Lady Emma Spenser's life was turned upside down on the night of her come-out when her traitorous father flees the country after having bilked hundreds of peers out of their fortunes. Left destitute, Emma has no choice but to go into service. She's been a companion for 5 years, but she longs for children. Her only option is to go the infamous Black Widow of Whitehall who pairs scandalous women with bankrupt lords. When she is paired with Marcus, Earl of Rutherford, she is overjoyed to have such a wonderful husband. They begin their life together, but their happiness is cut short when Marcus learns of Emma's secret. Will she ever be able to win her husband's trust back?

This was the first book I've read by Ms. Aston and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked the unusual premise of the book and how the H and h are introduced. The characters are nicely fleshed out and the plot moves along at a good pace. I'll definitely look for more books by this author.

Will her past catch up with her and destroy her future ...

What a lovely read this one was, a moving tale of being one’s self, and refusing to let society dictates whom one must be.
From the nightmare’s night Emma learned her father’s sins, she also learned she had became tainted by his deeds when she is innocent of everything. To her now to pay for her father’s felony.
Why she resigned herself to a life of servitude with no other joyous prospect.
When coming in an unexpected inheritance, making her a very wealthy woman, but still marked by her father’s name, she dreams again of a family of own, except who will marry the daughter of a thief.
Marcus thought too he had everything mapped out, to find an agreeable young woman to settle with and produce the next generation. Until his own world comes crashing and he is left with only bills and debts to pay.
Now, the urgency is to find said expected wife, with only one requirement, a heavy dowry.

Why both where caught unaware when on their first meeting, attraction instantly blooms.
As long as both keep silent about their father’s faults, their romance is one of chemistry but patience too.

Yet, reality always comes back like a boomerang, with its hurt and disappointment in its wake.
How I was upset at Marcus, he deserved a bit more groveling and a longer chase. He told her such ugly things, truly disavowing his own words.
4.5 stars for this lovely tale of seing past one’s own grief and forgiveness .

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Dragonblade Publishing, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋
Emma and Marcus are a very satisfying couple to read about.
Their passion for each other is endless and it fairly flows off the pages.

Alexa has written this story adding in some of the St Clair family, which is a wonderful added bonus in my mind.
All the characters are well written and work beautifully together.

The story is interesting and feels like a full length novel not a quick novella, it’s not rushed , but fluid and runs perfectly smooth.

I loved the book and would recommend it .

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review


Sent from my iPhone

Two people who are down on their luck have a chance to find happiness with marriage. The catch is, they do not know each others' pasts, which would cause them want nothing to do with the other. Abandoned, Lady Emma Spencer has worked as a companion, after falling on hard times. She wants a family, but who would ever marry her with her background? Enter Marcus, Earl of Rutherford, who needs a wife after his father lost everything. Marcus wants a family, but cannot deal with all the debutantes, for they are rather boring and too young for him. He wants a mature women and after meeting Emma, he knows she is the one. They live in bliss for a time, but the past always has a way with catching up with you, in one way or another. Still, do not judge a person based on the sins of the father.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked Marcus and Emma's story. I loved the fact that this couple had so much in common and came to really care for each other. I thought this book had the potential to add to it and be a bit longer but it was great how they overcame their obstacles.

This was such an enjoyable read and I just loved Marcus and Emma's characters. My heart went out to them at the mess their fathers left behind but a trip to THE LYON'S DEN makes everything right again! Emma has a horrible secret, though, and knows that once Marcus finds out about it, he will turn against her. In the meanwhile, theirs is a blossoming romance that is so sweet and filled with hope, you can't help but smile as you read the words:)

Alexa Aston's style of writing is so wonderful and keeps your interest throughout the story. It's fast paced and her description of the surroundings is so well written, you can picture it all in your mind. I definitely do recommend this book!!\

I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Lady Emma Spencer would like a husband and children but was disgraced by her father when he swindled various members of the aristocracy out of their fortunes. Lord Marcus Rutherford has a title, but no money. His father was one of the aristocrats bilked out of his family fortune by Lady Emma's father. Where do each of them turn to find a respectable match in Regency London? The infamous matchmaker called the Black Widow of Whitehall is the best solution. Will Lady Emma and Lord Rutherford find happiness in an arranged match? Now that Lady Emma has inherited her father's fortune, will the secrets from her father's past catch up with her when Lord Rutherford finds out who her father was? Find out in this romantic tale.

This if my first foray into Ms. Aston’s stories and I have to say I wonder what took me so long. This story is just fun. Not too much conflict (although I do love conflict) until the end of the story and that is the part I really enjoyed. Marcus finds out who Emma really is and he cannot deal with it until he realizes…love! This definitely will not be my only read by this author (in fact I have already downloaded another story of hers).