Marina Fletcher's Rules:
Rule 1: Spend life composing music in peace. Do not worry
about finding a husband. Rule 2: If must worry about finding a husband, marry
for love only or commit to becoming a spinster. Rule 3: Resist urge to spend
time with the sinfully sexy Duke of Framlingham, who clearly does not believe
in love. Rule 4: Never ever say yes to said duke's wicked plan for us to
silence society's expectations with a fake engagement…
But what happens when this wallflower breaks every single
rule?
Good book. Marina is the daughter of a prominent
architect. She is also a talented musician, though her confidence took a hit
several months earlier thanks to a deceitful man. Since then, Marina has
decided to concentrate on her music and not worry about finding a husband.
Though she wants a family of her own, she won't give up her hope for a love
match. As the book opens, she and her parents arrive at the Duke of
Framlingham's home for a house party and audition for an architect to build a
new house. Also present is her father's greatest rival and his family. The
tension between the two families is evident from the start.
Brook, the Duke of Framlingham, recently inherited the
title after his father's and older brother's deaths. As the "spare,"
he spent most of his life feeling second-best and ignored. He made his life in
the army and was happy there. Since taking up the title, Brook has felt weighed
down by his responsibilities to the estate and cleaning up his mother's messes.
He wants to have the opportunity to live life on his terms finally. He plans to
leave England to travel the Continent and enjoy the privileges he now has.
Unfortunately, his mother is equally determined to keep him in England and see
him married.
After spending some time talking to Marina, Brook has the
idea of asking her to enter into a fake engagement with him. That will get his
matchmaking mama off his back and allow him to do the traveling he wants. Brook
proposes that she would then be able to concentrate on her music without the
added distraction of husband-hunting. The encounter did not go as he had hoped,
but he remained intrigued by Marina. She eventually gives in to his proposal.
The development of their relationship was interesting.
Brook is falling for her but refuses to see it. He is focused on his desire to
leave England. Marina's feelings for Brook also grow, but she believes she
isn't suitable for him. There are interesting twists involving Marina's
brother, her music and insecurities about it, and the ever-obnoxious Moorcroft
family, but none diminishes the strengthening attraction between them.
My favorite part was the support that Brook gave Marina
the night she performed her music. I loved his appreciation of her talent and
his determination to give her the confidence she deserved. But fears and
insecurities pull them apart. It takes Brook facing his past before he can look
at the future. I loved the ending and the depth of emotion as Brook and Marina
looked at the future together.
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