A Proper Facade

 

About the Book:

Mercy Rothschild has always been granted an unusually long tether by her parents, who have never pushed her to marry until she’s ready. She assumes that when the right man comes along, she will marry for love. However, even her long-suffering parents have their limits. As she embarks on her third Season, they begin to pressure her to find a match. And the Duke of Harrington is the perfect candidate.

Nicholas Kendrick, Duke of Harrington, follows the rules of the ton meticulously. When he determines that Mercy is the ideal candidate for a wife, he marches dutifully toward her along the courtship path. Desperate to extricate herself from Harrington’s advances, Mercy concludes that there is only one course of action: she must push her intended into the arms of another woman. But when Mercy becomes acquainted with the man behind the proper facade, her plans come crashing down as she realizes that stiff and proper Harrington might be the very man she’s been waiting for. If only she hadn’t been so successful in her plot to thwart her chances with him.

My Review: 

Nicholas Kendrick had done things wrong in the past when it came to his relationships with women. So, he decides to maintain the proper facade when it comes to courting Mercy. He is perfect at dancing, keeping his distance, not evoking any type of emotion or romantic actions that would damage her reputation. But, Mercy is unaware of this and looks for a way to end their courtship from the perfect, but stiff and boring duke. Misunderstandings on both of their parts make this a push and pull kind of courtship that is funny and at the same time nerve wracking. I just wanted him to kiss her, but it makes for a great slow burn to their kiss


Things to love:
ballroom dances
ex-soldier
white roses
love for the Irish
marriageable candidate list
flirting advice
chess
cat-and-mouse game
cravat scene

“True love,” she would say, “isn’t about fairy tales or magical encounters. It is about seeing someone for who they truly are and wanting to be with that person always, no matter what.”

This is the fourth book in the Proper Scandals series and can be read as a standalone. However, with characters appearing in this story, you may want to read the other books to enjoy their stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All views are my opinion in which I was not required to write a review.