Her Darling Mr. Day

Theodore "Teddy" Day has returned to New Orleans to his family's luxury riverboat business to try to heal from being jilted (for the 2nd time in his recent life) in New York. Flora Wingfield is a New York heiress that convinces her parents to visit a great aunt in New Orleans for the purposes of finding husbands for the five Wingfield daughters, of which Flora is the eldest. Flora's father is all in with this as he would like more connections to further his business interests. Flora has had a crush on Teddy for years. They have always been friends but soon they become business partners as well. Teddy is great at designing riverboats and Flora also has an interest in design. Together they are an unbeatable combination in designing boats for Teddy's business. They both realize they are in love but other suitors, more approved by Flora's father, are causing ripples in the process. This is a fun and exciting story full of interesting insights into the foibles of high society in the early 1900s.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

HER DARLING MR DAY is the second novel in the American Royalty series by GRACE HITCHCOCK. It is such a fun read, full of action, intrigue, romance and skullduggery, that it is impossible to put down. In fact I read it through in one sitting!
The story takes place in 1883 with the delightful Flora, the oldest of the five Wingfield daughters, going with her family to New Orleans with the express purpose of finding out if the very sought after Mr Teddy Day has any romantic feelings towards her. She not only makes herself unpopular with the other young ladies in the social set who are unashamedly chasing the twice jilted Teddy, but also with her sister Tacy who is jealous when her beauty and charm attract other suitors. The girls have been taught the art of catching a husband by their mother, but their father’s determination to use any of their marriages to his own monetary advantage makes Flora feel he does not love her. When she tells her Auntie Violet how she feels about her father, the elderly lady shares scriptures with her and reminds her of her Heavenly Father’s unconditional love, which will never fail.
Flora takes a lot of chances, seemingly unaware of danger, as she tries to manoeuvre meetings with Teddy, and also as she follows her passion for interior design by peering into windows using her opera glasses.
Add to all this a riverboat building competition, pirates, alligators, the Pinkertons and a stalker, and you have a real roller coaster ride!
I loved Her Darling Mr Day and cannot wait for the next book in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.