Series: Second Time Brides #1
Author: Sky Purington
Published July 25th 2023 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Goodreads Synopsis
She tried to ruin his good name, and he never forgot it. What could possibly go wrong?
Finally free of a cruel and loveless marriage, wealthy widower Lady Prudence Barrington is determined to make her own way without remarrying. What she does not expect upon arriving at her sister’s castle in Scotland is crossing paths with a duke whose name she once slandered for his flirtatious ways. Or that her sister intends to make a match of them.
When Jacob, the Duke of Argyll, learns coldhearted Lady Barrington will be visiting MacLauchlin Castle, he is eager to confront her and perhaps make amends. Forgive the rumors she once spread about him. Help her find her way free of whom she became when married to her late husband, then move on. Or so he thinks until he discovers an interesting, passionate woman underneath her uppity façade.
Friendship eventually turns to scandalous desire, but nothing is as easy as it seems. Not when Prudence refuses marriage but succumbs to love for the first time. A love that is soon threatened when Jacob keeps something from her that could very well end all they find together.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
As she arrives at her sister's estate, the widowed Lady Prudence Barrington knows she will do anything to avoid remarrying and finding herself controlled again. Living on a remote Scottish estate with only her sister and brother-in-law will be a dream, but when Jacob, the Duke of Argyll, arrives at MacLauchlin Castle, it's more of a nightmare. Jacob's reputation was destroyed when Prudence spread rumours about his philandering ways, and he wants to know why. He can see that the Prudence the ton know is not her true self, but no one has been able to break through that wall she put up to protect herself. What Jacob never expects is that he is drawn to her for more than just friendship, but would she ever put herself through marrying again?
I hated this book to begin with. Prudence was such a harsh character, who had set out to hurt Jacob in the past, and it took some time for me to overcome that, and start to like her at least a little. Jacob, on the other hand, was a much better character. He had loved his late wife, and didn't deserve the hatred he got for the rumours Prudence had spread. Even so, he saw the good in her, and wanted to help her. For the first three quarters of the book, I was forcing myself through it, because I knew I had the other 2 books in the series to read and really wanted to clear my NG backlog, however, the last quarter redeemed it all, and made it worth it. Hopefully the other books are much better, otherwise I'll be in for some bad reads in my near future.
Dates Read:
April 21, 2024
Rating
3 Stars
