American heiress she may be, but she leads with all her heart.

Ms. Lily captures you right from the start. She desires to make her parents happy. She wants to be a good daughter and provide security for the family, including her younger sisters. She is willing to put her own desires aside to perhaps gain some freedom from the "prison" her mother holds the key to, while also affording that same freedom and then some to her younger siblings.

Enter one, Duke of Lennox...or as she first is introduced however informally to him...Aidan. He makes her feel things she's never experienced. His history is sorted, filled with some scandal, and a whole world of adventure, but he seems so genuine in her presence...so unlike the image of a duke that she had built in her mind's eye. He brings unexpected sunlight to her world, allowing her to experience some of that freedom she so craves, and yet even with their stolen moments, that fear of their desires not being one and the same, that their union is fueled by money versus love, exists.

I, for one, was rooting for them the whole time! From the moment they met behind the palm leaves in the ballroom to that glorious ride in the rain (*swoon*), you can't help but gaze longingly at the page for a happy ending for them. True, there are obstacles, beyond the fact of how to reveal the other's true feelings in lieu of their bank account, such as the elder Duchess, controlling parents, gossip mongers, former flames, and those competing for their own futures...but anything worth having, anything worth achieving has always been worth the effort.

Highly recommended for Historical Romance fans who like their stories filled with heart and lead by characters that are worthy on their own, but so much more together!



**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own ( )

Good book. American Lily is the oldest daughter of a self-made millionaire and his Southern Belle wife. Mrs. Wilkins is quite ambitious, and when she receives an invitation from a school friend to bring her daughters to England for the Season, she can't resist. She immediately sees her girls finding husbands with titles, cementing her reputation at home.

I liked Lily. She prefers spending time with her books instead of the social whirl, but she doesn't rebel against her mother's plans. She knows that if she makes a good marriage, it will help her two younger sisters. She wants to find love but draws only those men more interested in her fortune than herself. I ached for Lily because she feels like an outsider in the London ballrooms, mocked as the daughter of the "Coal King" and looked down on because of her "trade" background.

I liked Aidan also. As the second son, he never expected to inherit the title. He spent the last several years traveling the world, having adventures from Egypt to South America to the American West. But when his brother died, Aidan returned home to take up duties he felt unprepared for and a nearly bankrupt estate. The only way out is to marry a woman with a large dowry, something Aidan is reluctant to do.

I loved the first meeting between Lily and Aidan. She's hiding behind the plants at the edge of the ballroom, avoiding her mother's attempts at matchmaking when another reluctant attendee joins her. They chat for a few minutes, exchanging only first names. I liked the immediate connection between them and how easily they talked together. When Aidan asks her to dance, she agrees, and they enjoy their waltz together. Lily's ease disappears when Aidan is revealed as the Duke of Lennox, and her mother gets that look in her eye.

I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Lily and Aidan. When together, they find they have much in common, can talk of almost anything, and soon find themselves dreaming of a future together. But when they are apart, their insecurities take over, casting doubt on whether they could make the other happy. When Lily and her family visit Aidan's home, their emotions go through multiple ups and downs. As Lily sees everything that a duchess must know and do, she doubts her ability to measure up to the current duchess. When Aidan looks around his crumbling estate, he feels guilty about having so little to offer her. There are some sweet scenes of Aidan and Lily together, from riding to rowing to exploring his home. The long history of his family fascinates her, and he sees it anew through her eyes. Her warm heart and ease with people draw him closer when they visit one of the families on his estate.

The more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings for each other grow, but both are wary of saying anything. Lily can't tell if Aidan truly cares for her or if he's making the best of things to get the money he needs for the estate. Aidan keeps quiet because he doesn't feel worthy of her. I had high hopes during their time in Brighton. With no one around to tell them otherwise, they could be themselves, and their happiness leaped off the pages. But on their return home, outside pressures once again threw obstacles in their path. The ending had me glued to the pages as Aidan's past nearly ruined his future with Lily. The situation forced them to face their fears and risk sharing the truth of their feelings. Aidan's emotional plea was just what Lily needed to share her own feelings. The epilogue was terrific.

I can't wait to read her sisters' stories, though we get a look at Rose's future at the end of this one. ( )