In manner, thought, and deed, he had to become the Earl of Greyling. At least until Julia delivered the heir.
Then he would be obliged to do what he did best: give her another reason to hate him by revealing the truth, breaking her heart, and shattering her world.

I adore Lorraine Heath, but I've put off reading this book for so long because I couldn't imagine a happy ending. And even though I know it's a historical romance, so a happy ending is guaranteed, I worried that the emotional work and angst necessary to get to that happy ending would be too much to be enjoyable. But, I was so wrong - why did I not trust in Lorraine?!

SUMMARY

The second book in the Hellions of Havisham series centers around the twins Albert and Edward. We met them first in Falling Into Bed With a Duke, when we learn that Albert, the Earl of Greyling, has married and settled down - while Edward is as much of a wastrel as ever. This causes friction between Edward and his brother's wife, Julia.

The two have a heated history that started after Edward stole her first kiss by pretending to be Albert. Since then the two have bickered incessantly with Albert there mainly as a buffer. Julia has had a few miscarriages and is pregnant, but Edward and Albert decide to go away for one last trip - an adventure in Africa. When tragedy befalls them on the trip and Albert is killed, his last words were begging Edward: "Be me." He doesn't want Julia to lose another baby in grief.

Edward maintains the ruse for the sake of his brother, but finds himself falling in love with Julia. And Julia finds herself loving her attentive, strong, aggressive husband. We're left to wonder... what will happen when she finds the truth? Because English law states a man can't marry his brother's widow.

THOUGHTS

Light spoilers below

Can you see why I was nervous to read the book? Part of why I don't like fake identity plots is because there's so much emotional work that needs to go into repairing the trust that was lost from assuming a fake identity. It takes up so many pages, feels exhausting to me as a reader, and I just don't enjoy them. Usually.

I think because in this case, Edward was acting on the last wishes of his brother and for a noble reason (to try to save Albert and Julia's child), I understood most of his actions. Did I think he needed to

Spoiler

allow her to, ahem, service him - and for him to return the favor? No. That was incredibly inappropriate and feels like taking consent away because clearly Julia thought she was performing those acts with her husband.

I liked Julia as a character. While Albert was away for four months she grew more independent. She talked about how she went from her parents home to her cousins to Albert's, and she always had to act in a way she felt was prim and proper. Alone for the first time (and then, with Edward), she allowed herself freedoms... she read naughty books and drank scotch, slept till the afternoon if she wanted to, spent her days painting.

I thought the way the relationship between Edward/Julia was built (before and after the reveal) was well done - it felt a bit like Francesca's from When He Was Wicked, as she marries John and then, after he dies, marries his cousin, Michael. She doesn't compare the two men, but falls in love with them in a different way, for different reasons.

“I love him and I love you. The love I felt for Albert is different than the love I feel for you. It’s not more or less. It’s not better or worse. It’s simply different. I can’t put it to words. You said if I loved you a thimbleful as much as I loved him, it would be enough. I love you so much more than a thimbleful. I can’t compare or contrast what I feel for either of you.”

This is a book where I truly enjoyed the third act conflict. (I love how they need to go to Havisham, to the Mad Marquess, in both this book and the previous, to solve their problems.) I thought it was so cleverly done and it made me adore both characters more that

Spoiler

Edward listened to Julia's wish when she said she couldn't live a lie forever, and took it on himself to "confess" that he'd been living at Albert and she hadn't known to spare her the gossip and embarrassment. He's so self sacrificing! Not at all a weasel.

All in all, a great book and new favorite.