Book Review #bookreview #evadevon #theweddingwager #historicalromance #marriageofconvenience #netgalley #entangledpublishing #entangledamara
This was a really sweet, low angst, marriage of convenience love story. Eva Devon's writing is fast paced, charming and easily accessible. Devon has written a charming love story between two people who learn to be friends and respect each other when they are thrown into a situation that they might not have first desired. Devon's characters are interesting and engaging, and I found that watching their love story softly unfold was really delightful.
Chase, the hero, is a duke and he has dedicated his life to helping women in need because of the kindness and care his mother raised him with. Chase is not seeking a wife, because he never plans on having children, but is instantly caught up in a marriage of convenience when he sees an Earl gambling away his daughter. Victoria is that daughter, she is know by the ton to be a bluestocking, much more interested in archeology than finding a husband, she is also reported to be very plain of face. Chase decides to make the most of things, by rescuing Victoria from her father, and the chance of being pawned off on an elderly gentleman, by contractually entering into a marriage in name only, but from the moment Chase meets Victoria there is just something about her that is continuously drawing him in.
The angst and stakes are fairly low in this novel. Because of this we are able to watch Victoria and Chase's relationship slowly grow from interest, to respect, to friendship, to love. I found the way that Chase was intrigued by Victoria to be lovely and charming, he sees her strength and conviction and her passion and this is what makes her beautiful, not something as arbitrary as her looks. Victoria is able to see past the rakish reputation that Chase has built around him to the true kindness of his heart, and she learns to respect and understand where he is coming from in a different way. This novel does have some sweetly steamy scenes as the couple enters into a physical side of their relationship and trust with each other, I found these to be nicely beautiful and balanced through out the later half of the novel. The conflict of the novel is easily guessed but I think that it leads into a theme of the overall novel which is learning acceptance of oneself and understanding oneself worth no matter what others think of you.
Overall I would recommend this novel, especially if you are looking for a sweet love story between a smart heroine who reaches for her dreams and a hero who learns to see beauty and worth in himself and his partner.
***Thank you to Entangled Publishing (Amara) and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.***
OUT OCTOBER 25, 2021