Print Length: 288 pages
Publisher: Willow Books(March 25, 2021)
From Goodreads.com: Can they open their hearts to something much deeper and passionate? Will their marriage only ever be a comfortable alliance?
Six years ago, Helena Swift’s fiancé was fatally wounded at Waterloo. Locking away all dreams of the heart, she retreated to a safe family haven. On the shelf and happy to be there, Helena has perfected the art of deterring would-be suitors.
Will, Earl of Rastleigh, is the only son of an only son: marriage is his duty. One of the great prizes of the marriage market, he shies away from a cold, society union. While he doesn’t expect love, he seeks something more comfortable. But how to find the woman who will welcome him into her life and her bed, and be a good mother to their children?
When Will meets Helena, he is intrigued by her composure, her kindness and her intelligence. As their friendship develops, he realises he has found his ideal wife, if only he can overcome her well-known aversion to matrimony.
Will succeeds in slipping past Helena’s guard. Tempted by the thought of children of her own, and encouraged by her mother to leave the shallows where she has lingered so long, she accepts his offer of a marriage based not on dangerous love but affectionate companionship and mutual respect.
But is this enough? As Will gets to know his wife better, and the secrets of her past unfold, he realises that they have settled for second-best. Can he change the basis of their marriage? Will Helena risk her heart and dare to love again?
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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5
I really wish that authors would understand the concept that sometimes? Less really is more.
That is really the main issue that I have with this story. There was so much detail that I just... got bored and stopped caring.
Don't get me wrong, I know there are people who are going to love this novel because of the detail the author included (and they definitely had a strong writing style), but for me things became so bogged down that I struggled to keep reading. I don't care that she got a new horse, therefore I don't need three pages of details about it. Just like I didn't need two chapters dedicated to the firing of his butler and housekeeper (although seriously how what they were up to escaped the notice of people is beyond me even with the author explicitly saying that Will wasn't usually "in residence" there. What they did went above and beyond).
Yes, there were the occasional burst of "the unexpected" and there moments where the story seemed to pick up, only to slow down again. Sadly, the good wasn't enough for me to say that I enjoyed this story, even though I know others will.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
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A Comfortable Alliance is available from Amazon.com
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