonight. The
earl’s best friend just happened to be Claire’s husband. Her parents would know
of her adventure before the night was over.
Her goose was cooked.
“I’m at your service,
Lady Emma,” he drawled.
“I didn’t ask for
your service. What do you want?” With a deep breath, she subdued the petulance
in her voice. She had to save the evening and her book. All she needed was a
little charm. “Lord Somerton, I apologize for my manners. You’ve taken me by
surprise.”
Instead of heading
straight, the carriage barreled through a sharp right turn causing her to slide
across the leather seat. Certain a tumble to the floor was in her future, she
braced for the fall.
With a gentle
strength, he grabbed her around the waist, causing her to gasp. As if she were
a fragile porcelain doll, he settled her on the bench.
“Thank you,” she
whispered.
“There’s no need. I
promised I’d bring you home safe and sound, and I plan on accomplishing it.” He
pulled the curtain aside for a moment. When he released it, he leaned back
against the squab.
“Who asked you to
bring me home?” She dreaded the answer but asked anyway.
“Your cousin and her
husband,” he offered.
She released the
breath she’d been holding. It’d be difficult, but she could convince Claire not
to tell her parents. The unknown was whether she could trust Claire’s husband
Pembrooke and the enigma sitting across from her.
She would salvage
her evening. Somerton’s presence was nothing more than a slight hindrance, much
like an annoying gnat.
“My lord, I
appreciate the escort, but I’ve other plans. Is there some place I could have
the coachman drop you? White’s perhaps?” Lud, her calm demeanor was
astounding.
“No, thank
you.”
Bold action called
for bold moves. If she told him her purpose, perhaps he’d leave her be. Surely,
a man would understand the desire for a book. If he thought her a bluestocking,
a woman who constantly had her nose in a book, it made little difference. She
was going to capture her prize.
“I’m on my way to buy
Bentham’s Essays, first edition. For over a year, I’ve been hunting for
it.” In the darkness, she couldn’t see his expression, making it difficult to
gage his response. If only he hadn’t extinguished the lantern.
“Have you thought of
securing your book someplace else . . . more respectable? I’ve heard there are these
shops called bookstores,” he teased.
She bit her lip to
keep from lashing him with a verbal blistering. That would seal her doom.
“Please, this is my only chance to make the purchase. I’ve sent inquiries to
every bookstore within London to no avail. No one has it. Mr. Goodwin at
Goodwin’s Book Emporium thought he had found a seller ready to part with their
copy, but unfortunately, the seller changed his mind.”
“Goodwin?” he
scoffed. “What the devil are you doing shopping at Goodwin’s? That’s not an
acceptable shop for a young woman.”
Though she couldn’t
see him, she sensed Somerton towered over her, his presence pushing her back
into the squabs.
“Goodwin isn’t known
for his selection of books.” He enunciated every word in a husky manner
designed to frighten her. “His real business is selling information— he’s a
snitch, and a very successful one at that.”
The impertinent Earl
of Somerton would not intimidate her. She pulled herself forward to give him an
appropriate set-down. Without warning, the carriage lurched, causing her
forehead to bump his chin.
“Careful.” His hand
cupped the back of her head as he pulled her close. His scent—clean, spicy, and
male, one so different from the other men of the ton—wrapped itself
around her like a binding. She didn’t move.
Neither did he.
“You can’t kidnap
me,” she whispered and forced herself to lean back. He was so close, his breath
brushed against her cheek like a kiss. Without thinking, she ran her fingers
over his lips. She’d never noticed before, but his mouth was perfect. Perfectly
kissable. She jerked her hand away and mumbled, “Pardon me.”
This was pure
madness.
A streetlamp cast
enough light that she saw his face clearly along with the dangerous flare in
his eyes.
“I’m not your responsibility,”
she demanded softly. “Please, I beg of you. Let me go.”
“For your
assignation?” he whispered. “With Lord Paul Barstowe?”
“What? No.”
She shook her head hoping she’d wake from this nightmare. “How do you know I’m
meeting him to purchase the book?”
“One of the guests at
Lady Dalton’s informed me after overhearing your plans.”
“Of all the rotten
luck,” she muttered. She shouldn’t have told her friends Lena and Daphne in
public, as there were too many ears at a ball. Determined, she’d persevere.
“Come with me if you don’t believe I’m speaking the truth. Please, I need that
book.”
Again, silence
reigned between them except for the trotting of the horses’ hooves. Even that
sound drifted to nothing as the carriage slowed to a halt. A glance outside
confirmed they’d arrived at her home. Soft light flooded the carriage from the
lanterns that surrounded the courtyard.
With her last chance
looming before her, Emma swallowed her pride, nearly choking. Lacing her
fingers together to keep from fidgeting, she stared into his eyes. “Please, my
lord, I’m begging you. Come with me if you’re concerned for my safety. I’ll
prove to you I only want the book.” She opened her reticule and pulled out the
fifty pounds. “I’ll pay you. If this isn’t enough, I’ll get more….”
He released a deep
breath and studied his clasped hands.
Dare she hope she’d
convinced him? Indeed, he seemed truly conflicted. She sat on the edge of the
bench waiting for his agreement. To nudge him a little, she made her final
plea. “Please?”
“I’m truly sorry.” He
covered her hand with his and squeezed. “Let me escort you inside.”
His effort offered
little comfort. For an eternity, she sat unable to move and stared at nothing.
There was little doubt she’d face a harsh reprimand from her parents and some
fitting punishment to accompany the lecture. Her heavy heart slid to the floor.
It mattered little as she’d already been punished. Bentham’s Essays was
again out of her reach.
“Lady Emma?” Somerton
squeezed her hand again—his gentle touch still a betrayal. “Come.”
He helped her from
the carriage and walked her to the door. As if she were being lead to the
gallows, she held her head high masking her stinging disappointment.
“Good night,”
Somerton whispered. “I apologize I’ve caused you such distress.” He bowed over
her hand in farewell.
“My lord?” Her
question caused his gaze to capture hers. The sincerity in his eyes stole her
breath. Briefly, she turned away until her emotions were somewhat under
control. “I can’t offer my thanks for your assistance. I’m sure you
understand.” She turned and entered Langham Hall.
Intact, her pride was
still stuck in her throat.
Review:
Nicholas
St. Mauer, Earl of Somerton has a bit of a rough outlook on life. Rejected by
his father - his mother having died in childbirth – Nick has sworn to encase
his feelings in ice. He learned at a young age that one could only depend on
one’s self and so he set out to prove to himself, to everyone, to his father,
that he needed no one to make is way in life. Success was measured by the sum
of his wealth and everything else be damned; most especially weaknesses contrived
from emotion. He didn’t have time for it. Didn’t want it. And he definitely
didn’t want even a hint of what he might be missing by closing himself off from
fickle emotions that caused pain. So when he steps in to help his only friend
retrieve Lady Emma from potential ruin and impending danger, it has nothing to
do with his growing need to protect her. Protection isn’t such a foreign feeling,
but everything else brewing, unidentifiable to him, is.
Lady Emma
Cavensham is just as resistant to the idea of love and marriage as Nick is.
While she doesn’t go the extreme of avoiding society, neither is she looking to
get herself forever bound to a brutal husband. Sure, her parents share an idea
marriage, as does her “sister”, but she feels theirs are uncommon matches.
After all, a husband dictates to his wife and in cases like her friend, Lena, murders
them. She will not be thwarted from bringing the evil man to justice, but every
time she hatches a plan to do just that, Nick shows up. Pair his constant
unwanted presence with a rising attraction that could be likened to electric
magnetism, and you’ve got a recipe for heartache. Or maybe not. But is it worth
the risk?
I found
this story a fun, romantic read. While the book was quite predictable and there
was very little suspense, it was time well spent. I do not regret reading this
book, but I had the strangest sense of déjà vu the entire time I was reading
it. Ms. MacGregor goes in to quite a bit of detail explaining the events that
have molded her main characters into who they are, but I failed to make a deep
connection with either of them. Perhaps if I had read the first book and came
to the story with a bit of knowledge of both Nick and Emma, it would have been
different. That said, even though this book is a 2nd in series, it
read well without leaving a reader feeling lost in the absence of prior
knowledge. I encountered a few typos while reading this story and I hate to
hold that against an unreleased copy because it is very likely going to be
rectified prior to the release date, but there it is. I suppose we don’t always
need suspense or impulsiveness in a book when we just want something to read.
And for a situation such as that, this book is satisfying. But if you are
looking for a deep-rooted connection that sucks you in and leaves you aching
for more, you won’t find that in this story. I would also have liked to see a
bit more wit and sarcasm, sparing as it was in this novel. So overall, as a
first experience with this author, it is a satisfying read, but lacking in
character depth and unpredictability. Given the chance the read another book by
Ms. MacGregor, I most likely would. However, I might choose outside of this
series just to see if her styles vary at all.
Kindle version
provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
