Seeking a sensible husband
Tempted by a dissolute rogue…
Debutante of the season Esther Barrington-Hall is looking
for a steadfast, responsible husband after her dreadful childhood with her
destitute mother. Aristocrat Oliver Moreland is a notorious rake and Esther
knows it would be wrong to give up her newfound life of safety for a man like
him. But he is exciting and undeniably attractive. And dangerous, too. Because
he is the one man in society who knows about her past…
The story opens on a snowy night in London, as Oliver
discovers a woman and young girl huddling in a doorway. Something compels him
to offer his help, and he drives them to a town an hour away. They are clearly
well-bred but poor, and the woman looks like she's been on the receiving end of
trouble. However, the expression in the girl's eyes stayed with him and made
him think about his life.
Six years later, that young girl, Esther, is about to
make her debut. After a difficult childhood and her mother's death, her aunt
and uncle took her in. After the things she experienced, Esther intends to find
a steady, responsible man to marry. Lord Alberton seems the perfect candidate -
young, handsome, and well-versed in Society's rules. So why is she drawn to Oliver
Moreland, a man known for disdaining those same rules?
Esther immediately recognizes Oliver as the man who had
rescued her and her mother. He's older and harder, and she knows she should
avoid him. Oliver is also drawn to Esther but does not immediately recognize
her. He knows she is familiar, but why? I enjoyed their brief encounter at the
ball and their forthright conversation. They part ways, with Esther returning
to the ballroom and spending more time with Lord Alberton. Oliver leaves the
ball, unable to put Esther out of his mind, and finally places her.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Esther and
Oliver develop. The sparks fly with each encounter, but both try to resist. Esther
is determined to stick to her plan, pushed along toward Lord Alberton by her
aunt. Oliver knows that a man with his reputation isn't what Esther needs, so
he tries to stay away from her. Their connection won't be denied, and I liked
how they spoke honestly to each other. Then Lord Alberton shows his true colors
during a house party at his home, leaving Esther questioning her decision.
Esther and Oliver spend a fair amount of time thinking
about why they can't be together. I ached for Oliver, who could only see the
worst of himself. In the years since he rescued Esther and her mother, he made significant
changes in his life but kept those under wraps. We get a look at Oliver's
family life and get an idea of the impact it had on who he became, with some
interesting developments at the end. Esther frequently frustrated me with how
wrapped up she was with the rules and how they kept her from being herself. When
Esther's past becomes public, who comes through for her - the rake or the
gentleman? I liked the ending and seeing how being honest with each other
brings them more than they dreamed of.
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