Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good start to an intriguing series. The book opens with a prologue about a pregnant woman running for her life. The narrative was so vivid I felt as though I was there, experiencing the woman's fear and her worry about the child she carries. The end of the prologue leaves many questions about the who and the why and leads into the story proper.
Twenty-one years later, the orphaned triplet daughters of the woman find out they are to be sent from their guardian's home in Scotland to his sister in London. There, she will present them to Society in hopes of finding husbands for all three. They are also tasked with discovering the truth of their parentage despite having little knowledge to go on.
Annabelle, the oldest and known for her practical nature, is tasked with finding out what led their mother to flee to Elgin, Scotland. Isobel, the middle triplet and adventurous one, is to discover their father's identity. Rosabelle, the youngest and quietest sister, is supposed to learn the true identity of their mother. This book focuses on Rose, her quest, and her experiences in London. Rose is the least interested in making her debut in London. She prefers books to people and plans to become a teacher at the school she and her sisters attended in Scotland.
Lady Ashbourne is a delightful woman who is excited to have three young girls to sponsor in Society. I laughed at her stunned surprise at having three identical girls and loved her plan to keep them secret until their Court presentation. She knew that their uniqueness would help counteract their unknown antecedents. The only fly in her ointment is her nephew, James, Viscount Ashbourne, who believes that no good will come of his aunt's plans.
James is very protective of his aunt and the family name. After the typical shenanigans of a young nobleman were cut short by his unexpected inheriting of the title, James became prudent and cautious in all his actions. He is cynical about the marriage mart and what he sees of the young women Society approves of. He is dismayed at having three young women underfoot and wary of their suitability. He acted as a wet blanket on his aunt's excitement.
Rose and James butt heads from the moment they meet. James is predisposed to distrust the triplets from the get-go, and his tendency to constantly warn them against making mistakes gets under Rose's skin. She finds him cold and judgmental and pushes back every time. They can't be in the same room for five minutes without coming to verbal blows. But underneath the antagonism are sparks of attraction that Rose doesn't understand and James doesn't want. They are thrown together often enough that the attraction continues to grow, and they discover that they aren't so different after all. But James is keenly aware of Rose's unknown parentage, and his sense of family honor resists looking at her as a potential bride.
When James and Rose's attraction becomes a source of gossip, it puts the women's futures at risk. Rose and James face the reality of being parted forever if they allow Society's prejudices to dictate their lives. I loved James's awakening to the truth and strength of his feelings and watching him go after what he wanted. The reunion between him and Rose is sweet, emotional, and realistic in that they accept there will be scandal attached.
Rose's quest also takes up much of her time in London. I could feel Rose and her sisters' frustration and sadness as they ran into dead end after dead end. I loved the twist at the end that exposed a lie and revealed a truth. But there are still questions that need to be answered, and I can't wait for the next book to see what happens there.
There is a secondary romance between James's best friend, Robert, and Rose's new friend, Lady Mary. It was heartbreaking to see how awful Mary's mother was about her feelings for Robert while pursuing a title for her daughter. I liked James's attempt to help his friend and rooted for Robert's success.
#netgalley
Twenty-one years later, the orphaned triplet daughters of the woman find out they are to be sent from their guardian's home in Scotland to his sister in London. There, she will present them to Society in hopes of finding husbands for all three. They are also tasked with discovering the truth of their parentage despite having little knowledge to go on.
Annabelle, the oldest and known for her practical nature, is tasked with finding out what led their mother to flee to Elgin, Scotland. Isobel, the middle triplet and adventurous one, is to discover their father's identity. Rosabelle, the youngest and quietest sister, is supposed to learn the true identity of their mother. This book focuses on Rose, her quest, and her experiences in London. Rose is the least interested in making her debut in London. She prefers books to people and plans to become a teacher at the school she and her sisters attended in Scotland.
Lady Ashbourne is a delightful woman who is excited to have three young girls to sponsor in Society. I laughed at her stunned surprise at having three identical girls and loved her plan to keep them secret until their Court presentation. She knew that their uniqueness would help counteract their unknown antecedents. The only fly in her ointment is her nephew, James, Viscount Ashbourne, who believes that no good will come of his aunt's plans.
James is very protective of his aunt and the family name. After the typical shenanigans of a young nobleman were cut short by his unexpected inheriting of the title, James became prudent and cautious in all his actions. He is cynical about the marriage mart and what he sees of the young women Society approves of. He is dismayed at having three young women underfoot and wary of their suitability. He acted as a wet blanket on his aunt's excitement.
Rose and James butt heads from the moment they meet. James is predisposed to distrust the triplets from the get-go, and his tendency to constantly warn them against making mistakes gets under Rose's skin. She finds him cold and judgmental and pushes back every time. They can't be in the same room for five minutes without coming to verbal blows. But underneath the antagonism are sparks of attraction that Rose doesn't understand and James doesn't want. They are thrown together often enough that the attraction continues to grow, and they discover that they aren't so different after all. But James is keenly aware of Rose's unknown parentage, and his sense of family honor resists looking at her as a potential bride.
When James and Rose's attraction becomes a source of gossip, it puts the women's futures at risk. Rose and James face the reality of being parted forever if they allow Society's prejudices to dictate their lives. I loved James's awakening to the truth and strength of his feelings and watching him go after what he wanted. The reunion between him and Rose is sweet, emotional, and realistic in that they accept there will be scandal attached.
Rose's quest also takes up much of her time in London. I could feel Rose and her sisters' frustration and sadness as they ran into dead end after dead end. I loved the twist at the end that exposed a lie and revealed a truth. But there are still questions that need to be answered, and I can't wait for the next book to see what happens there.
There is a secondary romance between James's best friend, Robert, and Rose's new friend, Lady Mary. It was heartbreaking to see how awful Mary's mother was about her feelings for Robert while pursuing a title for her daughter. I liked James's attempt to help his friend and rooted for Robert's success.
#netgalley
