This book felt shorter than it is but it was still very much enjoyable. A Bride for the Betrayed Earl by Bridget Barton follows Hunter Bentley, the Earl of Addison, and Emmeline Fitzgerald, a woman of society, as they agree to have a marriage of convenience. I love marriages of convenience romances. Yes, marry out of duty or need then fall in love!
The Earl and Emmeline agree to be married after both are scorned by ex-lovers. Hunter returns home from Scotland after staying with his father until he passed away only to find the love of his life married to another man - the Duke of Galcross. Emmeline is then humiliated at a party when the man who was courting her, who she believed would purpose to her, announces his engagement to her former best friend, Clara.
Hunter rescues Emmeline from society at the party then approaches her with an arrangement: they will marry so that he can have an heir and she may have a home and place in society. Emmeline's father had passed away recently and her, her sister and her mother were set to be removed from their home after a grace period. Emmeline's male cousin was set to inherit her childhood home.
So the two agree to marriage knowing that it would not be a love match. of course, they end up falling in love.
I did enjoy this book but it was still lacking a bit in the romance. The two main characters start to fall in love with each other while they spend time together and chat. Hunter gifts Emmeline a book because they bonded over literature earlier. I thought that was touching. However, their love is subtle. There's no "oops we fell into each other's arms and kissed" or bickering between lovers. Bother Hunter and Emmeline felt very mature and so there was no typical ride of emotions when reading this romance that you find in other romances. This is not necessary a bad aspect to the story but it can make the romance between the characters feel a bit flat.
I also wish there was an actual resolution between Clara and Emmeline. I was hoping for more drama.
It could have been interesting to see Emmeline and Hunter bond over having to deal with both of their ex lovers in society. Instead, the romance is driven by Emmeline's horrible male cousin who wants to marry her for some reason. Second cousin by the way. Still, no.
The reason for these marriages did not have a strong basis in my opinion.
I enjoyed the book for a quick historical romance read. While I do wish the romance was a little more dramatic or showed more passion between Hunter and Emmeline, I can also appreciate how subtle and more mature their romance was. I mean, they did just get their hearts broken so how passionate can they be right away? They respected each other though and it was nice to see that in a romance.
While I would have loved some more drama with the scandals, I still enjoyed this book. it ended up being a nice historical romance pallet cleanser so to speak.
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