She told a lie. He confirmed it. Now they’re secretly betrothed against their families’ wishes…
Lady Octavia Dorchester is the most desired young lady in the Realm. Now that she has twenty years behind her, society has deemed her ready to marry. Although she’s not enthusiastic, she promises to act like a proper lady and look for a good husband—just like her powerful father Lord Roman Dorchester wants.
Lord Gerald Verte has been painfully shy his entire life. He’s never been comfortable in society and lives in the shadow of his older brother, the imposing Lord Tristian Verte. Despite his desires to remain indoors and away from people, he promises his older brother that he won’t shame the family name, no matter how much his anxiety threatens to overwhelm him.
After sharing a dance at a ball held in Octavia’s honor, both she and Gerald know what no one else believes—it’s love at first sight.
When their respective family members object to the match, Octavia lies about their betrothal and Gerald corroborates her story. Raising the ire of both Lords Dorchester and Verte, Octavia and Gerald are torn apart and kept from one another until tragedy strikes.
This high-heat romance with a guaranteed HEA is a prequel to Gathering of the Four: Book One of the Serrulata Saga but can be read as a standalone.
My Thoughts:
The author starts off with a warning. It’s something to be mindful of before continuing.
Octavia seems to want something different for herself. Gerald doesn’t like to disappoint. Their world seems so backward when it comes to how certain people are treated, as if they are second-class citizens. This is where the past and the future blend into something new.
One thing I enjoyed was how Octavia has empathy for someone who seems to have issues when out in public. But at the same time, I really wanted to give someone a swift kick. This shows how well the author’s writing is when a reader wants to get personally involved. Something else the author did was show how history can repeat itself when it comes to how we treat each other.
I would say that I was happy with the ending, but I would be lying. I was left wanting to know about Octavia and Gerald’s story after – did Gerald get what he wanted? Did his hope come true? Now I’m curious as to what the rest of this series has in store for the reader.
Author Bio:
A.E. Bennett (she/her) lives in Washington, D.C. She is originally from North Carolina.
GIVEAWAY!
Hosted By:
Thanks for hosting today, Lynn!
ReplyDelete