An Unusual Courtship
Series: The Brazen Burrells #2
Author: Lynne Connolly
Published January 17th 2023 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
A diplomat Earl and a scandal-ridden adventuress aren’t the perfect match—except in passion.

When Juliet Burrell meets Valerian, Earl of Langston, their attraction is immediate, but their path to happiness is littered with obstacles it will take all their strength to overcome. Val is a diplomat, looking for a well-connected, scandal-free bride to help further his career. Juliet is surrounded by constant scandal, even though none of it is of her making. And Val is engaged to be married to Juliet’s best friend.

But when Val discovers that his future bride is in love with someone else, he and Juliet join forces to help them and end up in a betrothal themselves. As Juliet gets to know Val better, she tumbles further into love with him, but she’s acutely aware that she is the exact opposite of what he needs. She cares for him too much to let him sacrifice everything for her and refuses to accept that their betrothal will result in marriage, even though their attraction has blossomed into passion.

Val wants Juliet, though he knows he might have to give up his treasured diplomatic career to have her. For years he’s engaged in the dark world of espionage, secrets, and lies, and he has done his job well and kept people safe. But he has always viewed his future in terms of the diplomatic work he is suited to, work that may not be possible with Juliet at his side.

It’s not long before trouble and tragedy plunge the Burrells into the mire once again, and Val may be the only one who can rescue Juliet from a situation that goes beyond scandal and into treason.

Is love worth the sacrifice he may have to make?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

As both an Earl and diplomat, Valerian, Earl of Langston, knows that he needs the perfect wife who can support him in his endeavours. And when he thinks he's found her, it's perfect. Now he can stop thinking about the beautiful and smart Juliet Burrell, who plagues his dreams. However it seems that his fiancee is in love with someone else, and Juliet is the one who can help him. But tragedy and scandal follow the Burrells, and when they once more fall from grace, will Val be willing to give up on his hopes of an overseas placement to be with the woman he loves?

This was such an enjoyable book. From the moment I started it, I didn't want to put it down. Val and Juliet's feelings for each other was palpable, and though they tried to fight it, they had been in love for quite some time. Val thought he needed the 'perfect' society miss to be his wife and countess, but Juliet, though her family had scandal attached to them, was right for. She was smart, beautiful, and brought out the best of him. However, Val's overseas placement was not guaranteed, and when a treasonous plot is discovered, it takes them both to solve it, but not without tragedy. I'm really looking forward to the third book, and seeing if Bianca can finally have a happy ending.

Dates Read:
January 22, 2023

Rating
3 Stars