In the Arms of the Heiress by Maggie Robinson (Ladies Unlaced #1)
July 2, 2013
Historical Romance
Berkley

Reviewed by Mandi

Favorite Quote: ”What will happen if they discover we’re not really man and wife? This scheme might be considered proof of your insanity.”

Louisa’s brown eyes widened. “Do you think I should be institutionalized?”

“I wouldn’t wish that on the other patients.”

This book made me smile a lot. The fake husband trope doesn’t always work for me, but Maggie Robinson does a nice job with it in this story. Set in 1903, Louisa Stratton is very wealthy, independent and some might say outrageous heiress. She lost her parents at a very young age and was raised by her Aunt Grace. After being caught in an indiscretion with another man as a young adult, Grace locked up Louisa to keep her away from men. This somewhat kills Louisa’s free spirit so when she finally comes into her inheritance, she escapes with her maid (who is her best friend) and goes on an adventure. It is during this time she writes to her aunt that she has married the charming and illustrious Maximillian Norwich. When she learns her aunt may be ill, she decides to finally return to her childhood home. The only problem is, Max doesn’t exist. And now she needs a fake husband.

Charles Cooper grew up poor but fortunately had a mentor that schooled him and then sent him into the army. He has seen brutality and devastation and comes back to England a broken man. With only one eye that works, he presently finds himself contemplating ending his life. But then he is approached by the Evensong Agency (an agency that hires people to fix problems) to become Louisa’s fake husband for a month for a very large sum. With no other options, Charles agrees to become Max. He sobers up, cleans up and then meets Louisa, and realizes this crazy woman is going to very amusing for the next month or so.

Louisa is such a fun character in this book. She drives cars recklessly, she says outrageous things and she is very forward in the bedroom. She is high-spirited and just goofy sometimes. I loved being able to watch Charles come to know her. His initial reaction to the whole ordeal is that Louisa is a rich and spoiled heiress. But he soon learns. that is so not the case. Louisa is treated quite poorly by her aunt her cousin. He learns just how poorly when they arrive at her estate. Worse, they realize someone is out to harm them after a series of events which leaves Charles and Louisa in danger. Charles goes from just playing the part of Max to get money, to invested in Louisa’s safety…and her heart. He starts to fall for her hard, and I really enjoyed their romance.

Louisa has this grand notion in her head of how her fake husband, Maximillian would act under all circumstances. He is of course perfect, and at first she often compares this perfect dream she has to Charles, who while handsome in his own right, isn’t quite as refined. Even after Charles gets quite injured…

Louisa poured a cup with shaking hands. “It’s probably gone cold by now.”

“Doesn’t matter.” He took a loud slurp, something Maximillian Norwich would never do even if he had been hit with a brick or a shovel. Maximillian did all things in moderation.

Except in the bedroom. There, he was fiendishly artful, a sleek animal with endless, inventive sensual appetites.

Also very amusing is how forward Louisa comes to be in the bedroom after they start fooling around. For as randy and devilish Charles can be, Louisa still shocks him a lot. Like when she catches him in the bath tub…

She was still standing there, making puffy little bunches in the fabric of her nightgown with her fingertips.

“Oh, what the hell,” she mumbled, then pulled the nightgown over her head.

“Louisa!” He was so shocked her name came out a croak. He closed his bad eye and gazed at her in openmouthed wonder.

“I lied. I knew you were in here – I heard you splashing about. Moaning too. You are rather noisy when you seek your satisfaction. It – it excited me. I couldn’t go back to sleep.”

Charles knew he must look like a landed fish, even though most of him was still underwater.

“May I join you in the bath? I’m not sure what can be accomplished, but I mean to try.”

“Louisa!”

Their romance is very sexy and I really enjoyed how it all plays out. They have great chemistry and a lovely courtship.

A fun, light and very sexy historical from Maggie Robinson.

Rating: B+

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