REVIEW: The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St. George

 

OUR REVIEW:

This is a new historical romance writer for me and I enjoyed it so much that I have already procured a copy of the next novel, in the  hopes that it follows August's sister (or brother). In this particular novel, we have an American mother, in particular (though abetted by the father), who wants to rise above her New Money station and she sees an opportunity by marrying off a daughter to a Duke. And, we have a Duke whose family is in dire financial straits and needs the funds marrying an American heiress could provide. So as you can see, these two families can each fulfill a desire or a need of the other. The only problem? The potential bride in question wants nothing to do with it....so we're off on an adventure of figuring out how these two families will find their HEA.

One of the things I enjoyed about this particular historical romance was how independent our heroine, August was. She was raised and allowed to pursue her interest in the family business and so she was reticent to give that up. She liked her freedom and the respect she felt her position gave her--more so than your average woman in that time. I also enjoyed that Rothschild (Evan), found her spirit and independence as positives and had no desire to see those things stripped from her. While there things about both of them that were annoying and frustrating, that they were evolved and on the same page about progressing the rights of those around them was refreshing. These were no simpering fools.

I also enjoyed that the writer made me love to hate August's mom and dad the more they revealed who they were. I loved that undercurrent of conflict and how August just refused to capitulate...or Evan refused to let her; even before they were officially a 'team', they were a team. 

There were a few parts that felt a little slow, but maybe I was just eager to see them end up together? And this was definitely a s-l-o-w burn so if you don't have the patience for that, know that upfront. All that being said, though, I'm eager to read another one.

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SYNOPSIS:

Even a fortune forged in railroads and steel can't buy entrance into the upper echelons of Victorian high society--for that you need a marriage of convenience.

American heiress August Crenshaw has aspirations. But unlike her peers, it isn't some stuffy British Lord she wants wrapped around her finger--it's Crenshaw Iron Works, the family business. When it's clear that August's outrageously progressive ways render her unsuitable for a respectable match, her parents offer up her younger sister to the highest entitled bidder instead. This simply will not do. August refuses to leave her sister to the mercy of a loveless marriage.

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, has no intention of walking away from the marriage. He's recently inherited the title only to find his coffers empty, and with countless lives depending on him, he can't walk away from the fortune a Crenshaw heiress would bring him. But after meeting her fiery sister, he realizes Violet isn't the heiress he wants. He wants August, and he always gets what he wants.

But August won't go peacefully to her fate. She decides to show Rothschild that she's no typical London wallflower. Little does she realize that every stunt she pulls to make him call off the wedding only makes him like her even more.