The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding
by Victoria Alexander
As the delightfully long name suggest, this is not a serious historical romance.
Once again a woman entrepreneur is hiding in proper society, only this is Delilah's best friend, the talented event planner, Lady Theodosia "Teddy" Winslow. She has her hands full working with Camille, as we have already learned, is quite particular and a little looney.
The shocking secret guest is a long lost relative of uncle Channing. The return of Camille's father was quite shocking, already, but to discover that uncle Channing has an offspring and that he's male and therefore a successor to Millworth Manor... oh, yes, it is exciting.
Jackson Quincy Graham Channing thought his father was long-dead, proving that his mother fits in well with the rest of the characters in this series, since she let him believe so. Her only answer was, "I never denied that he wasn't." Jackson has a lot to think about. Obviously Millworth Manor is a Big Deal, but so is his own legacy of taking over the banking business back home in America.
I enjoyed seeing all the Millworth Manor characters immensely. Teddy is fun, if a bit timid for my taste. Jackson is... well, definitely one of the relatives! The ending is completely preposterous as if we must suddenly be realistic when nothing is remotely close to reality anywhere at any time. Happily the characters have time to be themselves and work out their differences... but their patience, not to mention personal goals, etc, make this book probably my least fav of the bunch. Argh.
Happily... there's more.
3.2 Stars.
NOTE: The required explicit romantic scene is included in the one chapter, just the way I appreciate it, where I can skip over and continue the otherwise clean-ish version. The writing style and witty dialogue will keep me waiting impatiently for more, thank you very much.
