ABOUT THE BOOK
His scandals were right on track until she derailed everything.
As the successful owner of multiple railroad lines, Diana Barton is all too accustomed to fending off suitors seeking to stake their claim on her wealth. In order to keep the wolves at bay, Diana has contrived the perfect plan: appeal to the most notorious rake in London, the Baron Lord Bryant, to ruin her reputation and scare off the worst of the time wasters. The ruse will be no hardship she's secretly been fascinated by the man for years.
Lord Bryant is well aware of his questionable reputation. Indeed, he has cultivated the image carefully, and the last thing he wants is a wife. But when he's approached by the younger sister of a business associate, he tells her in no uncertain terms that he cannot help. However, when he sees for himself what she is up against, Bryant grudgingly offers his assistance. Faced with his most complicated entanglement yet, Bryant is firm in his conditions and Diana knows that to get romantically involved with Bryant would spell certain heartbreak. But as the counterfeit couple grow ever closer, the line between truth and lies becomes blurred, threatening both Lord Bryant's well-laid plans and the future of Diana's railroad business.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Esther
Hatch grew up on a cherry orchard in rural Utah. After high school, she
alternated living in Russia to teach children English and attending
Brigham Young University in order to get a degree in archaeology. She
began writing when one of her favorite authors invited her to join a
critique group. The only catch was she had to be a writer. Not one to be
left out of an opportunity to socialize and try something new; she
started on her first novel that week.
REVIEW
Diana Barton's efforts to run two railroad lines are being thwarted by a stream of gentleman callers who want to court and marry her to gain control of the railroad lines. In frustrations, Diana decides that a ruined reputation is the way to get these men to leave her alone. After Lord Bryant, a well-known local scoundrel and rake, refuses to assist her, Diana goes ahead and starts using Lord Bryant's name. To her delight her efforts seem to be working, except against one particularly determined gentleman. Things become complicated however when Lord Bryant shows up at her office wanting to know what is going on. After some persuasion Lord Bryant agrees to help but only behind the scenes. He doesn't want their antics to get in the way of his efforts with Lady Emily. But things seem to go awry from the beginning as Diana and Lord Bryant seem to enjoy each other's company more than they should. But is it wise to get attached to a man who has ruined so many other women?
Diana and Everton's (Lord Bryant) love story is a thoroughly engaging and entertaining one. I couldn't help but smile as I read of Diana and Everton's many rather unusual, and amusing, encounters. Neither character fits particularly well into the society of the time (Regency period). After his horrible first marriage, Everton has gone out of his way to shock and horrify society and hide behind the mask of a rake. Diana, as a woman, is running two railroad companies very competently. Everton is used to charming all the women he meets. But Diana knows what she wants and Everton discovers it's not so easy to turn her down. I especially enjoyed this book because it feels fresh and different, especially as Diana is not really looking for a husband and Everton has decided to never marry again. All in all I really enjoyed the witty banter and back and forth between the two main characters. The other plot lines involving the railroad, Diana's brother, and Lady Emily made for some interesting reading as well. Highly recommended.
GIVEAWAY
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