A NOTORIOUS VOW is the third
book in Joanna Shupe's "Four Hundred" series set in New York City
during the Gilded Age. This story features a hero and heroine who
would like nothing better than to be left alone, but scheming family
members and other assorted villains try to manipulate their lives. Lady
Christina Barclay is in a very tough spot at the opening of A NOTORIOUS VOW. Her mother is a
more ruthless and cold-hearted version of Mrs. Bennet from Jane
Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Christina is nothing more than a
commodity to her parents and in danger of being sold to a truly slimy
character. Enter Oliver Hawkes. Oliver is an unlikely hero because, even
though he has a heart of gold and looks dashing, he doesn't think he
has much to offer somebody like Christina. This hero and heroine have
a tangled and hard-fought journey before arriving at their happily ever
after.
Christina meets Oliver at a time of crisis. Joanna Shupe does a
fantastic job of detailing the horrors that were often everyday realities
for women in the late 1900s. Unable to earn a decent living, Christina is
at the whims of her opportunistic, selfish, and impoverished aristocrat
parents. Rather than possibly have Christina experience a fate worse
than death, Oliver plays the part of knight in shining armor and rescues
Christina by marrying her. Despite the immediate initial physical
attraction between the two, there are some awkward and tear-jerking
moments as the relationship between Oliver and Christina evolves.
Although good-looking and an intelligent inventor, Oliver has
insecurities stemming from the fact that he is deaf, and people have
looked down on him for being so. And while their road to romance is
rocky at times, Oliver and Christina are made stronger through knowing
each other and dealing with adversity together. They each gain
confidence and are able to deal with being in public settings better.
A NOTORIOUS VOW is an
enthralling tale of a heroine's desperation leading to a romance that
brings her strength and freedom. It's nice seeing characters from
previous books in this story. The historical trivia in A NOTORIOUS VOW is just as entertaining as the
human drama. I look forward to Joanna Ship's next historical romance.
Joanna Shupe returns to New York City’s Gilded Age,
where fortunes and reputations are gained and lost with
ease—and love can blossom from the most unlikely
charade
With the fate of her disgraced family
resting on her shoulders, Lady Christina Barclay has arrived
in New York City from London to quickly secure a wealthy
husband. But when her parents settle on an intolerable
suitor, Christina turns to her reclusive neighbor, a darkly
handsome and utterly compelling inventor, for
help.
Oliver Hawkes reluctantly agrees to a platonic
marriage . . . with his own condition: The marriage must end
after one year. Not only does Oliver face challenges
that are certain to make life as his wife
difficult, but more importantly, he refuses
to be distracted from his
life’s work—the development of a revolutionary
device that could transform thousands of lives, including
his own.
Much to his surprise, his bride is more
beguiling than he imagined. When temptation burns hot
between them, they realize they must overcome their own
secrets and doubts, and every effort to undermine their
marriage, because one year can never be enough.
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