LOVED IT!

Ok, does every book Harper St. George writes get better? There not too much to say other than do yourself a favor and read this book!

I really love the unique setting of the gilded age.

What I loved...

They both with do anything for their family.
They feel the attraction right away.
Slow burn but then it get HOT!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Enchanting historical romance that pulls in the conflicts of the times and the sweetest, slow burn marriage of convenience.

Highly Recommend | Historical Romance | Explicit

I'll be honest with you: I am biased in this review. I already knew going into this book I was going to love it. I have adored the previous four books of St. George that were set in the same time period (and they show up in this book!!!). So unless she took a huge turn from those ones I was going to love it. and I did. It was phenomenal.

The Dove sisters are illegitimate daughters of a former-actress/former-mistress and a wealthy American. They are left inheritances from their grandmother, but their father steps in and places a requirement to marry--and marry across the pond.

Enter stage left: Cora Dove. She is a very practical, level headed heroine with a strong convictions towards feminist ideas! She is such a delight! I LOVE heroines that practically address the situation. She went in to her pursuit of a husband with lists and research. She wasn't looking for love. She was looking for a solution.

Enter solution: Lord Leopold Devonshire. We met him in Camille's book when he came out during an attack on the Women's Rights protest and helped the women. So already: swoon. He is highly active in Parliament on progressive actions: swoon. And he needs money ASAP. He also has no intention on a love match--he's already been burned once.

Oh, the two of them together! I just cannot. They're so cute. Slowly learning about each other. Uncovering their secrets and accepting them with love (although don't tell them that). They help each other out and learn that they can rely on each other. THE GROWTH!!!

It is a SLOW burn. Like so slow. But because of that it makes it just so much better. I won't speak much to this beyond they're so freaking cute. And thank you for protection being mentioned several times in this book! Everything was handled SOOO well.

To be honest I can't think of anything in this book that I disliked. I want to reread it already.

Long story short, I highly recommend picking this book up. The themes throughout the book make it incredibly fresh. The characters are well fleshed out and complex. It was a quieter plot, but it was engaging and enough spikes in problems kept it moving along!

If you've read St. George's previous series I highly recommend picking this book up. Same if you've enjoyed Evie Dunmore's series this book would be well received. I'll also call out Elizabeth Everette's novels as compliments towards these books. Mainly: if you like historical romance set in the late 1800s with a side of feminism and lots of swoon: pick this up.

Thank you Harper St. George, Berkley Romance, and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A new series from Harper St. George starts with Cora, an American suddenly given an inheritance with strings attached and Leo, an Earl with a bruised heart desperately in need of money.

Cora enters her marriage looking for a way out as she has to marry in order to get her inheritance and her autonomy.
Leo is too hurt and stubborn to see what is right in front of him…the perfect partner.

One of my favorite tropes is marriage of convenience that turns to true love so I really enjoyed The Stranger I Wed. Cora and Leo develop mutual admiration and respect for each other while navigating reforms for women in late 1870s England.

In this first installment of The Doves of New York, Harper St. George introduces an abundance of intriguing characters to build a great series upon - Cora’s sisters, Leo’s friends and his feckless brother all could get an HEA in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

She does it again! Harper St George has recovered nicely from the end of her last series, Camille’s book was less than satisfying, with the start of a new one! My only constant complaint with her is that her romances are always a little slow to heat up and this one really is, which was a bit unfortunate. Otherwise, this was great, lots of good things, a relatable heroine, a fantastic hero and a slow burn of them falling for each other, almost literally! Good set up for the rest of the series, too. Really enjoyed,

I hit the request button so fast on Net Galley...and I was NOT disappointed.

First off, THE COVER! The art department is on fire here; this is just a beautiful cover. I know cover art isn't everything, but in this case, go ahead and judge a book by its cover. I love how perfect Cora and Leo are for each other! Their interests and convictions work well together and I really enjoy how the book shows them growing together as people, getting to know each other better while working together on a collaborative project. I also liked the parts where Leo was able to show his vulnerability and anxiousness about this marriage of convenience.

This book is set between the final chapter of The Duchess Takes a Husband and the epilogue. Camille makes some brief appearances at the beginning and Violet and August make some brief cameos as well. But this book well and truly begins a new series with a new family. The Doves are very different from the Crenshaws. The sister that intrigues me the most is Jenny, an opera singer who has been living in France. I'm excited to read her story when that time comes.

This book is romantic and passionate and sensual. The tension is palpable. Harper St. George does an amazing job integrating sharp historical details with the rest of the story.

I received a copy of this eARC from Net Galley.

I would hate to give spoilers, so I’ll keep this brief, but these two were everything. Their romance, and the clever exchange of their witty dialogues served with their charming personalities were everything. Cora and Leo deserved it ALL. And their ending with the well deserved HEA made me the happiest