ASIN: B017RBWIQI
Publisher: Entangled: Scandalous (November 30, 2015
What an a-maze-ing premise. A twist, here, somewhat of a turn there.
Edward has heard about the missing family jewel – a pink crown hidden by his great-grandmother since he was a child. It was his favorite bedtime story. He’s always believed he’d one day find it, and his desire grows right along with his height. The problem is, not only did age bring about enough freedom and independence to search wholeheartedly for the crown, but it brought about the need for an heir. His parents wanted him married and taking more responsibility for his life and property.
Marriage is not in the cards right now. He wants to spend his time on the hunt. When his parents throw a party for him to pick a bride, he runs into Isa. She’s read his family journal which contains clues to the missing crown, and now she’s just as intrigued as he is. She’s also harboring a secret. Hell-bent on restoring her family’s home and making things easier on her brother, she agrees to pretend to be Edward’s betrothed in exchange for money. As the two search for the crown, they find more than they bargained for, and soon their attraction to each other carries more weight than the diamonds.
Broadfield most definitely hit the mark with originality. I gladly joined the hunt, and followed along willingly. I do wish there would’ve been more clues, but I enjoyed Edward and Isa working together. I liked that Edward’s family was not as intense as I thought they’d be. They were very accepting to be members of the ton, and it was refreshing. His dad did want Edward to be more responsible, but what good parent doesn’t want that for their child? His father’s disappointment had nothing to do with Isa, or her status- which is usually the case in historical romances where an aristocrat falls for someone not of proper status- but was only about Edward’s own actions, or lack thereof. This was a welcome change.
The ending left me wanting. Edward’s turning point came about rather quickly, and the problems with his father vanished with a few quick, although meaningful, words. I expected more from the climax, but the story was intriguing.
Rating system: Cups of coffee – the less the better
0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.
My rating: 1 1/2 cups of coffee