Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Debut author Griffiths's delightful Regency romp kicks off with spirited horsewoman Lady Anna Reston learning that the terms of her grandfather's will require her to marry the man he names as her guardian, Julian Aveton, the ninth Earl of Ramsay, if she wants to inherit her home and her beloved horses. Julian, who is Anna's best friend Charlotte's half-brother, is equally blindsided by this news, but feels duty-bound to propose. Anna initially refuses, finding Julian too handsome for his own good and not wanting to be trapped in a loveless marriage. But as Julian woos her with stolen kisses, they are both surprised by their mutual attraction and developing friendship. Anna reluctantly agrees to the union while also secretly scheming with Charlotte to raise funds to ensure the two women's financial independence regardless of their marriage prospects. Lighthearted banter, comic misunderstandings, and sizzling romance keep the pages turning, and Griffiths especially excels at crafting full-bodied characters, fleshing out both her leads' backstories to explore what makes them tick--and why they work so well together. With strong female characters and a swoon-worthy hero, this is sure to charm Regency fans. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Mar.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Griffiths constructs a standout story that follows the quirky, horse-obsessed Lady Anna as she navigates her life in the wake of her grandfather's unconventional will. She always expected to inherit the family's horse farm, but she discovers after his passing that she will only own it if she marries Lord Julian Ramsay, the buttoned-up brother of her best friend, Charlotte. Julian is the type to do his duty, no matter how strange he finds his potential bride, but Anna, yearning for independence, resists his advances--at least at first--until their bantering discussions turn into kissing sessions. While Julian certainly fits the mold of the brooding, dutiful romance hero readers know and love, tossing him into a relationship with someone as eccentric as Anna and adding his clever, scheming sister and grandmother into the mix makes the well-worn plot feel fresh. The story particularly shines when the action moves from the ballroom to the horse stables and, eventually, the race track. VERDICT A unique heroine elevates this enemies-to-lovers, engagement-of-convenience tale that will delight historical romance fans.--Jenny Kobiela-Mondor
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A headstrong lady and an imposing lord are matched against their will. Lady Anna Reston doesn't want to be at her best friend Charlotte's party--she'd rather be out in the stables or riding one of her beloved horses. She's shy and certain that people see her as "plain to look at and prickly to deal with," and especially wants to avoid being overawed by Charlotte's attractive and haughty older brother, Julian Aveton, Earl Ramsey. The party goes from intimidating to tragic, though, when her grandfather dies in the middle of it. And one week later, when his will is read, she learns that she's in line to inherit the unentailed portion of his estate--but only if she marries Julian in the next six months. Anna is terribly hurt that her grandfather chose not to leave her the estate outright, but Julian assumes it's a setup engineered by Anna, and says he will refuse to go through with it. Once home, his mother and sister convince him he's mistaken, and when he goes back to apologize to Anna, a slow back-and-forth begins between the two. Their attraction grows, but the connection is derailed by a series of misunderstandings. Unsure whether she even wants to inherit her grandfather's estate but terrified of losing her horses, Anna splits her attention and devotes just as much time to a gambling scheme with Charlotte that might afford them both some financial independence, which leads them toward a daring venture that may change everyone's lives forever. Griffiths' debut is a delightful and witty slow burn with enough complexity to celebrate friendship as well as romance, and loaded with ample details about horse racing to boot. Some readers may chafe at Julian's more chauvinistic impulses, but he's an excellent (if slightly simple), starchy hero who's not afraid to admit when he's wrong, and is well paired with the lively Anna. Although Anna is a fairly contemporary heroine, and the story features several steamy encounters, the book has a pleasingly old-school feel, and readers will finish with the hope that one or more of the well-drawn supporting characters will star in future volumes. A strong Regency debut from a promising new author. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
