Good book from Michael’s! I enjoyed seeing a MMC who wasn’t opposed to marriage and wanted to find love. The FMC was incredibly relatable in that she found herself constantly trying (and struggling) to live up to an impossible standard set by her parents and society. The pacing was believable although I found the resolution with her parents a bit unsatisfying (although probably an accurate depiction)

Miss Clarissa Lockhart's parents arrange a house party to find her a suitor and improve the family's fortunes. Roderick Stratford, Earl of Kirkwood, arrives uninvited with Clarissa's cousin, breaking her closely held strictures of proper conduct. While neither considers each other for marriage, her grasping parents are eager to force a match.

This is the third book in the About An Earl series. The story can be read alone but the previous couples appear and lend their friendship.

Clarissa knows her destiny in life is to make a prosperous marriage, not fall in love. Roderick has different opinions, though. After witnessing his parents love for one another and hearing about their love at first sight courtship, he believes love will strike like lightning. While starchy Clarissa doesn't provoke that reaction, he does like her and yet is befuddled by her obsession in proper behavior.

This was a very easy read and I finished the book in a day. This is a slower burn, however, and I was missing some of Michaels' usual steam. Clarissa was a bit difficult to connect with, but that was by design. I liked how the plot with her parents came together at the end and I appreciate that the second half wasn't consumed with endless secret-keeping.

Tropes: House Party/Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract, Compromised

Steam: 2

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review.