When Emma Gladstone shows up on the Duke of Ashbury's doorstep in a wedding dress, she doesn't actually expect to leave with a marriage proposal. To improve her own circumstances, Emma accepts Ash's proposal, knowing he is desperate for an heir. But what starts as a marriage of convenience blossoms into love as Emma starts to know who her husband really is behind his gruff manner, and his fear of what others think of the scars he brought home from Waterloo - on the exterior and interior.

What a WONDERFUL read! A book that honestly made me laugh out loud, swoon and tear up in all the right places.

The writing in this book is wonderfully witty, and Tessa Dare really developed the best characters in Emma and Ash and just how they bounce off each other. It was so fun to read all of their interactions, as they were so comedic and sometimes gruff and snappy with one another yet there was a constant underlying of love and respect for one another.

The side characters in this book are also really great from Emma's friends, who I know get their own books in this series and I can't wait to read, from the servants who love to plot about throwing Emma and Ash at each other in different ways to make them truly fall in love as well as the butler Khan who is knowledgable and kind, and not afraid to say what he thinks. Even Breeches the cat is a hit!

I thought how Emma and Ash really began to reveal their flaws and fears to one another, and the slow way Ash finally allowed Emma to really see him, and feel him, his scars fully on show was truly beautiful. This scene, despite being a sex scene, actually made me well up in emotion as I really felt the connection between the characters and I could almost hear all their walls come tumbling down.

Brilliant characters, wonderful plot and witty writing. A must read!