Slightly Tarnished by Lilly Gayle

Summary:

Victorian romance laced with danger.

When a brooding English earl with a Slightly Tarnished reputation marries his wife’s American cousin to save her from an uncle’s vengeful schemes, the sea captain’s daughter with a taste for adventure sparks desires he thought long dead.

Nicole Keller has always been headstrong and independent, but after a failed business venture and a sinking ship take her father, her home, and her childhood sweetheart, Nikki must support herself and her mother. But moving to England and marrying Chadwick Masters, Earl of Gilchrest isn’t what she has in mind. And falling in love with the mysterious earl could endanger both their lives.

Reviewer: PurpleRose
I didn't intend to read this novel in one stretch but I couldn't put it down and finished it at dawn!

The author weaved an engrossing story where romance and mystery are perfectly balanced. The plot is extremely well developed, all the characters matter and have a role to play. There is not one moment of peace, which is very good and the only thing you have on your mind is to turn the next page.

Everything that I expected was right there, hidden family secrets, lies that if discovered would trigger a scandal, uncontrollable fear, foul play, death, treachery, greed, madness, and perversity.

This is a wonderful and thrilling story that begins in South Carolina by the sea and ends in Cornwall by the sea as well. It is about two people who despite their very different background and upbringing are in many ways similar.

They both were betrayed, Nicole by her father that unexpectedly died leaving her all alone with an ailing mother, no money, or home anymore, and Chad whose mother was unable to deal with the accidental death of Chad's twin brother, putting the blame on him. And later, Chad's wife taking her own life. They are both alone with their loss, grief, guilt, and resentment but they both have a great sense of responsibility and are resilient, because they have to be!

They are thrown together by unusual circumstances and their only option is to make the best of it. Nicole needs security and Chad needs a wife. They are attracted to each other but that is not enough. At the beginning there is a lack of trust towards each other resulting in a lot of tension.

Nicole Keller is a very independent, outspoken young American who is rather puzzling and irritating to his mind but she is doing everything she can to make their marriage work and very quickly falls in love with him. On the other hand Chadwick Masters, Earl of Gilchrest is not ready to surrender to her. He is afraid to be hurt again.

This story has twist and turns more or less after each pages and I never got tired of it. This is a perfect book. I give 5 stars, even more if I could!

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders