Oh I so love a good marriage of convenience, and this one was fantastic. They got married quite early on, and I was so happy to get a marriage on paper only because I so wanted a slow burn. Their relationship evolved quite nicely, from strangers to friends to lovers, and it was all very believable. Their attraction was pretty much there from the start but still, the sexual tension between the two got hotter and hotter as this story went on so it was a perfect slow buuuuuurn with a big fire.

Both characters were relatable and easy to love. Taking care of their family, doing what they thought was best and all. We had a first meeting that was quite "striking" and it was so entertaining. They were pretty resolved about their situation and honest with what they expected form this marriage from the start, which I appreciate. You could tell they truly cared about each other. It took them quite a while to accept the fact that they were a perfect match as they developped feelings. I did feel like shaking them a little at one point but they eventually managed on their own.

I always enjoy reading about historical romance when there is a bit of a clash between England and America's ways. Considering that Cora's family wasn't even part of the higher sphere of society it was even more of a clash and it was interesting to see. It was a well written story with characters that completed each other, a delight to read. I'll definitely have to get to The Gilded Age Heiresses series sitting on my TBR now!

Thanks to the author and Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

Cora and her sisters are the illegitimate daughters of a wealthy and prominent man in New York society. However, he has never publicly claimed them. When their grandmother dies, Cora finds out her grandmother left each of them an inheritance. When she discusses it with her biological father he decrees they must marry respectable men and move away from New York. Cora accepts the challenge and soon she and her family travel to London to find titles husbands. Enter Leo, our hero. He is an Earl in desperate need of a wife with money.

Tropes to expect:
Gilded Age time period
Marriage of convenience
Slow burn romance 🔥
Forced proximity
Dual POV
Strangers to friends to lovers

This book is the first in a new series! If you’ve read the author’s other series, you’ll spot some cameos! Cora and Leo have great chemistry from the start—not to mention, an iconic meet cute! Both don’t believe romantic love lasts, but can they prove each other wrong? 😏

I have been wanting to dive back into historical romance for a while, and this book was the perfect choice. There were so many heartfelt, cute scenes between these two that had me kicking my feet and squealing! Cora and Leo’s banter and vulnerable, sweet moments were everything I love about romance and historical romance.

This is the perfect read if you’re looking for a sweet romance with some pining set during the Gilded Age! I can’t wait for the next book ☺️

🕊️ Happy Pub Day Book Review 💜

Happy Pub Fay to The Stranger I Wed! I’ve loved most all of the books @harperstgeorge has written and I was so excited to get to read the very first of her new The Doves of New York series.

In addition to having those gorgeous dresses on the cover, this series follows heiresses desiring to marry into London high society. Following the same formula as St. George’s The Gilded Age Heiresses series…this series has a twist though, the Doves aren’t legitimate and true heiresses. But, they will be IF…

Well, you’ll have to read to find out! 😉

Harper St. George’s historical romances are a bit of a slow burn, but I love that about them! This one is no exception and I can’t wait to read the next sister’s story. 🤓

In The Stranger I Wed, Harper St. George starts a new historical romance series linked to her previous books. The description was catnip to me: Cora Dove is the illegitimate daughter of an elite New York City Gilded Age businessman who can inherit a substantial sum from her grandmother but only if she marries. She looks towards London, to avoid gossip, and has a meet cute with Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth. Devonworth is a pragmatic, cool MP who needs money for this estates. A marriage of convenience quickly is arranged, and then a very slow burn starts between them. These characters are well matched, and the author takes care to show how they complement and support one another. The silliness is in the classic not talking to each other, indicating that they want to the nature of their marriage to become more real. This drags the rating down from 5 to 4 stars. It seemed to only happen to drag the story longer. It's a sturdy book, with likeable characters, but it could've taken more interesting turns instead of them repressing their feelings for each other.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

The Stranger I Wed was an entertaining and intriguing story and I had a great time reading it. It had good humor and banter and I loved watching Leo and Cora fall in love. I really liked the time period, the build and pace, and watching it all unfold with fantastic wit and dialogue. It made for a wonderful series starter!

I immediately liked Cora and her tenacity. She was a strong woman who knew who she was and what she had to do for her family. I enjoyed learning about her and her family dynamics, her lineage, and what a mess it was. I liked Leo as well and learning about him. I loved what was set up between them with the marriage of convenience scenario. I liked them meeting and the chemistry between them. I loved watching their feelings grow and catch fire throughout the story.

I thought the story flowed well and appreciated that it was told from dual POVs. For the most part, it was exciting and fun with a lot of great moments and scenes that kept things moving along. There was a spot in the middle that felt slow but it picked back up just when I needed it too. There was a lot of political talk involved, which I thought worked well with the story and their beliefs, but it never felt like a lecture or a lesson. There are a lot of characters involved, some I really liked, and some were not my favorite. I liked learning about her sisters and what has been set up for future stories. I was not a fan of her father and her mother seemed a bit over the top. I thought this was pretty light in the drama department, nothing too taxing and all easily resolved.

Overall, I thought this was a delightful story with likable characters. I loved watching Cora and Leo grow and trust each other and fall in love. I enjoyed it from start to finish!

New York residents loved to gossip about Cora Dove's parentage. When her dying grandmother gives her and her sister generous dowries out of guilt, they’re told the funds will be released once they’re married far away from New York. England seems far enough away, and Cora only wants a husband that will respect her. The Earl of Devonworth wants to pass a bill benefiting the working class' water supply and will need money to do it. The marriage of convenience has more strings attached than they thought, including actual desire and secrets untold.

Cora's biggest secret is one we know from the start: she's illegitimate, as are her sisters and her biological father wants them all far away from his friends and legitimate daughter so he won't be embarrassed by their existence. This isn't spoken of in polite society of England, so her true parentage remains hidden. The wedding goes off without a hitch and is far more lonely than she thought it would be. As the eldest, she tries to keep everything hidden until her sisters are married, and she doesn't know anyone else in London. With similar views on the rights of women and the poor, Cora and Leopold grow closer as they work together on his speeches.

There's a good bit of historical accuracy in this story, from the terrible winter destroying some of Leopold's holdings to the suffrage movement and legislation to help the common workers. In this atmosphere, the forward-thinking couple develops mutual respect and friendship, which complicates the marriage of convenience and turns into a friends-to-lovers scenario. It's a fun execution of these favorites and a great look at the time period on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. As thr first book of The Doves of New York series, we're sure to see Cora and Leopold as they help Cora's sisters in future novels.

This is a 3.5 star rounded up. I really enjoyed the premise of this book but I couldn't connect with the characters as easily and readily. This is a first regency era romance for me and I'm very interested to check out more. Cora is the illegitimate daughter of a man from a wealthy family and upon the grandmother's death - there is a new chance to receive an inheritance - with a stipulation - of GETTING MARRIED. Cora meets a suitable bachelor to enter a marriage of convenience. Again - great premise but it just dragged a bit for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I adored Cora and Leopold's story!! It was so much fun watching these two navigate their marriage of convenience to finally get their HEA!

A new series, by Harper St. George, The Doves of New York - I'm in!

This slow-burn, marriage of convenience, is full of humor and witty banter. Cora and Leo come together in business, but chemistry pivots their plan. Their constant tension roiled through the pages as each shared their respective POV in the story.

A bit of politics, a romance and some family drama made this an enjoyable read. This book's cliffhanger has me ready for Eliza story.

Thank you, Berkley

I am a huge Harper St. George fan and when I saw she was starting a new series, I was ready! And what a delight this was.

I love her ability to write historical romance that also feels modern in a way. I would think that is a difficult thing to do but George does it effortlessly. This book has the perfect amount of angst, steam, and chemistry.

My only grip was that I did find it boring in some spots where the plot almost plateaus and you're left hoping for something interesting to happen. And I will say that I typically feel that way with marriage on convenience stories because the secondary plot has to be as strong as the romance for it to hold my attention.

Overall, this was a fantastic way to start a series and I am looking forward to the next installment.

What a wonderful story!

I liked the flow and character development in this American heiress romance. Cora and Leo are strong-willed and complex characters. The author realistically developed the characters and the scenes in the novel. We gradually learn about Cora and Leo, and I think the characters evolve beautifully throughout the novel. I liked how Cora and Leo's relationship progressed. The love gradually bloomed, and we believe in it. This novel offers a compelling story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I feel like I feel about this book like the last one I read by Harper St. George. The book is really good at the beginning and it gets me hooked, and then the middle gets boring and I fall off the book. It isn’t as interesting and gets a little bit boring and I don’t want to finish.

But I pushed through. And it did get more interesting, but literally at the end of the book. I think the most action happened in the last 4 chapters of the book which is something that I absolutely hate in a book. A lot of the stuff that was happening could’ve happened much earlier in the book and didn’t for whatever reason.

I did like the characters in the book though, especially Deavonworth. He was a gentleman in a world where there weren’t that many gentlemen. I mean he had his problems, he wasn’t perfect, but overall, I felt like he was a pretty solid guy. And that bathroom scene? I mean….

One thing that I thought was odd was that they’re still kind of strangers at the end of the book. Deavonworth even says that he doesn’t think he’ll really ever know everything about Cora. I didn’t really like that because they spent so much time together and still didn’t seem to know all that much about each other. I know that was the premise of the book but it didn’t jive with me.

For all of my complaints, it wasn’t that bad of a book. It was a good read so if you’re into historical fiction where women are trying to make big changes in the world, I would recommend this book.

Harper St. George kicks off a new series with THE STRANGER I WED. The Dove sisters are offered a generous dowry, but the funds won’t be released until they are properly wed. This is Cora’s story as she and her sisters travel from New York to England to find husbands. Cora has it all worked out… or does she? Find out in this addictively romantic tale.

I enjoy St. George and was delighted to begin The Stranger I Wed, the first novel in The Doves of New York featuring three sisters of questionable legitimacy. The girls and their mother have had a rough time of it and are discovered that their grandmother has reconsidered, leaving a sizable dowry to each. However, when they go to receive the funds, Mr. Hathaway refuses to release them until each is married. Cora doesn’t want to marry, but hatches a plan.

They travel to London where their host compiles a list of eligible bachelors and arranges a house party to meet them. The girls screen the men ahead of time and I adored the meet-cute between Cora and Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth. I laughed and soon found myself caught up in their romance, or should I say, arrangement. *winks*

The author weaves in public health issues, women’s suffrage and plenty of banter, chemistry and wit. Cora is headstrong, passionate, and clever. She has this brilliant plan until she isn’t at all sure what she wants and I loved the story that unfolds. Leopold’s passion is in parliament fighting for justices and in protecting his family and restoring the Devonworth estate. He possesses a forward-thinking nature, making him the perfect candidate to unravel Cora’s well-devised strategies.

The romance felt genuine with immediate chemistry and a slow-burn romance that heated delightfully. I loved the tension, discoveries, and outcome.

I cannot wait for the next sister’s story. If you’re a fan of historical romance and strong female characters, you won’t want to miss The Stranger I Wed.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Stranger I Wed
By: Harper St. George
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Pub Date: 4/23/24
A new series from author Harper St. George, The Doves of New York. A marriage of convenience in high society. When Cora and Leo begin to cross paths they are strangers. As they marry they are still strangers. Watching their romance develop kept me interested. This book definitely has that slow burn feel to it. I also enjoyed the woman rights advocacy that was happening too. Can’t wait for more in this series. Thanks to Berkeley, NetGalley and Harper St. George.

#thestrangeriwed #harperstgeorge
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #netgalley #booksofinstagram #netgalleyreader #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreviewer #bookworm #bookish #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bibliophile #ireadromance #instabooks #booknerd #arcopies #romancereads #advancereaderscopy #booklover #readersofinsta #igbooks #bookclub #fiction #womensfiction #historicalfiction

I was wondering where Harper St. George would be taking her Gilded Age dollar princesses next and this absolutely blew me away! The sisters have stolen my heart and I am obsessed!

After learning about a generous deathbed from their paternal grandmother Cor Dove takes it upon herself to confront her estranged, father and demand what is due! They strike a deal to her, her sisters and her quirky mom setting sale for London to find husbands in order to claim this inheritance.

For only a marriage of convenience, and a short, one of that, Cora is pleased when she catches the eye of the handsome, impoverished and very kind, Earl of Devonworth - Leopold Brendon. Another deal is struck their marriage conveniences… Until it becomes a little less convenient as they try to avoid the desires sparking between them!

I am going to ship Cora and Leo for a long time- these two literally just stole my heart and I just love them so much. Two characters with their own secrets, but I swear their hearts are as big as an elephants! You couldn’t find a pair that just wanted to be loved and loved more than these two as they keep fighting it!

This was an excellent start to the series and I’m eager to find out how the next Dove sister earns her inheritance!

A marriage of convenience becomes a tender and sexy friends-to-lovers romance in the first of St. George's new "Doves of New York" series.

More American heiresses come across the pond to stir up the ton and march for equality? I'm in. If you enjoyed St. George's "Gilded Age Heiresses" series as I did, this series promises more of the same. It's a spin-off featuring the main characters from "Gilded" as secondary ones this time around. The heiresses that have already found their HEA among London's elite are now sponsoring a new round of young, rich, US ladies looking to exchange their money for titles and love.

Cora Dove is an illegitimate daughter of a rich American businessman. Thanks to a sympathetic grandmother, she and her two sisters have been left inheritances, but they come with a catch. Her father will not release the funds to them, only to their husbands. They can't get husbands in New York because their illegitimacy would prevent it, but no one in England knows about their past.

The Dove sisters and their mother head to London to husband hunt. As the eldest, Cora is most eager to find a marriage of convenience so she can divorce quickly and use her money to keep her sister's from having to marry for anything other than love.

Leopold, the Earl of Devonworth has a brother who owes a fortune to a thug and an ancestral home that is crumbling around his ears. He needs to find an heiress to be his Countess, help his political career and save his family fortunes. What he doesn't want is to fall in love with her.

Once this marriage kicked off, I was riveted. The grace they gave each other, the tender dialogue, the spicy progression from friends to lovers, the pacing of the tension - it was expertly crafted romantic escapism. Take it on vacation this summer or lock yourself up on the weekend. This was a great pre-game read leading up to the new season of Bridgerton!

Harper St. George writes phenomenal Gilded Era romances, and The Stranger I Wed is another wonderful addition to her catalog.

Cora Dove and her sisters must make acceptable matches in order to gain access to their inheritances, but their illegitimacy has limited their prospects in America. Together with their mother, the sisters make a fresh start, hunting for husbands across the pond, where their scandal is not known. The Earl of Devonworth is in desperate need of funds. His father's mismanagement of their assets has left him in a tenuous position. He and Cora make an advantageous match, with an agreement in place to divorce or separate within five years--and with an understanding that this will be a marriage in name only. But the more Devonworth gets to know his bride, the more he respects and appreciates not only her beauty but her intelligence and her wit. Working together to strengthen the rights of women, their respect for each other deepens into admiration and, indeed, love. But when secrets are at risk of coming to light, will love be enough to see them through?

This book is perfect for fans of Sophie Jordan, Julie Ann Long, and Sarah MacLean. And if you've read other books by Harper St. George, I think you'll love the cameos and callbacks from her previous stories. Five stars!

The story of the first of three sisters, who sought a marriage of convenience to provide financial stability for her sisters and mother. Main characters are likeable and admirable in how caring and supportive they are even after experiencing betrayals in their past. The writing flows smoothly from their being strangers to their convenient arrangement to becoming friends and then lovers and fighting to hold on to each other. All in the middle of social issues like public health and women’s rights of the day! Engrossing tale!

Stranger I Wed is the first in the Doves of New York series and a new to me author. This could be read as a standalone even though it’s a spinoff of The Gilded Age Heiresses series. I enjoyed this slow burn and low angst late Victorian romance.

While it starts out as a marriage of convenience, I liked that it didn’t take long for them to become friendly and find common interests. They’re content with their situation, learning about one another through their political interests; so it takes a while for the angst to develop and doesn’t last for too long.

Both MC are lovable but have their flaws throughout. It was refreshing and sweet seeing Leo as a caretaker and the little things he did went a long way in Cora’s eyes. Cora was strong in her convictions and comfortable voicing her opinions.

The other Dove sisters were intriguing too so I’m excited what’s in store for them.

There are two encounters with a fade to black.

I received an advance ebook from Berkeley Publishing Group via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 design your next historical by playing this or that:
-Marriage of convenience or enemies to lovers
-Working class leads or rich hotties
-Kissing behind a potted plant in a ballroom or only one bed in a tavern

The historical details surrounding American heiresses marrying British titles is so interesting to me, so I was excited by the premise of The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George.

Cora Dove has a bit of a scandalous background that she keeps a secret from her new husband, Devon, an impoverished Earl who—like her—also happens to be progressive & passionate about social issues (yay!).

They enter into a marriage of convenience that—despite the initial boundaries they set—turns into something more. Their attraction, & their mutual admiration of each other’s appearances, propels things forward, as does that aforementioned mutual interest in social causes.

While I’m all about leads digging each other’s looks, in this case it kind of just seemed emblematic of the overall superficial feel of their romance. Did I believe they were attracted to each other & respected each other & liked each other? Yes, yes, & yes. Did I feel a burning love between them? No. Sadly, while the book is good, it also didn’t overall wow me.

On the whole, my experience reading Harper St. George’s historicals has been a bit uneven. I’ve read three now, & two were good but didn’t rock my socks off, while I thought the last—with Jacob Thorne & his duchess Camille—was really great. I definitely recommend that one—The Duchess Takes a Husband—if you’re looking for a book to read by the author!

3.5 ⭐️. Out 04/23.

Please see a trusted reviewer’s list of CWs.

[ID: the ebook is on a wood table with pink,orange, & purple flowers to the upper left.]