This is a lovely story between Cora and Liam, forced to marry in the previous book in this series due to a scandalous kiss. Can they ever learn to trust and love each other. Both feel unloved, unwanted and not good enough for their families. Will they listen to their bodies, and believe each other, and will they ever find a place to be alone. This book made me chuckle especially when everywhere they go to be alone, someone from their families is resident or turns up unexpectedly stopping the important connection and frustrating them both. As previous books, this author can paint the scene and the emotions easily and it is as if you are watching the movie and seeing it play out. I especially enjoyed when Liam finally stood his ground and told his Grandmother what she should do. These 2 deserve their happy ending.
I was soooo looking forward to their story. And let me tell you, it meet and exceeded all my expectations. It was simply excellent. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
A kiss in a garden finds Liam and Cora compromised and forced into a marriages of convenience. Liam is a proper Vicar turned Viscount who has never been with a woman, and Cora is an innocent in practice but not so much in theory having read many erotic books . Together they embark on a Marriage with no understanding of one another nor the needs or expectations of the other. Cora has never felt loved or wanted and indeed does not believe she could ever love. Liam is a people pleaser and wants to please his wife, but she is too busy running away from him. A lack of communication and understanding of one another nearly keeps this couple from their HEA. Fortunately for Cora, Liam learns to put his wife first and learns how to please her.
This fourth book in *A Gentleman’s Guide to Courtship* by Charlie Lane is refreshing and entertaining read. An unplanned compromise forces Liam Fletcher, Viscount Norton, into marriage with Miss Cora Eastwood after a passionate kiss at a masquerade leaves them with no other option. He was just trying to test another theory by the duke of Clearford and if you’ve been following the series you know all about his theories.
Their wedding night is not a success, setting the newlyweds at odds. Cora, is very well-read on bedroom passions and with a poetic heart, hoped for at least a physical connection with Liam. He has no experience in carnal activities but not for lack of trying. When he finds out about the lending library and Cora’s poetic endeavors he is embarrassed and flees.
Cora’s anger peaks when Liam visits a brothel, leading her to decide that she'll do her duty by providing an heir but otherwise live separately from him. This decision sparks a series of events that made for such a fun, entertaining read, it had me laughing, especially at Liam’s impulsive antics.
Charlie Lane masterfully weaves these antics into the story, highlighting how it takes two to heal a marriage. If the pessimistic bluestocking and the jovial former vicar can see eye to eye, they might just mend their broken hearts. Liam, determined to make things right, impulsively kidnaps Cora when he finally tracks her down, but their attempts to reconcile are continually thwarted. Lane outdid herself with the many interruptions this couple faces, testing their patience to the limit.
As always, Charlie Lane brings something unique to historical romance. Her characters, like Liam and Cora, aren’t your typical ton ladies and dukes. She delves into their backgrounds, revealing childhood issues that shaped their current struggles—Liam's need to please everyone and Cora's deep-seated anger and feelings of being unloved.
When they finally come together, Cora, who was determined not to fall in love, finds herself unexpectedly happy with Liam and eager for a future together. Liam, too, must confront his own issues, and I won’t spoil the details, but he ultimately fights for what he truly wants.
In summary, this story is a fabulous read with a bit of everything: humor, passion, personal growth, meddling family members, and heartfelt moments. I highly recommend it, especially if you haven’t yet tried Charlie Lane’s work. Every story leaves me wanting more.
I received an ARC (advanced review copy) from Wolf Publishing for free, and I’m voluntarily leaving this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Raised in expectation of becoming simply the country vicar, Liam Norton, instead is surprised when the Viscountcy falls to him in his twenties. Yes,
he had been educated at Oxford but did not do so well in Latin and was not terribly suited to vicarship. It is 1820 and the times demanded he find a
wife. At a party in London he almost savages a beautiful masked woman mistaking her for his target, a duke's sister, but in fact she was but her friend, Cora Eastwood, a
banker's daughter. Liam did the right thing and soon they were engaged then married. He was a virgin and she also despite being a secret erotic poetess. An unusual
pursuit of her ensues as she resists his amorous advances while he makes matters worse by leaving to visit a brothel and seeking the advice of the madam. Only the advice
but of course Cora thinks it is more. Eventually, these two come about almost as then his demonic grandmother, the dowager interferes followed by his mother and her brood
of children all visiting him and preventing his honeymoon now equally and ardently desired by Cora. Lots of interrupted steamy scenes. Received this arc and have
voluntarily reviewed.