Review: The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George

New to wealth and to London high society, American heiress Cora Dove discovers that with the right man, marriage might not be such an inconvenience after all. . . .

THE STRANGER I WED by HARPER ST GEORGE

Series: The Doves of New York #1

Publication date: April 23, 2024

Published by: Berkley 

Genre: historical romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Cora Dove and her sisters’ questionable legitimacy has been the lifelong subject of New York’s gossipmongers and a continual stain on their father’s reputation. So when the girls each receive a generous, guilt-induced dowry from their dying grandmother, the sly Mr. Hathaway vows to release their funds only if Cora and her sisters can procure suitable husbands—far from New York. For Cora, England is a fresh start. She has no delusions of love, but a husband who will respect her independence? That’s an earl worth fighting for.

Enter: Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth, a no-nonsense member of Parliament whose plan to pass a Public Health bill that would provide clean water to the working class requires the backing of a wealthy wife. He just never expected to crave Cora’s touch or yearn to hear her thoughts on his campaign—or to discover that his seemingly perfect bride protects so many secrets...

But secrets have a way of bubbling to the surface, and Devonworth has a few of his own. With their pasts laid bare and Cora’s budding passion for women’s rights taking a dangerous turn, they’ll learn the true cost of losing their heart to a stranger—and that love is worth any price.

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Praise for The Stranger I Wed:

"Prepare to be dazzled! Scintillating and deeply romantic, The Stranger I Wed is another winner from Harper St. George. Fans of historical romance will find themselves enchanted by the rich, sensual storytelling, and look forward to what comes next in this fabulous new series."—India Holton, international bestselling author of The Secret Service of Tea and Treason

"From the moment I picked up The Stranger I Wed, I was glued to the pages. This swoony and tender marriage of convenience has all the wit, emotions, and chemistry I love about Harper St George's writing, but it also felt new and I can't wait to see where Harper will go next."—Evie Dunmore, USA Today bestselling author

“Gilded Age New York meets Victorian London in Harper St. George’s dazzling new series. The Stranger I Wed is strong, feminist, and scorchingly sexy. This is historical marriage-of-convenience romance at its swooniest. I couldn’t put it down.”—Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author

“Harper St. George never misses! The Stranger I Wed delivers everything I love about historical romance—a marriage of convenience that erupts into a red hot passion; two characters who grow to love and respect each other; and a thoughtful discussion of political and social issues that are still relevant to this day. In one word, The Stranger I Wed is magic!”—Liana De la Rosa, author of Ana María and the Fox

“The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George is a delicious start to a new series, with all of my favorite things—a marriage of convenience, scandalous family secrets, and feisty American heroines who bring too-handsome aristocrats to their knees. A fantastic, fast-paced read by one of the best historical writers around!”

—Joanna Shupe, USA Today bestselling author

 

“The Stranger I Wed captured me from the first page with the tenacious Cora Dove and kept me enthralled with a deliciously simmering romance. There is nothing I love more than a strong female lead and Cora is a woman after my own heart. This story has all my favorite things in a marriage of convenience: snappy banter, palpable yearning, sizzling chemistry, and ultimately, a passion that cannot be denied. A fabulous start to an exciting new series. Harper St. George is one of my must-read historical romance authors.”—Adriana Herrera, USA Today bestselling author

“Engrossing and detailed…A delightful start to a new series”—Kirkus

"A well-crafted, slow-burn journey through a marriage of convenience that eventually erupts into a steamy love story."—Library Journal

“St. George brilliantly plays to her literary strengths, delivering an expertly evoked historical setting that touches upon some of the social and political issues of the time, along with a superbly matched pair of protagonists whose simmering sexual chemistry blossoms to a romance that is sweet, steamy, and sublimely satisfying.”—Booklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harper St. George was raised in rural Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was a setting filled with stories of the old days that instilled in her a love of history, romance, and adventure. By high school, she had discovered the historical romance novel which combined all of those elements into one perfect package. She has been hooked ever since.

She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and two children. When not writing, she can be found devouring her husband's amazing cooking and reading. She would love to hear from you. 

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REVIEW

The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Reading Harper St. George's newest title is a no-brainer for me at this point. I've been a fan of hers ever since reading her first book in The Gilded Age Heiresses series, The Heiress Gets a Duke. There are appearances of past characters as well as inferences to events that took place in that series, however you do not need to read any of them first if you have not done so already. I really don't think it would cause any confusion, however, you will get some spoilers from the other series. Once again, the author is highlighting the suffrage movement with a heroine who is very involved in the cause. The hero is heavily into politics and what they would have considered progressive at that time for his support of women's rights and the common working man.

This story had a marriage of convenience trope, but it had the vague feel of a fake relationship trope as well due to this couple's pre-engagement agreement to put on a public front of a real marriage. Cora has come to England for the sole purpose of finding a man of noble birth to marry. She's not interested in romance or love, what she has planned is a mutually beneficial arrangement where her inheritance is released upon her marriage, and her new husband fills his empty coffers. She does not want a genuine marital relationship, and hopes that they can separate or even divorce after two years. This would be somewhat of a scandal for anyone of noble blood during that time, but not completely unheard of. After she and Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth meet, they quickly decide that both of their desperate situations can be resolved with this simple arrangement.

Leo is as loyal as you can get, dependable, and generous to those he loves. With an estate in major disrepair, limited funds, and a brother with a dangerous gambling debt, he calmly chooses to marry Cora because it will be beneficial to everyone. Like Cora, he has no interest in love. In fact, he has an extreme aversion to it after a betrayal of a past lover. He guards his heart carefully, and even the thought of growing an attachment to someone practically makes him break out in hives. Though a divorce wouldn't be ideal for him, he is willing to grant Cora her wish as long as they are able to attain one. If not, she agrees to provide him with the male heir that he needs to continue the family line. They approach the marriage in a businesslike manner in the beginning, although there is a subtle attraction and appreciation for each other that neither like to acknowledge.

  Starting tomorrow, it would be the two of 

them against the world. He barely knew her, 

but already he was prepared to defend her 

at all costs if it came to it. She was giving him 

and his brother a future; he couldn’t 

do any less for her.

I had difficulty with how Cora entered into their marriage. Even though this would be a marriage on paper only, he questioned her about her family, her mother's history, and their financial situation. She deliberately deceived him by hiding her mother's past in theater, and the truth of her own illegitimate birth. Before they agreed on the engagement, he transparently told her that he'd had her family investigated for his own peace of mind. Rather than fill in the gaps of the investigator's report, she lied to him (outright or by omission) because she was scared that he would back out. She kept justifying it throughout the book, but there finally came a point where her guilt forced a confession out of her.

  He was looking at her too hard. Lying to him, 

or not telling him the entire truth, had 

seemed easy. It had been easy back when 

she barely knew him and marrying him 

had given them both what they wanted.

The problem is, he wouldn't want the scandal from the skeletons in her family closet and she knew that. Her actions, and those of her family directly affect him and his public reputation which is something he needs to be conscious of due to his political involvement. Her actions were selfish towards him, and even when she did come clean, he let her off the hook completely. She only confesses one of her secrets, and she has another one which ends up causing a big conflict later on in the story that he needs to resolve.

Another issue was their odd dynamic for the first 50-60% of the book. They acted like polite acquaintances who happen to be married. Essentially that's what they are, but the two of them were a bit too distant for my taste. They are both attracted, and she appreciates how fairly and respectfully he treats her, but she doesn't get jealous or upset when she thinks he has a mistress? He came home smelling of cheap perfume, and she just blows it off. She even casually gives him permission to be with another woman when they get into an argument over her desire to attend a potentially dangerous suffrage protest. She uses his "mistress" as ammunition to try to get her way. I found this off-putting and odd despite their arranged marriage because clearly they were both already fighting feelings for each other. It wasn't even as if he were trying to lord husbandly power over her-he was just concerned for her physical safety.

I did love how Leo appreciated Cora's strong beliefs and encouraged her to speak her mind. They shared similar values and both felt very passionate about them. It was one of the main things they bonded over as she supported his efforts to pass a Health Act that would improve living and working conditions for the working class. She is a proficient writer, and her skills are put to use fine tuning his speech in support of the upcoming bill. They both have/had a rocky relationship with their fathers, and they both are very protective of their families. Even their differences seem to compliment each other-she and her family are very open, unabashedly show emotion and their passion for life. He is very reserved and dignified, and unconsciously holds his emotions in check. While he does hold on to that reserve for a long time and resists his growing emotional connection, he certainly falls hard once he lets go of his fears.

  Cora was everything, and with her 

in his arms, he possessed all he ever wanted.

Cora and Leo's relationship went from married to friends to lovers which is far from the typical order of things (to say the least). I didn't fully enjoy the way that it was executed, and it showed in the way that the first two parts tended to drag for me for long stretches. The last bit finally picked up, and I enjoyed seeing them be openly loving and affectionate with one another once they both decided to make their marriage a real one in every sense. Eliza's story is next in line, which has been teased just enough to whet my interest in continuing on with the series.

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Review: Funny Story by Emily Henry

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry

Series: n/a

Publication date: April 23, 2024

Published by: Berkley 

Genre: contemporary romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé Peter told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it…right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: Stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads —Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?

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Praise for Funny Story:

“When romance novelist Emily Henry releases a new book, it’s nothing short of a literary event. And this spring’s Funny Story — which has already been named one of the most anticipated books of 2024 by everyone from the New York Times to the Today show — is sure to be no exception... this sumptuous novel is Henry at her very best.”

—Bustle

“Bestseller Henry takes on fake-dating in this equally poignant and charming tale of love after loss… Henry perfectly balances sorrow and discord with love and humor, and romance fans will appreciate watching the growth of the characters’ relationships and of Daphne as a person. This is a heartwarming take on summer love.”

—Publishers Weekly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Henry is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers, People We Meet on Vacation, and Beach Read, as well as the forthcoming Happy Place. She lives and writes in Cincinnati and the part of Kentucky just beneath it.

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REVIEW

Funny Story by Emily Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the best of times, it’s inadvisable 

to start lusting after your roommate, 

and we are nowhere near the best of times.

I haven't read an Emily Henry book since Beach Read, so it was well past time for me to give another one a go. I forgot how deeply she delves into the characters' minds, backstories, and emotions. She makes a well-rounded, three dimensional character with flaws that you can easily care about. I was intrigued with the premise of this story: two dumpees become roommates when their ex partners get together, use a fake relationship to get a little payback, and (inevitably) find actual love in the process.

Perhaps what I loved most about this one that it's a fake relationship trope story without actually feeling like one. I tend to stay away from the trope as it's typically not a favorite of mine. I just don't like the forced explanations for these fake relationships-they're usually some convoluted reason for putting on the "relationship act." If it's not super unbelievable, it's just a boring cliché like:

1)Athlete/actor/musician has bad reputation and needs to repair their public image.
2)In order the get the attention of a crush.
3)In order to keep someone's unwanted attention away.

Then you have the scenes where the couple is out somewhere, sees friend/family member/paparazzi, and they do their fake PDA kiss. I don't know, it all just seems so rushed from the get go and everything ends up feeling like a plot device to get them to the end result rather than the natural process of falling for each other. Luckily, this book did not fall into any of this trope's traps and in my opinion, was executed brilliantly. These two found solace in one another after getting their hearts broken, started a genuine friendship, and their feelings grew deeper as they spent quality time truly getting to know one another. Instead of the focus being on the artificial relationship act, their real connection took center stage. In their situation, there was also a possibility that their true relationship could have ended up being a rebound situation because they rushed into things too fast. Henry sidestepped that mistake as well, believably showing us that both were over their break-up and at peace with it before they left the friend zone.

Daphne was not only engaged, but nearing the date of her wedding when her life imploded with the news that her fiancé was in love with his female best friend. She feels completely blindsided, foolish, and stuck in a new town where she moved in order to fit into his life. Now that he is out of the equation, how does her life go on when her entire identity was wrapped up in him? Her friends were all his, they lived together in his home, and she didn't really have any experiences independent of him.

   For three years I’ve been eating like him, 

exercising like him, working tirelessly to 

befriend his friends and impress his family, 

going to his favorite breweries, and all 

along I thought it was my idea, my life.

Growing up, she moved around a lot with her single mother, so she learned to never feel comfortable in any one place. Possessions were a hassle when you're always picking up and moving on to the next stop, so she owned the bare minimum. She didn't grow attached to people because she would only have to say goodbye to them in the near future. She became a pro at living in the moment rather than settling into a house and making it a home. Until Peter. Being a couple with Peter meant that she had that unattainable life that she always dreamed of-if she fought hard enough to measure up. In her mind, he was way out of her league, but she wanted them to work with every fiber of her being. When he callously left her to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, the one shining light left in her life was her job at the library. Though, even that will be lost to her, because she wants to get as far away from Peter as possible.

   As a librarian, I really should’ve taken a 

moment to think about Mansfield Park or 

Wuthering Heights, all those love stories 

and twisted Gothics wherein two protagonists, 

raised side by side, reach adulthood and 

proclaim their undying love 

for each other. But I didn’t.

Daphne faces her broken heart with humor and bravery. Many people would fall into a long depression, but she doesn't waste much time feeling sorry for herself. Before long, she's dusting herself off and making tentative attempts to form connections with new people. She's a classic introvert, so the thought of putting herself out there is a scary one, but she's self-aware enough to know that she needs to start working on building her own independent life. Her co-worker Ashleigh was a fabulous friend and excellent secondary character. I loved to see the two of them forming their friendship because their personalities were so different, which led to some funny conversations. Ashleigh also helped hold a mirror up to Daphne's face so she could keep improving herself when she was scared to move forward.

Miles was a unique guy, and quite unlike any other romantic interest I've read in the past. On the surface, people see an unmotivated stoner with no ambition in life. He works at a winery, and he's very personable with everyone he meets. He reminded me a little of my mom who can start up a conversation with a complete stranger in a grocery store and learn their whole life story on the spot. That's him-and he can figuratively charm the pants off of you while he gets that life story. Daphne is in awe of his ability to draw people in like bees to honey. The more time she spends together with him, the more hidden depths she sees that she admires. While most see his easygoing side, his charming exterior shields self-worth issues. His mother did a lot of damage to the way he viewed himself-making him believe that he is a disappointment and unreliable to his loved ones. It was so sad to see him expect so little from himself when in reality, anyone would be lucky to have him as a brother or partner. His sister helps Daphne to see how his opinion of himself is horribly skewed, and that he needs a little help in seeing how truly wonderful he is.

Whereas he has "mommy issues," Daphne has some "daddy issues." Her dad is flighty, selfish, and completely self-centered. He was never dependable as a father, he would disappoint her regularly and never see the hurt that he was causing. As an adult, she still feels like she is not good enough for him to make top priority in his life, yet she can't kill the hope that one day things will change.

   Why can’t I stop missing the dad I never had? 

Why is he this constant dull ache in my heart?

Daphne and Miles were so sweet together and endearing. I loved the introvert/extrovert aspect to their dynamic because their natural personalities balanced each other out very well. This was a wonderful story that explored love after a hard break-up, learning to grow after trials in life, and finding peace with the past in order to have a healthy future. I'm looking forward to catching up on Emily Henry's backlist very much!

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Review: Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman

Just when she thought she’d gotten far enough away . . . a life-changing phone call throws an antisocial scientist back into her least favorite place—the spotlight. A hilarious and insightful new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.

CHRISTA COMES OUT OF HER SHELL

 by ABBI WAXMAN

Series: N/A

Publication date: April 16, 2024

Published by: Berkley

Genre: contemporary romance

 

SYNOPSIS

After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Liddle has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father—long thought dead after a plane crash—turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren’t enough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both want to act on . . . if they can just keep a lid on it. When her father’s story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and—most importantly—any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely.

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Praise for Christa Comes Out of Her Shell:

“Abbi Waxman has done it again! I laughed out loud, I swooned, I … unexpectedly learned a lot about snails? (And they’re awesome, by the way). I live for Abbi’s awkward, lovable-yet-socially-anxious heroines, and Christa Liddle is hands-down my new favorite.”

—Colleen Oakley, USA Today bestselling author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise

"If I could go on vacation inside Abbi Waxman's books, the utterly charming Christa Comes Out of Her Shell would be the centerpiece of my itinerary. Waxman's witty voice, complex and oh-so-loveable characters, and knack for writing romance that's both swoony and sexy absolutely shine in this hilarious, tender story about family, fame, and marine mollusks. I'll definitely be screaming about this one to anyone who will listen!"

—Sarah Adler, author of Mrs. Nash's Ashes

"Waxman displays her usual talent for creating main characters who are wry and great with a one-liner... Christa is endearingly antisocial…and it’s satisfying to watch her come out of her shell as she accepts the chaos of her family and learns to make peace with the past."

—Kirkus Reviews

“Readers who find comfort in Waxman’s likable nerds will enjoy smart and snarky Christa. Christa’s mother and sisters add delightful color and humor as they make clear where Christa’s personality originated, and Christa’s second chance at romance with an old family friend feels natural and genuine and full of heat.” 

—Booklist

“Readers will relish this lively take on legacy and manipulation.”

—Publishers Weekly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abbi Waxman was born in England in 1970, the oldest child of two copywriters who never should have been together in the first place. Once her father ran off to buy cigarettes and never came back, her mother began a successful career writing crime fiction. Naturally lazy and disinclined to dress up, Abbi went into advertising, working as a copywriter and then a creative director at various advertising agencies in London and New York. Eventually she quit advertising, had three kids and started writing books, mostly in order to get a moment’s peace.

Abbi lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three kids, three dogs, three cats, a gecko, a snake, five pigeons, four chickens, and two guinea pigs. Every one of these additions made sense at the time, it’s only in retrospect that it seems foolhardy.

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REVIEW

Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I haven't read an Abbi Waxman book since The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. This one immediately caught my attention because it has one of my greatest female character weaknesses: the introverted nerd. If she is socially awkward (even anti-social is acceptable), quirky, super intelligent, or shy...count me in. All of the above? Even better! After many years of reading many variations of this heroine, IT has finally happened. I found one that unlikely unicorn that I don't like. Christa is a contradiction, an anomaly. On paper, I should like her, but for me but all of her flaws overshadowed the things that should have endeared her to me.

Humans talk so much and look at you 

expectantly, as if you’d been 

paying attention. Fools.

Christa Liddle grew up in the public eye because of her famous father. He had his own television show, and was co-founder of a copycat beanie baby toy company. He was a charming media darling until he took a flight to Alaska and disappeared. Christa was two the last time they all saw him off in that plane, so his absence is more memorable to her than his brief presence was. The media and internet were like a pack of wolves fighting over the bloody carcass of their lives, but Christa especially got the brunt of their unwanted attention. To lose a father is hard enough, but to try to work through everything emotionally while the world watches your every move is near impossible. She doesn't handle it well as a young adult, and her rebellious ways escalated until one traumatic event sends her running to isolate herself on an island in the Indian Ocean. There, she finds quiet, serenity, and only the snails she's studying as her companions. For four years, she was happy hiding away from her uncomfortable past, but her father had to go and "return from the dead."

From the start, Christa was rubbing me the wrong way. She's prickly, quick to get angry and defensive, pushes everyone away around her, and is emotionally closed off. I'm all for a socially awkward character, but when you throw rudeness into the equation, that's not a good side. Even her "crush" Nate is victim of her sharp tongue, but he can't see past the hearts in his eyes whenever he looks at her. These two grew up together, but there was an age gap as kids. Now, they discover an almost immediate attraction for each other, but I genuinely couldn't see why he was so enthralled with her so quickly. She doesn't spare him much attention, and when she does, she makes sure to emphasize that if they get involved, it will only be a fling until she jets back to her solitary life again. They go on one walk, and one date on the beach and suddenly are supposed to be on the fast track to falling for each other. I never saw any reason why they would feel this way. It all feels very manufactured based on their completely platonic interactions growing up. She never fails to dismiss him like his wants are unimportant when making decisions about where to take her life in the next stage. Even up until the last 15% of the book she's making decisions purely on her own needs making me feel that she hadn't grown at all throughout the book. I felt that he deserved someone who would make compromises and sacrifices for him some of the time, because he was all in, wasn't afraid to express that to her, and he deserved it.

   It’s fine, it’s just a fling. We’ll both get over it 

soon enough. I had a brief flash of the 

previous night, the connection I had felt—

and feel—with him. I shoved it down because 

this girl has no time for love. 

Who even mentioned love?

Aside from the weak romance, the plot was a little out there. The disappearance, assumed death, return "from the dead", amnesia, and cartoonishly one-dimensional villain were very soap opera over-the-top for my taste. This came off as a rom-com rather than a women's fic that you would expect from this author, but without the humor or charm. For me, it really fell flat. There wasn't enough exploration into Christa's broken relationship with her family, and a lack of time spent of mending it. All of that was glossed over in a quick and tidy way, while the chaotic antics surrounding her dad were always the focus.

Personally, whatever story her dad was currently spinning, I never had any sympathy and I wouldn't have been so quick to let him back into the family. It was a little annoying how they just accepted the pain that he put them all through (let's just say that his original version of events didn't actually check out). Even Christa who was the only one giving any resistance, quickly caved and spent time with him without any discussion of the turmoil she suffered because of him. However, ignoring uncomfortable situations and conversations is on brand for her I guess.

   “I can’t do this now,” I said, 

suddenly restless and uncomfortable. 

“Maybe I should be a stronger 

person or something, 

but all I want to do 

now is hide.

My problem with Christa is that she needs character growth, badly, and I didn't see it happen. Her big flaw-running from her problems is not addressed. At all. At 90% in the book she runs from her uncomfortable feelings again. Nate shows that he is willing to uproot his entire life and fit his alongside wherever she decides to go. What does she ever do to show him that he is as important to her? I didn't feel any chemistry at all, and I wasn't ever really rooting for them. Overall, more time should have been spent on developing Christa's familial and romantic relationships rather than the OTT drama. While I was a fan of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, this one was a miss for me. Not every book can be a winner, and that's perfectly okay.

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