February 19, 2024
St. George (the Gilded Age Heiresses series) opens her Doves of New York series with a fun if slightly unconvincing late Victorian romance that sends American heiresses to London to hunt for titles. Cora Dove and her sisters are illegitimate—and society ensures they never forget it. When their father declares they must marry to access their family inheritance, the Manhattanites, along with their mother, a scandalous former actor, head to England to find husbands who don’t know all their baggage. A vocal advocate for women’s rights (under a pseudonym, of course), Cora is decidedly unhappy with her father’s edict, but she knows that marriage would enable her to take care of her family. As luck would have it, the perfect man, in the form of Leopold, Earl of Devonworth, literally knocks her off her feet at a sporting event. He’s desperate for money to save the family estate and finds the young American woman refreshing. Their mutually beneficial arrangement develops into deep friendship and respect, but it’s hard to see much romance in it even after their relationship becomes physical. Still, the author’s attention to historical detail adds authenticity while offering a fresh perspective on a tumultuous time. The sisters’ sparkling dynamic will leave readers excited for the sequel. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency.
February 1, 2024
When New Yorker Cora Dove finds out that she must marry to receive her inheritance, she travels to London to seek an English peer who will let her retain her independence and, eventually, agree to go their separate ways. The Earl of Devonworth seems like a worthy candidate for her hand rather than her heart: he's progressive, has common sense, and needs money. Devonworth and Cora embark on a sham marriage for an agreed-upon two years, but each soon begins to realize that they got more than they bargained for in their new spouse. As the novel unfolds, a few of the couple's issues would have been solved had they just spoken to each other, but the possible fallout from their families' scandalous secrets does make their silence more understandable. The hints of Cora's sisters' (mis)adventures in London as they look for their own husbands will keep readers engaged and looking forward to the rest of the series. VERDICT St. George (The Duchess Takes a Husband) kicks off her latest Gilded Age-set series with a romance that takes readers on a well-crafted, slow-burn journey through a marriage of convenience that eventually erupts into a steamy love story.--Jenny Kobiela-Mondor
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March 15, 2024
The inheritance left to Cora Dove and her two sisters by their paternal grandmother could not have come at a better time. Unfortunately, Charles Hathaway, the Dove sisters' real father, insists on adding some strings to the bequest and specifies that each of the Dove girls must marry someone who does not live in New York, where Hathaway and his legitimate family reside. Accepting an offer of marriage from Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth, therefore, seems like the solution to Cora's problem. However, what begins as a simple American-cash-for-a-British-title matrimonial transaction becomes complicated when Cora and Devonworth begin experiencing real feelings for each other. With the first book in her Doves of New York series, set during the Gilded Age, St. George brilliantly plays to her literary strengths, delivering an expertly evoked historical setting that touches upon some of the social and political issues of the time, along with a superbly matched pair of protagonists whose simmering sexual chemistry blossoms into a romance that is sweet, steamy, and sublimely satisfying.
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March 15, 2024
St. George's Doves of New York series, a spinoff of the Gilded Age Heiresses, opens with another tale of an American heiress marrying into London nobility. Cora Dove and her sisters were raised by their mother, an actress who received only a pitiable allowance from their father, the wealthy Charles Hathaway. His mother wanted to make things right on her deathbed, so she left generous dowries that her illegitimate granddaughters would receive when they married. Mr. Hathaway wants the Dove women nowhere near his family in New York, so Cora proposes they search for husbands in London. Once there, Cora and her sisters are introduced to potential suitors, including Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth. In financial straits due to his brother's recklessness, Devonworth--who would rather be focusing on his work in Parliament to improve the health of the working class--agrees to Cora's plan for a marriage of convenience followed by a separation in a few years. As their feelings grow, however, they have to decide whether they want to try in earnest to be together and see if they'll be able to stand by each other when secrets are revealed. St. George once again delivers a romance with an engrossing and detailed historical setting and characters with progressive ideals, particularly regarding the rights of women and the working class. Although the book gets off to a sluggish start as the groundwork for the series is laid, once Cora and Devonworth find their way to a respectful friendship, the story starts to build. The steamy payoff after their slow-burn relationship is immensely satisfying. A delightful start to a new series, sure to please St. George's existing fans and garner new ones.
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