The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George - Marriage of Convenience

💖💖💖💖/5

The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George, book one in The Doves of New York series, focusing on three Dove siblings in London; an entertaining fake relation that is absolutely delightful. Cora Dove and her two sisters are the illegitimate daughters of a man from one of New York’s wealthiest and founding families. When her birth-grandmother (her father’s mother) passes away, the will states that she regrets the ways Cora and her sisters were treated and wanted to do right by giving them all inheritances; except they must marry English noblemen to receive their inheritance. Not one for sentimentality, Cora makes a careful plan, and with her sisters and mother travel from New York to London with a clear goal: find a husband and then convince him to divorce her so she can keep her independence. Enter Leopold Brendon, the Earl of Devonworth, who needs her wealth to save his estate and fund his efforts in Parliament to establish clean water for the working class.

Leo and Cora’s relationship is based on respect; before falling in love, Cora and Leo respect each other as individuals and as scholars. Cora helps Leo with his speeches, and he accepts her help, often asking her opinion. They marry for convenience, but as time passes, inconvenient feelings start to arise. They are nearly strangers when they get married and they first have to slowly become friends. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I’m looking forward to Cora's sisters finding their matches.

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