Publication Date: 05th March 2024
Genre: Historical Romance (Georgian)
3.7 Stars
One Liner: A decent read
Lady Charlotte Lovett has no intention of marrying Viscount Hawley, not when rumors say he killed his previous two wives. The only way to get out of the engagement is to prove his crimes. That’s easier said than done.
Mathew Talbot is Hawley’s younger brother and an odd one out in society with a love for animals. He is a surgeon and prefers to spend time with animals than humans. When Charlotte decides to investigate his brother’s unsavory past, Mathew has to keep her away from danger as well as his own secrets. Moreover, his heart seems to grow fonder of Charlotte, but a future with her is not easy.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Charlotte and Mathew.
My Thoughts:
Well, this isn’t your typical historical romance. It is a blend of adventure, mystery, comedy, and romance. The content is darker, too.
Random bits of comedy are inserted to keep things light. This may or may not work for everyone. I did like Pan the Parrot and Banshee the Monkey. I needed that light tone.
We already know who the villain is (the dude is a cardboard cutout with zero personality, but okay!), so we need to see how his villainy will come to light. The parents are one dimensional too, the typical ton who only cares about appearances and titles.
What saves the book is the friendship/ relationship between Charlotte, Mathew, Alexander, Hannah, and Sophia. Alexander is Charlotte’s twin and someone with great potential. Mathew has his demons to fight but is an endearing character.
The focus is more on the coffee-room culture and the dynamics between the rich and the not-rich, titled and untitled, etc. There are few liberties taken, but we can get the essence of the setting.
The found family trope is rather heartwarming to read. I also like how the book discusses colonization, slavery, gender and racial discrimination, etc., without weighing down the plot. It helps that the plot is straightforward (despite the pretense of mystery).
The prose gets too prose-y (I like purple but not purple prose), and the vibes are modernish. This can be off-putting for some readers. I didn’t mind much as I’ve read such writing. It seems to be a trend anyway.
The romance begins in the last quarter and has kissy-kissy scenes. However, it is low on steam. I found that it suits the storyline and characters. It may not be enough for some readers.
There’s no miscommunication, though people keep secrets from each other for a long time. It makes sense in a way, so can’t complain much.
We also get an epilogue with a lead for the next book in the series. Naturally, I will read it. Despite the excessive prose, the pacing is decent enough to finish the book in a couple of days.
To summarize, Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man is an entertaining book if you want a mash of genres and a light read that doesn’t tax your brain (only if you don’t think too much about some elements). The author’s note is informative. Don’t miss it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for the eARC.
#NetGalley #LadyCharlotteAlwaysGetsHerMan
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TW: Bullying
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