I must say, I was very impressed. This is the 2nd novel I have read by Griggs, and absolutely love the way she draws you into the characters' lives! "A Will of Her Own" had a much more lengthy love scene than "Whatever It Takes" (her previous novel I read), and I realized it was because of the CHARACTERS. Genius! Griggs doesn't just incorporate certain bouts of romance just to have it there-- she genuinely customizes it to the characters. In all of the novels/fiction I have read, Griggs is the first author I have come across to accomplish this so well. That alone is worth reading all of her works.
England, 1824: Wrongly accused by his ex-fiance, English aristocrat Will Trevaron flees to Virginia to escape from his oppressive martinet grandfather and the rest of his snobbish family. His Sense of Honor had kept him from defending himself as he thought his family should know him better than the girl spewing lies about him.
However, American Maggie Carter has to rescue him almost from the moment he steps off the boat. Her "Good Samaritan" efforts lead to her loss of employment, but Will in his gratitude finds her another job nursing a widow with 3 children who she later marries. Six years from when she rescued Will she find herself a debt ridden widow who lost her three beloved stepchildren to a relative and is about to lose her house, too.
In the six years Will has kept tract of Maggie as he becomes wealthy in his businesses. Then once day, he receive word from England that he has become the Marquess. Both uncle and cousin have died.
Now, by a letter, his grandfather orders him to return to England and orders him to marry and begat an heir. He reluctantly packs his bags. However, he sees a solution to his woes and the woes of Maggie to whmo he still feels he owes his very life. He offers her a marriage of convenience that will horrify his family to his satisfaction while saving her from poverty. He never expected to fall in love with her or her three wards, but he will do WHATEVER IT TAKES for he knows WHAT MATTERS MOST in life and that is gaining the love of a woman who possesses A WILL OF HER OWN.
There are plenty mystery as well. For instance: When Will was stabbed the day before his wedding one wonders if that is somehow related to the fire that destroyed his business less than a week before? If so, who is responsible? And why? Then there is the cat...Will is allergic to cats and the kids treat the cat like family.
England, 1824: Wrongly accused by his ex-fiance, English aristocrat Will Trevaron flees to Virginia to escape from his oppressive martinet grandfather and the rest of his snobbish family. His Sense of Honor had kept him from defending himself as he thought his family should know him better than the girl spewing lies about him.
However, American Maggie Carter has to rescue him almost from the moment he steps off the boat. Her "Good Samaritan" efforts lead to her loss of employment, but Will in his gratitude finds her another job nursing a widow with 3 children who she later marries. Six years from when she rescued Will she find herself a debt ridden widow who lost her three beloved stepchildren to a relative and is about to lose her house, too.
In the six years Will has kept tract of Maggie as he becomes wealthy in his businesses. Then once day, he receive word from England that he has become the Marquess. Both uncle and cousin have died.
Now, by a letter, his grandfather orders him to return to England and orders him to marry and begat an heir. He reluctantly packs his bags. However, he sees a solution to his woes and the woes of Maggie to whmo he still feels he owes his very life. He offers her a marriage of convenience that will horrify his family to his satisfaction while saving her from poverty. He never expected to fall in love with her or her three wards, but he will do WHATEVER IT TAKES for he knows WHAT MATTERS MOST in life and that is gaining the love of a woman who possesses A WILL OF HER OWN.
There are plenty mystery as well. For instance: When Will was stabbed the day before his wedding one wonders if that is somehow related to the fire that destroyed his business less than a week before? If so, who is responsible? And why? Then there is the cat...Will is allergic to cats and the kids treat the cat like family.
From the back cover...
Will Trevaron had made a life of his own, the way he wanted it. He didn't want to return to his stuffy, judgmental family-to a past he'd rather forget. But when he inherited the title Marquess, his grandfather, and sail back to England. Chafing at the hold of his imperious grandfather and his decree that his grandson put himself on the marriage mart, Will balked. Then he hit on the perfect solution: a marriage of convenience to Maggie Carter. A union with a "nobody from the colonies" would shock and horrify his family and rescue from poverty the woman who had once saved his life.
Will didn't count on getting three spirited children and an mischievous cat in the bargain, though. He didn't expect to fall for his wife. But as Maggie set his household straight about what exactly an independent lady from a savage country would and would not accept, the new marquess saw that-her loving husband aside-his marchioness had...a will of her own.
Will Trevaron had made a life of his own, the way he wanted it. He didn't want to return to his stuffy, judgmental family-to a past he'd rather forget. But when he inherited the title Marquess, his grandfather, and sail back to England. Chafing at the hold of his imperious grandfather and his decree that his grandson put himself on the marriage mart, Will balked. Then he hit on the perfect solution: a marriage of convenience to Maggie Carter. A union with a "nobody from the colonies" would shock and horrify his family and rescue from poverty the woman who had once saved his life.
Will didn't count on getting three spirited children and an mischievous cat in the bargain, though. He didn't expect to fall for his wife. But as Maggie set his household straight about what exactly an independent lady from a savage country would and would not accept, the new marquess saw that-her loving husband aside-his marchioness had...a will of her own.
