It started out as just a grown up "Reading Record" that didn't have to be signed off by a teacher, and has morphed into a Book Review Blog ... who knew that could happen?
Jarrett's brother has recently fulfilled his part in their Grandmother's ultimatum to disinherit the entire load of them if they don't all marry within the year, and has also it seemed also fallen in love.
Which is something that Jarrett never intends to do after the tragic family accident that left both of his parents dead.
The inveterate gambler is handed an ace card though when his grandmother becomes ill, and he bargains his way out of her ultimatum by agreeing to manage her brewing empire.
However as a gambler he can't resist a wager with the lovely Miss Annabel Lake ... help with her India Brew and ailing family business if she wins, or a night in his bed if she loses.
The outcome sets off a chain of events and he discovers a darker side to her failing family business. He also discovers more about the death of his parents.
Doe he find a way to help his other siblings still trapped in their grandmother's machinations, and more importantly does he find love?
***
Very nicely written, again with humour and nicely wrought characters. The whole plot for the series is working along nicely. By the way please have Lord Jarrett stripped, oiled and sent to my room .... delicious hero.
Rating:
I would go along with the 4.5 star rating for this follow on book.
Lord Stoneville (Oliver Sharpe) and Miss Maria Butterfield with supporting roles from the Sharpe family and Maria's Cousin Freddy.
Brief outline of plot:
Having run up against his grandmother's Machavellian plot to ensure all 5 of her scandal ridden hellions' are married within a year or dis-inherited, Lord Stoneville is going about his dissolute life in a favoured brothel, when he becomes entangled with Maria.
Maria is an American heiress who must find he finance to gain her half of her late Father's inheritance, with only the protection of her half-witted cousin Freddy.
Under such circumstances can Oliver find a bride and overcome the tragic loss of his parents when he was a very young man. Will Maria her missing mate, or mate with somebody entirely different?
***
It's the first time I have read any of her books and she kicked off the first of this series really well, with an enjoyable story and a touch of humour. Obviously there are the slight grammatical differences between American English and Queen's English, but they are not too evident in her writing. Neither are mentions of "blocks", we have streets, roads and lanes and therefore a piece of writing advising "...it was only a few blocks..." means absolutely nothing in England. I am being a bit pedantic, but it is slightly off-putting, and therefore lovely to read non of that rubbish from her.
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