Gaele Hi
Set in the years just before Victoria’s ascendancy, this is the tale of Willow and Brent and their unlikely path to a happily ever after. Since an illness changed the course of her life as a child, Willow has been fascinated with designing and beauty. While she has decided she’ll never marry, she does want to join her aunt and uncle in their business – the preeminent interior designers in London’s Belgravia. As a single woman, however, and forbidden by both society and her mother to proceed to London to take up a position, she’s decided, along with her two best friends, to place an advertisement. This advertisement will allow the women, with the respectable title of Mrs., to escape their situations in return for absent husbands who will avail themselves of sizeable dowries in return for the woman’s freedom. Of course, the whole scheme is orchestrated by Willow, the list-maker, cover every eventuality, boldly dreaming of a life of self-determination personality in the group. Brent, Duke of Cassin has been struggling to get a business venture with his two best friends off the ground. A bit of a desperate struggle as his estate’s former money-maker was coal mining, and the dangers to lives for so little actual return had him desperate for other options. With his two university friends and a Caribbean Island won in a poker game, as well as a seaworthy ship and plenty of desire. Facing failing his mother and sisters, and his uncle’s persistent pestering, he spotted Willow’s advertisement and decided to take a chance to discover more. Face to face with Willow, Brent is alternately horrified by her plan and impressed with her preparation, her boldness and her intelligence. Two days in her company, and Brent can’t see straight – he agrees and dashes off to make arrangements, plans and head for the new business venture. These two are adorably well-suited: intelligent, stubborn, determined and sure of their own frailties – never once thinking that it is the things they feel the most vulnerable and unable to solve are the pieces that make them human and so wonderfully vulnerable to the emotions they both have agreed to ignore and tamp down in this arrangement. Willow is far more controlled and determined in keeping distance, knowing herself and the potential of developing feelings for Brent, she’s not allowing (or not admitting to allowing) her mind to want him. Brent is completely taken off guard: he desires her yet can’t stop thinking about her and how to keep her safe and protected from half a world away: he’s confused by her pushing him away, and can’t quite reconcile the desire with his growing esteem – and to have both rejected, is too much. Fortunately, with a crisis that only can resolve itself with his return, he rushes to Willow’s London quarters upon his arrival back in England, before heading off to his Yorkshire home to sort out the issues. The time apart had given both he and Willow the opportunity to muse, digest and recognize the love between them, and with that and little else, the challenges are many. Charis Michaels started this series with a wonderful read in one sitting couple, a lovely family and epilogue, and plenty of story to come with her two friends in the scheme, this will be a favorite of many. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
