Series:
Doves of New York (Book 1)
New to wealth and to London high society, American
heiress Cora Dove discovers that with the right man, marriage might not be such
an inconvenience after all. . . .
Cora Dove and her sisters' questionable legitimacy has
been the lifelong subject of New York's gossipmongers and a continual stain on
their father's reputation. So when the girls each receive a generous,
guilt-induced dowry from their dying grandmother, the sly Mr. Hathaway vows to
release their funds only if Cora and her sisters can procure suitable husbands
-- far from New York. For Cora, England is a fresh start. She has no delusions
of love, but a husband who will respect her independence? That's an earl worth
fighting for.
Enter: Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth, a no-nonsense
member of Parliament whose plan to pass a Public Health bill that would provide
clean water to the working class requires the backing of a wealthy wife. He
just never expected to crave Cora's touch or yearn to hear her thoughts on his
campaign -- or to discover that his seemingly perfect bride protects so many
secrets...
But secrets have a way of bubbling to the surface, and
Devonworth has a few of his own. With their pasts laid bare and Cora's budding
passion for women's rights taking a dangerous turn, they'll learn the true cost
of losing their heart to a stranger -- and that love is worth any price.
Good book. I enjoyed the author's continued foray into
the less-used period of the Gilded Age. This was when American heiresses came
to England to find husbands - usually men long on pedigree and short on cash.
Cora and her sisters Eliza and Jenny are the illegitimate
daughters of a wealthy New Yorker. Their mother was his mistress for many years
while he promised to marry her. Then he caved to family pressure and married a
society woman. As the story opens, Cora tries to get her father to comply with
the terms of his mother's will that provided dowries for her and her sisters.
He finally agreed, provided they find husbands far away from New York.
Fast forward to the Doves' arrival in England. Camille Thorne
(The Duchess Takes a Husband), a family friend, takes the girls under her wing
and promises to help them with their quest. She set up a house party and
invited eligible men to attend. Camille gives the girls a preview by stopping
by the local football pitch (soccer for the US), where some of the men are
playing. Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth, makes an impression on Cora when
he collides with her. The attraction between them sparks immediately.
Cora must marry to claim her inheritance. A husband is
the last thing she wants, but she has a plan. She will make a business
arrangement with someone who needs her money with the understanding that it
will be in name only, with the option to separate or divorce after two years.
Cora wants the independence to pursue her interest in women's rights and other
social issues.
Leo doesn't want to marry, but he is financially in a
precarious position. His younger brother has large gambling debts, the family
estate is crumbling, and Leo needs the funds to continue his work in the House
of Lords. He's been burned once in love and has no intention of risking his
heart again.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Cora
and Leo. They are more socially conscious than many peers and willing to do
something about it. I especially liked seeing them work together as Cora helped
Leo polish his presentation on the Public Health bill. They grow closer and
discover that they actually like each other. Their feelings for each other grow,
but Leo is reluctant to admit his feelings even to himself. Giving in to their
attraction only complicates matters.
Also a problem, neither Leo nor Cora has been entirely
honest with each other about their backgrounds, and those secrets can
potentially destroy what they are building. I loved the sharing of those
secrets and the effect of those revelations on their feelings for each other. Some
drama at the end brings everything to the surface, and they finally put the
past behind them.
I enjoyed the segments dealing with women's rights and
public health issues. I loved Cora's passion for her beliefs and cheered for
her when she confronted Bolingrave at the dinner party. She wasn't afraid to
stand up for her opinion. I loved it when Leo backed her up. I also liked it
when Leo asked Cora for help with his speech. He didn't hesitate to incorporate
her suggestions. It was sweet to see how moved he was by her interest.
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