Julia Justiss

The first in the Cinderella Spinsters series. Miss Emma Henley has spent her life being compared to her much prettier sister; now she's going to the last season before she can fulfil a dream of herself and two friends from school to become spinsters living together. The only high point in her life is sparring with Lord Theo, who is a notorious rake and being seen in his company could be problematic, their relationship moves to downright flirting but can they find love or is it just lust.
It was a fun read with characters that were quite good for each other.… (mere)

Good book about the perils and hypocrisy that face those who find love outside their approved social class. Lady Laura didn't grow up as nobility, but when her father unexpectedly became a marquess, she learned to navigate the ton. Laura has no interest in marriage at this time. She prefers to care for her ailing father and spend time indulging her love of mathematics and numbers. A husband would only get in the way of those pastimes.

When Laura meets the shy banker's heiress, Susanna Rochdale, she offers to teach her how to deal with the less pleasant members she's sure to encounter. Susanna is a sweet young lady and feels overwhelmed by the idea of facing Society. She and Laura quickly become friends, and Laura's lessons give Susanna the confidence she needs. I loved Laura's down-to-earth and practical advice. The only fly in the ointment is Susanna's brother, Miles.

Miles has a very poor opinion of the aristocracy thanks to a failed romantic relationship several years earlier and the attitudes of those he encounters at his bank. He is suspicious of Laura's intentions and attends many of Susanna's lessons, determined to stop them if he sees anything he doesn't like. It doesn't take long to realize that Laura is a sweet and honorable woman.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Laura and Miles develop. The sparks are evident between them from the moment they meet, though both try to resist them. Miles is a commoner who is (gasp!) in trade, and Laura is a Society lady. While an aristocratic man may marry a well-dowered commoner woman without repercussions, the same doesn't go for the reverse. A woman who marries "down" will be shunned by Society. But over the course of Susanna's lessons, Laura and Miles become friends, discovering that they have much in common. I loved Laura's excitement at finding someone who understands her love of numbers and her relief at her ability to be herself with him. Miles is captivated by Laura's intelligence and beauty.

I ached for both as they realized that their feelings would have no happy resolution. Then Laura's father suffers from a financial disaster, and Laura's future looks bleak. I loved how Miles's protective instincts were aroused. The ball scene drove home the hypocrisy of the ton, and I loved the effect it had on Miles. His actions showed how deeply he cared for Laura but still denied his feelings to protect her reputation. I loved the ending and seeing Laura take her happiness into her own hands. The scene at the bank was fantastic, and the epilogue was great.

#netgalley… (mere)

I really adored this one! Unique and developed characters, great dialog, an engaging plot that focused on the romance instead of overshadowing it. Perhaps it’s something about the mood I’m in, but I really felt the growth in chemistry between these two. I loved Emma’s frank and practical understanding of her appearance, with a nice dash of insecurity to give us some sweet angst! Also I loved the reaction to the pregnancy! That she didn’t just get baby crazy and immediately throw everything away to be a mom. It all worked out of course, but it was so nice to see a heroine who wasn’t willing to settle for being a baby incubator.

Definitely a candidate for my recurring reads shelf.… (mere)