The Bad Luck Bride: The Cavensham Heiresses
1811 and 1812: Alex Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke, blames his former companion, Lord Paul Barstowe, for the suicide of his younger sister, Alice. Rather than killing him in a duel, Alex decides to ruin Lord Paul by purchasing his vowels (IOUs) and forcing him to abandon his wealthy fiancée.
During their betrothal ball, Lady Claire Cavensham receives Lord Paul’s note and discovers she now has four broken engagements. Humiliated, she knows the ton will make her the center of gossip for weeks. All she wants is a loving spouse and a family, and Paul’s letter assures her she will have neither. Alex proposes a marriage of convenience to save Lady Claire. She accepts, thereby unknowingly guaranteeing Lord Paul’s ruin. But love has a way of unlocking the most frozen heart. Alex and Claire find that telling the whole truth is always better, and revenge is not always sweet.
I enjoyed MacGregor’s debut novel. Alex’s need for revenge casts an unnecessary pall over the story with his using Claire’s marital misfortunes for his own benefit. Throughout the tale, I felt sorry for Claire, who is a strong woman with a giving heart. Luckily for them, as well as the reader, the story has a happy ending.
