Marguerite Kaye delivers yet again with this engaging tale of a marriage in name only that suddenly becomes real when Lily reappears in Oliver’s life after years apart. One of the things I love about the author is that she excels in writing character who aren’t young debutantes and have lived often complex or unconventional lives before finding love later in life. Oliver and Lily are intriguing in that whilst married they may as well be strangers and yet their connection is undeniable from the outset. The plot develops at a good pace and the reader is kept engaged through as you wonder if the two can overcome their differences and find a way to happy ever after. Strong writing and characters you care about make this an entertaining read.

Oliver and Lily are married but in name only. Now Lily wants a divorce she must come to Oliver and get him to agree, but he has plans of his own but as with most Mills & Boons plans never go the way they think they will and soon they are inseperable.

A marriage of convenience...but the best laid plans often go wrong when passion and love are involved.
Full of period detail and wonderful characterisation. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of Oliver and Lily and was desperate to read on to find out how they would manage to build a life together while not giving up their individual dreams.

Smashing historical romance with everything you would expect from Mills and Boon and Marguerite Kaye.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a new author to me
thoroughly enjoyed this

Industrialist Oliver the new Marquis of Rashfield has become Society’s most eligible bachelor. The problem is he’s already married! Honourable Oliver conveniently wed his best friend’s sister Lily a decade ago, but since then they’ve built separate, fulfilling lives. Now Lily has returned for a long-overdue divorce, but Oliver needs his Marchioness until he secures his inheritance.
A well written entertaining romance & I liked the author’s take on a marriage of convenience. I really liked both Oliver & Lily & was drawn into their story from the start & loved their journey to a HEA. Their verbal banter was a joy & the chemistry between them just grew & grew. I also liked that they were both mature.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

What a delightful story. This was so original - a marriage of convenience tale which is really given a new twist by the author.

Oliver married Lily for purely altruistic reasons and they immediately separated and went on to live separate lives. Now Lily is back to give Oliver a divorce so he can remarry and have an heir. Oliver doesn’t want that but he does need to be married to break the Trustees control of the land he’s inherited.

I loved how MK provided Lily with the chance to come up with the solution for Oliver, and explained why Lily would be happy to help Oliver by joining in the ‘fake marriage with a twist’.

From that point on we just sit back and enjoy the couple’s journey to a happy ending.

The author touched on some important issues in the book but as always, in a deft way which underpinned the story rather than overwhelming it.

I loved Lily and Oliver and I really enjoyed the adult way they behaved with each other. The dialogue was beautifully done and very real.

I would highly recommend this enjoyable and emotionally satisfying historical romance. 5 stars.

Just fabulous. A totally new take on romance with unconventional leads, no focus on getting an heir and some strong conversations. I loved the escapism, the trips to France and reality of the ornery old interferers.

A marriage of convenience from altruistic motives has allowed Lily and Oliver to prosper separately. Lily is a successful businessperson who wants to end her marriage. Oliver marries Lily to save her from a life of poverty; circumstances mean that he needs to remain married longer, but will Lily agree? This is a romance of equals, something rare in Victorian society. Oliver is a philanthropist, and Lily is an entrepreneur. Their relationship moves from convenience to emotionally committed whilst they try to secure Oliver's unexpected inheritance. The historical detail is fascinating and immersive. The passionate romance and clever twists make this an engaging read. I like the setting, the dynamic between Lily and Oliver and the passion.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

An enjoyable read, different from standard historical love stories. Engaging characters who have had previous history, difficulties, plots and then of course the hoped for ending. A good read.