In Isabella Bradfordโs enthralling new trilogy, three noble brothersโLondonโs most scandalous rakesโare about to do the unthinkable: settle down. Harry Fitzroy, Earl of Hargreave, is the first to meet his match and lose his heart . . . to a lady whoโs not all what he expected.
As the eldest son of the Duke of Breconridge, Harry Fitzroy is duty-bound to marryโand marry well. Giving up his rakish ways for the pleasures of a brideโs bed becomes a delightful prospect when Harry chooses beautiful Lady Julia Barclay, the catch of the season. But a fall from his horse puts a serious crimp in his plans. Abandoned by Julia before he can propose, the unlucky bachelor finds himself trapped in the country in the care of Juliaโs younger sister.
Harry has never met a woman like Lady Augusta. Utterly without artifice, Gus is clever and capable, and seems to care not a fig for society. After a taboo kiss awakens passion that takes them both by surprise, Harry realizes heโd almost given his heart to the wrong sister. While London tongues wag, heโll use his most seductive powers of persuasion to convince the reluctant Gus that she belongs with himโas his equal, his love, his wife.
I found A Wicked Pursuit to be an interesting readย โ another where the blurb didnโt quite fit the story as I read it. A good portion of the book is made up ofย Harryโs recovery from his injury. Julia has run off to London to find another beau, one that isnโt crippled, but Gus is keeping the truth from Harry. Luckily he doesnโt want her to see him injured so it isnโt that hard. Instead Gus and Harry spend time together getting to know one another and working their way thru his recovery. All along, Harry actually is looking to get well so he can propose to Julia and doesnโt really give falling for Gus a second thought. Sheโs not a beauty and sheโs not flirty like heโs used to. Instead she smart, competent and compassionate – traits that have Harry reevaluating his future without him really knowing it.
Iโd read another of Isabella Bradfordโs books When The Duke Found Love, and while I enjoyed the story well enough and liked the hero, I wasnโt really a fan of the heroine. In this one, though, I really enjoyed both characters. They are interesting, charming and fun together. It isnโt an action-packed or drama-filled story. Instead itโs a slow burn โ two people getting to know each other and slowly falling in love, discovering some truths about themselves and about each other. Itโs sweet and somewhat refreshing not to have a lot of ups and downs. There is a little bit at the end but they quickly and smartly work through it, leading to a very satisfying ending.
A Wicked Pursuit is the first in the โBreconridge Brothersโ series and the rest will follow Harryโs brothers. If they are anything like this one, Iโll be picking them up as soon as possible.
