The last thing Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham, ever wants is a wife. Unfortunately for him, his mother is determined to find him one, even from across the other side of the ocean. So, Hugh invents a fake fiancée to keep his mother’s matchmaking ways at bay. But when Hugh learns his interfering mother is on a ship bound for England, he realizes his complicated, convoluted but convenient ruse is about to implode. Until he collides with a beautiful woman, who might just be the miracle he needs.
Minerva Merriwell has had to struggle to support herself and her two younger sisters ever since their feckless father abandoned them. Work as a woodcut engraver is few and far between, and the Merriwell sisters are nearly penniless. So, when Hugh asks Minerva to pose as his fiancée while his mother is visiting, she knows that while the scheme sounds ludicrous, the offer is too good to pass up.
Once Minerva and her sisters arrive at Hugh's estate, of course, nothing goes according to his meticulous plan. As hilarity and miscommunication ensue, while everyone tries to keep their tangled stories straight, Hugh and Minerva’s fake engagement starts to turn into a real romance. But can they trust each other, when their relationship started with a lie?
This might be a controversial opinion, but hear me out; I like Giles better than Hugh.
Hugh is kind, generous, hard working and many other noble things I can't remember now. Giles is funny, loyal and knows when to push and when to back off. Hugh is absolutely a romantic hero, but I can't help feeling that Giles would be a lot more fun to have around.
If you've read a Regency romcom before, there's probably little to surprise you here, but it's a light, fun read and a good start to a series. The characters are all distinct and have their own quirks, and there are a lot of misunderstandings and mistakes that wouldn't happen if people would just talk to each other instead of trying to suffer nobly in silence. I'm guessing that the next book in the series will focus on Giles and Diana, but I'll be happy to be proved wrong! Virginia has a lovely touch and I'll definitely give the next book a try.
A great read if you like a light, fun romcom or Regency novel.
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