THE STRANGER I WED

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.