A BRIDE FOR HIS CONVENIENCE

Author: Edith Layton ISBN: 9780061253676 12/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Regency

A bride to save his name . . . Unless he finds a wealthy wife—and soon—Lord Ian Sutcombe will lose everything. Left deeply in debt by his foolish father and greedy stepmother, his only hope is to marry for money. Stung by a suitor's cruel betrayal, Hannah Leeds, daughter of a prosperous merchant, wasn't sure she'd ever love again. So when her father arranges her betrothal to the handsome lord, she agrees. It was no more than a marriage of convenience. They would honor and obey, but never love . . . until a simmering passion exploded into a sizzling affair. Now, with Hannah socializing with members of the ton and another man out to win her heart, Ian will do everything in his power to show Hannah she is his ecstasy, his desire fulfilled . . . and oh so much more than a bride for his convenience.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

A BRIDE FOR HIS CONVENIENCE is everything one hopes a Regency romance will be! Edith Layton has incorporated avarice, deception and the machinations of society to bring about a highly emotional, passionate romance. This story begins with one man's losing what's important and another's tossing away what matters. The result is, basically, one's loss is another's gain. His very worthwhile gain.

Hannah comes from a wealthy family but has lost her heart to a common man. She is willing to give herself to him, but he decides he doesn't fancy her anymore so she is left heartbroken. What's a girl who's getting on in years and whose younger sisters' matches depend on her marrying to do? Hannah consents to an arranged marriage. The man she agrees to, Lord Sutcombe, has also been betrayed—but his betrayal hurt his wallet rather than his heart. He needs an influx of cash to keep his ailing brother in medical treatment. Too, he yearns to restore the family hall to its former splendor. Hannah's father provides the cash and Ian and Hannah marry.

This is a wonderful story. It proves that even a less-than-ideal start can have a happy ending and that mutual respect and trust can, and oftentimes do, become the basis for love. I enjoyed watching this couple come together. Of course I was fairly certain of the outcome, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment of this story one bit. A BRIDE FOR HIS CONVENIENCE is one of those feel-good stories that makes me remember why I love Regencies so much. Wonderfully well done!

Kay James