The Marriage Act by Alyssa Everett

Historical Romance

From Goodreads:

London, 1821

When John, Viscount Welford, proposed to Caroline Fleetwood, the only daughter of the Bishop of Essex, he thought he knew exactly what he was getting—a lovely, innocent bride.

Five years later, he knows better. The woman who ran to another man on their wedding night—after they'd consummated the marriage—is hardly innocent. Years spent apart while John served as a diplomatic attaché have allowed them to save face in society, but all good pretenses must come to an end. When Caroline receives word that her father is dying, she begs John to accompany her on one last journey to see him.

But there's an added problem—Caroline never told her father that her marriage to John was a farce. As they play-act for others, Caroline is delighted to find she never really knew her husband at all. But can she be the kind of wife he needs—and does she want to be?

I have been a fan of Alyssa Everett since her first book.  I like the fact that she writes books that have an unusual twist.  The Marriage Act has that and more.

There is a marriage that ended almost before it began.  Caroline Fleetwood and John, Viscount Welford, have been apart for 5 years.  Now they have to pretend to be happy.  Both Caroline and John are very well developed characters.  As the story progresses we see why each reacted as they have and how those reactions have shaped  how they have arrived at the 5 year separation.  Thinks have to change and there are some very good secondary characters that play a part in that change.

The story line does follow a familiar pattern for a romance but the small twists and turns kept my attention and added to my enjoyment of the story.  I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.  Pick this one up for a enjoyable read during this very hot summer.

Carina Press published The Marriage Act by Alyssa Everett in 2015.

I received an ARC of The Marriage Act from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

An Heir of Uncertainly by Alyssa Everett

Historical Romance/Mystery

From Goodreads:

"Yorkshire, 1820

Lina, Lady Radbourne, thought being a countess would rescue her from poverty. Unfortunately, her young groom failed to plan for the future, and his drunken accident left her widowed and pregnant. Now Colonel Winstead Vaughan—Win—will inherit her late husband’s fortune…unless she gives birth to a boy. Win is her natural enemy, so why can’t she stop thinking about him?

Win is stunned to learn he stands to inherit a vast fortune. He’s even more surprised to find himself falling for the beautiful, spirited Lady Radbourne, who is the one woman who stands in the way of a life he’d only imagined.

When someone tries to poison Lady Radbourne, suspicion falls on Win. There’s a clever killer in their midst, and if Win doesn’t solve the mystery fast, Lina may perish. He needs to win her trust, but how can he prove it’s she he wants, and not the fortune?"

I have been an Alyssa Everett fan since her first book so when I saw An Heir of Uncertainly I immediately requested it from Netgalley.  It went to the top of my TBR pile.

I love the situations Everett puts her characters in.  This one is not uncommon but how she uses it is.  The current title holder dies and there is no apparent heir.  A very distant cousin is told he is the new titleholder but when he arrives it turns out the widow is pregnant.

All of that sets up the plot.  Someone is trying to kill both the widow and the cousin.  The plot revolves around the murder attempts and the growing attraction between Lina, the widow, and Win, the cousin.

Lina, Lady Radbourne is the widow and she is a wonderful character.  She is very strong and has worked hard to overcome her background and take care of her sister.  Winstead Vaughn, Win, had a very bad marriage.  Now he is a widower and that background affects everything he does.  Like Lina he is a wonderful character.  The structure of the story allows both of their characters to grow and change.  There are other well developed secondary characters; Lina’s sister Cassie, Win’s brother Freddie , Dr. Strickland and several others who add depth to the story.

I have to admit I was very surprised by who was trying to kill Win and Lina.  It kept me guessing right up to the end.  An Heir of Uncertainly has a great plot, wonderful characters and an interesting journey to an HEA.   I liked how the title fit into the plot of the story.  Pick this up and spend a few hours with Win and Lina.

Stacking The Shelves, February 15, 2014

Some of the Books Stacked on My Shelves

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I am adding to my shelves. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves.

From the Library:

Cress by Marissa Meyer 

From Netgalley:

At Stars End by Anna Hackett
An Heir of Uncertainty by Alyssa Everett
Dancing With Dragons by Lorenda Christensen

Won:

The Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich

 

In My Mailbox, April 22, 2012

In My Mail Box is hosted by The Story Siren and is an opportunity to share the books I get each week.


I received a two special free books this week.  From Fredrik Stanton I got a signed copy of Great Negotiation, Agreements that Changed the Modern World.  I have always loved history and it was almost my major in college.  There are eight negotiations in the book.  I was familiar with all but one.  I had never hear of The Portsmouth Treat, 1905, so this is the one I started with.






The next one is a signed copy of The Flower Reader by Elizabeth Loupas.  This one included a really nice letter, a post card and a signed  numbered beautiful pressed flower book mark.  The letter listed all the flowers in the bookmark and what each flower stood for.  The Flower Reader is a historical mystery set in the early years of the reign of Mary Queen of Scots.




It must be my week for free books.  I also got a copy of Death of a Kitchen Diva by Lee Hollis from Library Thing.  This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series complete with "Seven Delectaable recipes from Hayley's kitchen."  Haley Powell writes a food column and is the main character in the series.




From NetGalley I requested and received Ruined by Rumor by Alyssa Everett. This is a historical romance from Carina Press.  Alyssa Everett is a newly published author.

I purchased Hotter on the Edge, an Anthology of Science Fiction Romance Novellas from Amazon.  The three stories in the book are All That Glitters by Erin Kellison, To Buy a Wife KC Klein and Enslaved by Starlight Jeassa Slade.  The price was right for this one.  It was .99.  Those .99 books get me every time.