Christina McKnight

What happens when 2 nerds find each other? Miss Judith (Jude) Pengarden has a secret that she needs help with. Simon Montgomery, Earl of Cartwright (Cart) seems to be her solution since he is an expert in antiquities. In order to help raise money to pay off the many Debt collectors that seem to be sending notices daily to Craven House, Jude (with the help of her twin sister, Sam) has stolen an antique vase. Little does she know but Cart is trying to find and return the vase.
Cart and Jude meet accidentally at a Garden Party and find they are both interested in collectibles. Jude thinks that Cart is just the person to buy her recently “acquired” vase. Meanwhile, they are slowly falling in love. The two of them aren’t your average ton participants. What others would find quirky they each find perfect.
Trying to get out of her predicament, Jude seems to be digging herself deeper in to trouble. She is facing the possibility of being jailed for robbery. The only one who knows, Sam, is the one person who is falling in love with her and would do anything to keep her safe.
The characters and plotline of this story are different from most easy-going Happily Ever After tales. Both families have histories of scandal and are on the edge of poverty. No one is marrying for money or a title. Christina McKnight produced an exciting story that is well worth the read.
I received an Advanced Copy of this book in return for an honest review.… (mere)

Two people who have been abandoned by the death of one parent and the desertion of another find they have more in common than not. When Elijah (Eli) Watson, the Marquis of Ridgefield stops his carriage to help a poor girl stuck out in the rain little did he know that Samantha (Sam) Pengarden would turn out to be the love of his life.
They both are attending the same wedding. She as the twin sister of the bride and he as a guest who is hoping to meet with the groom to donate his grandfather's antiquities to the groom's museum. As two lonely people they join together to become friends. She will introduce him around and he will keep away unwanted suitors along with the father who suddenly decided to meet the daughters that he never knew. Their attraction is obvious enough that Sam's sister and future brother-in-law decide to encourage Elijah to leave. Unfortunately, Sam doesn't know it was her sister's idea and so she feels abandoned once again.
A few month's later, they meet again in London where Sam is being propositioned at a ball. She once again encourages Eli to escort her around town not knowing that people are assuming he is doing it to make her his mistress. That is the farthest thing from his mind. He is hoping to marry her but she is just wanting to get him involved so she can leave him the way he left her.
The story is well written and the reader truly feels for the characters and can understand their worry about being abandoned by those they chose to love. They not only allow themselves to be open to love and trust, they also truly learn how forgiveness can open the heart to love.
I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.… (mere)