Once again, author Mary Balogh has outdone herself, giving
us the story of a unique heroine overcoming a lifetime of
demons to find love and happiness. At the start of SOMEONE
TO WED, Wren Heyden is a recluse, hiding behind dim lighting
and an ever-present veil. The aunt and uncle who raised her
-- the only family to show her love and kindness -- have
died, and she resolves to find a husband. She figures her
only selling point is the fortune her uncle left her, so she
adds the impoverished Earl of Riverdale to her list of
possible matches.
Alexander Westcott never wanted the title and received it
only through a technicality that left his cousins
illegitimate. He inherited a decrepit estate and no money to
bring it up to snuff, so he sets himself a goal of marrying
a wealthy woman. When confronted with Wren's offer, he
finds he cannot commit himself to marriage for money alone.
The depth of Wren's despair over her appearance, the
terror, and shame she feels when she lifts her veil or
indeed exposes herself in any way, quite often brought tears
to my eyes, as did her bravery as she confronts each
challenge along the way. Alexander and his extensive
extended family offer her friendship, as well as
opportunities to cast off her self-imposed shell, but she
struggles to defeat the doubts created during years of
isolation.
SOMEONE TO WED is both heartbreaking and uplifting. It is a
love story that will stay in your heart and mind long after
you turn the final page. I highly recommend this novel (and
the whole Westcott
family series) to readers who enjoy Regency romance and
unusual heroines.
A very practical marriage makes Alexander Westcott
question his heart in the latest Regency romance from the
New York Times bestselling author of Someone to
Hold.
When Alexander Westcott becomes the new Earl of Riverdale,
he inherits a title he never wanted and a failing country
estate he can’t afford. But he fully intends to do
everything in his power to undo years of neglect and give
the people who depend on him a better life. . . .
A recluse for more than twenty years, Wren Heyden wants one
thing out of life: marriage. With her vast fortune, she sets
her sights on buying a husband. But when she makes the
desperate—and oh-so-dashing—earl a startlingly unexpected
proposal, Alex will only agree to a proper courtship, hoping
for at least friendship and respect to develop between them.
He is totally unprepared for the desire that overwhelms him
when Wren finally lifts the veils that hide the secrets of
her past. . . .