Married for his Convenience by Eleanor Webster
Historical Romance
Released: December 1, 2016
Harlequin
Reviewed by Mandi
Tainted by illegitimacy, plain Sarah Martin has no illusions of a grand marriage. So when the Earl of Langford makes her a proposal that will take her one step closer to finding her half sister, she can’t refuse!
Sebastian’s dreams of romance died with his late wife’s affair, so now he needs a convenient wife to act as governess for his silent daughter. Yet Sarah continues to surprise and challenge him, and soon Sebastian can’t deny the joy his new bride could bring to his life—and into his bed!
Sarah has been caring for an elderly woman in the throes of dementia for some time now. While Sarah is not shown a lot of love, she has an abundance of love for animals. Thwarting fox hunts, for one. She meets her future husband as she is saving a rabbit from a trap. Sebastian, the Earl of Langford is in the country visiting, when he comes across a woman who is sneaking a rabbit into the house. Sarah is plain and outspoken – blunt. This intrigues Sebastian. He notices how calmly and patiently she cares for the hurt rabbit and an idea spark’s within him.
Sebastian’s wife ran to France with his two children and her lover, and ended up dying at the guillotine. Sebastian was able to buy back his daughter, but his son is still in France, missing. His daughter, Elizabeth, is back at home with him, but has yet to speak a word. She rocks on her rocking horse during the daylight hours, a shell of a girl. Desperate to make a breakthrough with her, he thinks Sarah’s compassion just might do the trick, and he proposes marriage. Sarah has a secret – her half-sister was forced to become a mistress years ago, and Sarah needs to get to London to look for her. A marriage to Sebastian would allow her this. She can’t tell Sebastian about her sister, because that would mean she would have to tell Sebastian she is a bastard. She agrees to marry, and off to London they go.
Both Sebastian and Sarah are written well and I enjoyed how their relationship unfolds. Sarah is very blunt, and could care less about clothes or hair styles or going out to parties. She would rather sit at home and care for her rabbit than impress the ton, much to Sebastian’s frustration. But her sharp mind and sparkling conversation enthrall Sebastian and he becomes quite smitten. I like that Elizabeth, Sebastian’s traumatized daughter, doesn’t magically get better in this book. She improves, with the help of Sarah, but there is no miracle, and that felt realistic.
There are a lot of story lines happening in this book – Elizabeth refuses to speak, a marriage of convenience which brings along intimacy problems, Sebastian’s son is still missing in France and a man called “The Lion” is supposedly looking for him, and Sarah is secretly looking for her sister.
Whew. Elizabeth’s health is the most focused upon, followed by the search for Sarah’s sister. The story line looking for Sebastian’s missing son is pushed way to the side. This intriguing character called The Lion is introduced early, but definitely left in the shadows. I think there is a little too much happening in this book and it loses some focus. Each storyline is wrapped up, but not enough time is spent letting the reader see aftermath.
Within the multiple story lines, there is a sweet romance with a very likable heroine.
Grade: B-
Leave a Reply