Series:
Revelations of the Carstairs Sisters (Book 2)
Hers was a body of marble…
Until he brought it to life
After her tyrannical late husband ruined her reputation,
Lady Mercy Armstrong is longing to reinvent herself. The perfect opportunity
presents itself when rebellious self-made man Jack Dalmuir has a daring
proposition -- a fake dalliance that will change society's view of her! Only,
cavorting with the handsome Scotsman ignites a passion that could change both
their lives forever…
Terrific friends to lovers story. Mercy endured seventeen
years married to an autocratic bully of a man who trashed her reputation in a
codicil to his will. After the required year of mourning, Mercy is more than
ready to live her life as she wants. A chance meeting with Scottish engineer
Jack Dalmuir gives her the perfect method to do so.
I loved Mercy's first meeting with Jack. Lost in her
thoughts, she stepped in front of Jack as he was driving to the local inn.
While neither was hurt, both were shaken, and Jack invited Mercy to join him
for tea (or something stronger) to recover. The sparks between them were
immediate though both tried to ignore them. Mercy uncharacteristically found
herself telling Jack about her husband, marriage, and desire to experience the
life she was denied during her time with her husband. I loved how Jack listened
to Mercy's dreams and offered to help her achieve them by being her escort.
I liked both Mercy and Jack. Mercy is a kind, thoughtful,
and loyal woman who did everything she could to make her marriage a success.
Her husband was only interested in one thing - getting an heir. So while their
marriage looked perfect to the outside world, he made Mercy's life miserable
behind closed doors. After his death, Mercy was determined to avoid another
marriage at all costs, having no desire to lose her newfound freedom as a
widow. Jack is a self-made man. He grew up poor but was fortunate enough to be
given an education thanks to his mother's employer; he discovered a talent for
math and science and, by his mid-thirties, made a name for himself as an
engineer of steam engines. He has great plans for expanding his business and
devotes his time to that goal. Marriage is not in his plans for many years yet.
I loved watching the development of the relationship
between Jack and Mercy. He understands that she wants to "kick over the
traces" and stands ready to help her in any way. I loved her introduction
to "polka the way it should be danced." She was pretty nervous about
her first venture outside Society's norms, and Jack quickly put her at ease.
Mercy's enthusiasm was evident as she enjoyed the experience and Jack found her
enchanting. Every time they got together, they were drawn closer together. But
Mercy worried about their activities' effect on Jack's life and business
because she knows the viciousness of the gossip rags. I liked Jack's confidence
in himself and his business and how he refused to let gossip deter his time
with Mercy. The icing on the cake came when they showed up at her
brother-in-law's ball, uninvited, with Mercy's desire to face down her former
family and "friends." I loved her strength as she stood up to him and
her "swan song" as she and Jack danced a polka no one would ever
forget.
During their time together, the attraction between Jack
and Mercy continues to grow, as do their feelings for each other. But each has
been honest about their feelings about marriage, so they continue to attempt to
ignore the sparks. Mercy is especially wary, thanks to her late husband's
treatment, but eventually, her attraction to Jack wins out. As they give in to
the passion, each finds themselves thinking about a different future than
initially planned, but neither says anything to the other. I admit to getting
frustrated at their stubborn unwillingness to believe they can have a future
together. They each earned their misery when they ended their relationship,
trying to stick to their original intentions. A not unexpected surprise brings
them back together, when both Jack and Mercy have to face their pasts and
decide if they will allow those pasts to run their lives. I liked seeing them
examine the issues that hold them back and realize that real happiness comes
from being together.
I loved seeing Victorian London and Glasgow shown from a
different viewpoint than the usual aristocracy. The detail about Jack's pumps
showed the importance of something rarely mentioned in other books. I also
enjoyed seeing Mercy's involvement with the women's and children's charities
and the problems that are frequently glossed over. Having been to Glasgow, I
loved learning about Jack's background and a bit of the history of that city
and its impact on him.
The ending was terrific, and I loved seeing what was in
store for them a few years later. I wish Mercy's former in-laws had experienced
real consequences of their treatment of Mercy.
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