His Bluestocking Bride by Sally Britton

Synopsis:

He vows to never risk his heart again. She hides her love to avoid rejection. A marriage of convenience is not what either of them wished for.

Overlooked by society and underappreciated in her family, Ellen Bringhurst has resigned herself to spinsterhood and a life of reading. Until her match-making friends contrive to reintroduce Ellen to the man she has secretly loved since their shared childhood.

As the younger son to an earl, Marcus Calvert must wed in order to inherit his estate. Still nursing a broken heart, he prefers a practical approach to matrimony rather than romantic love. When Ellen is presented as a possible bride, he proposes a marriage of convenience.

Ellen accepts his hand, hiding her feelings rather than risking her husband’s rejection. Marcus, though determined not to expose his heart again, finds more to admire in his childhood friend with each passing day. What began as a sensible arrangement now has the possibility to become so much more. But is Marcus willing to risk his heart a second time?

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Marcus Calvert is none too pleased when his mother tells him that before he can inherit and run Orchard Hill, he must first marry. When he shares this with his friend, Collin Falkham, he is sent an invitation to visit. He can't get there fast enough. Surely the time away will help him clear his head and figure out what he's going to do. 

Ellen Bringhurst is the last single person in her family. She has resigned herself to becoming a spinster. She tells herself that she will be happy to be at her family's beck and call but, inside her heart, she's sad and lonely. When she receives a letter from her dear friend, Marianne Falkham, with an invitation to come visit, she jumps at the chance for a break. 

When it's proposed that Marcus and Ellen should enter into a marriage of convenience, Ellen is torn. She has been in love with Marcus for years. She has always been careful to keep her feelings hidden. But if she marries him, it will be a lot harder to keep her secret. Marcus has been straight forward about there being no romantic involvement. His heart has been broken in the past and he refuses to open himself back up for another heartbreak. But Ellen knows, in her heart, marrying Marcus is right. She'll just have to build up her walls and do her best to not let her feelings show. 

The more time they spend together, the closer they become. Marcus starts questioning if he can keep romance out of his marriage. He's starting to have real feelings for his wife but without the knowledge of whether she returns his feelings, he doesn't think he can say them out loud. But when Ellen announces that she's leaving London alone to spend some time with her sister, Marcus starts to panic. He can't live without his wife by his side. He'll need to risk his heart one more time and hope that together, he and Ellen can find their HEA. 

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun getaway from reality. I found myself loving Ellen and Marcus instantly. I loved that they were childhood friends and that, as adults, they took the time to get to know one another better. I loved watching their relationship grow from friends to lovers. :) 

I am really enjoying this series. I'm totally reading them out of order but I'm okay with that. I don't feel lost at all. I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by Sally Britton! I can't wait to see where she takes us next!  

And can I just tell you that I adore these two! I think they are perfect! What do you think?