ARC Review: Not Even For a Duke (The Wallflowers of West Lane #4) by A.S. Fenichel
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Series: The Wallflowers of West Lane #4
Author: A.S. Fenichel
Published September 14th 2021 by A.S. Fenichel
Goodreads Synopsis
Finishing school brought four young wallflowers together. The perils of London’s marriage market inspired a pact to protect each other for a lifetime...
Survivor of a hellish marriage, Aurora Sherborne, Dowager Countess of Radcliff, is determined to never be taken in by love. With the other Wallflowers married and starting families, her West Lane residence is empty and lonely. What’s missing is a child of her own, to raise and make her house a home. Intent on marrying only to have children, Aurora wants nothing to do with romantic attachments.
The newly minted Duke of Cowin, Garrett Winslow, has known Aurora all her life, and loved her nearly as long. Recently returned from his travels abroad, he’s certain the infatuation was left in the past, but upon seeing the now-widowed Aurora, those feelings come rushing back.
Maddeningly, Aurora regards him as nothing more than her brother’s best friend. Determined to make her his, Garrett will use every tender weapon to seduce her—and prove she’s worthy of true love.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
After her horrendous marriage straight out of school, Aurora Sherborne, Dowager Countess of Radcliff, is adamant she will never let herself be in a position to suffer again. She has seen her friends and brother all find happiness and love, but to her, love is just pain, and even though she is considering remarrying in order to have children, she will wall her heart off from any possible heartache. But then Garrett, her childhood friend, and new Duke of Cowin, returns to England, to take up his title, and the infatuation between them as children has not gone away. Every moment they are together, the sparks are flying, and it's clear that Garrett will do everything and anything he can for Aurora - even give her up, if need be. Will Aurora allow herself the possibility of love, or has the despicable Earl of Radcliffe still got his claws in her?
I've been waiting for this book ever since I finished the previous ones in the series. Aurora has always been a character who intrigued me, and learning what she suffered at the hands of her husband, who she was forced to marry, sight unseen, on her return from finishing school in Switzerland. She thought she would love him, but after a horrific wedding night, and subsequent couple of years of marriage, all wishes and dreams were taken from her. Now, she is rethinking her decision to never marry, as she wants children, and to be able to love a child, who should never hurt her like a romantic love would. She also plans to use the home she was left in her marriage contract to turn into a girls school, not a finishing school, but one where girls - of all classes - will learn practical subjects, and things like maths and sciences too. However, many of the ton think it's a bad idea, and try to dissuade her, except for the other Wallflowers, their husbands, and Garrett, who will support Aurora in anything. I honestly think this was my favourite book in the series. Seeing the other Wallflowers happy was a bonus, but having Aurora finally get a happy ending - with some roadblocks in the mean time - and to someone who truly loved her, and had done since they were children, was amazing. I wish that Aurora's father had never agreed to marry her off, and that she was able to marry Garrett when they were younger, but the past is in the past, and she is finally happy. I couldn't have asked for a better ending to the series!
Dates Read:
August 17-18, 2021
Rating
4 Stars
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