Sometimes the only way to outsmart a scandal is to find a crown big enough to silence it
Muriel Beau, country baker turned heiress, can't stop instigating outrage. She
discards two arranged engagements, then further antagonizes Kent society by
publicly proposing to a baron at a ball. His rejection leaves her with no
choice but to flee to the city and to secure a coronet so splendid that her
peers will forget her debacles. The glitter of the London courts convinces
Muriel that it's possible to find the future she dreams of, until she finds
herself entangled in yet another escapade--one that may cost her more than her
crumbling reputation.
After years of serving as a privateer under an assumed name, Captain Erik
Draycott, heir to Draycott Castle and soon to assume his uncle's title of Earl,
returns to his London home to find it in disrepair thanks to his longtime
nemesis. A staunch bachelor intent on returning to his ship, the captain is
shocked when his mentor encourages him to take a wife. But while his alleged
pauper status causes the potential London brides to turn their noses up at him,
the ladies of Kent have no such qualms and are eager to fill his coffers with
their fathers' wealth.
Caught in a whirlwind of high society and high seas, Muriel and Erik navigate a
risky undertaking that threatens their futures and creating stakes that soar
above the masts of Erik's ship. Will Muriel's bold charm and Erik's daring
bravery be enough to outsmart the scandal and secure a future as glittering as
the crown Muriel seeks?
My Thoughts:
This story starts off with Muriel embarrassing herself so badly, that she and her parents believe it is time she goes to a different location and under the tutelage of a family friend. Muriel just really hopes that her most humiliating moment will not follow her. I really felt for Muriel. She was a young woman who did want a husband and children. Unlike other heroines in this time period, she would like a marriage with love, but she is also reasonable enough to know that that may not happen. So, she embarks on her husband hunting with open eyes while also making sure her second love, being a baker, does not suffer.
When Muriel and Erik, the Earl of Draycott have their first meet, it is quite surprising and a bit humorous. I also enjoyed the author's cute little throw in of a certain Little Mermaid.
Erik is a great guy, but he is living a double life. He is one man on land, and another on sea as he captains his ship. He is looking for a certain dangerous traitor while also trying to keep his two identities apart. His meeting with Muriel has thrown him for a loop, especially when she might be just the woman to tempt him to settle down with.
This was a fun and sometimes hilarious novel of two people trying to navigate a world where neither was prepared for from birth. Their friendship is refreshing as they see each other for who they are. Along with the humor there is the mystery and danger lurking as a certain villain is intent on not being thwarted and a certain secret identity legacy that put me in mind of one of my all-time favorite movies, The Princess Bride. This was a fun adventure and world that was easy to get lost in.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
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