Review: One Night in London – Caroline Linden

One Night in London by Caroline Linden
Series:  The Truth About the Duke #1
Release Date:  August 30, 2011
Publisher:   Avon
Page Count:  384
Source:  Night Owl Review

A bargain that was all business . . . and pure passion.

Neither wealth nor beauty will help Lady Francesca Gordon win custody of her young niece Georgina, saving the girl from a cruel stepmother; she needs London’s top solicitor for that. But when Edward de Lacey, son of the powerful Duke of Durham, hires away the one man who can do the job, Francesca decides Edward himself must champion her case . . . if only she can melt the dashing lord’s stony heart.

Edward has reason to be guarded, though. London’s tabloids have just exposed a secret that could ruin his entire family. When Francesca offers a unique chance to undo the damage, Edward is forced to agree to a partnership . . . and now, each moment together feeds the flames of his scandalous longing for the passionate widow. But when Georgina disappears, fate will test them both . . . and leave their love hanging in the balance

A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW

Reviewed by: Shannschoice

Edward de Lacey, middle son to the Duke of Durham, has been left with the task of trying to ensure he and his brothers aren’t declared illegitimate and lose their legacy. Still shocked by the deathbed revelation by his father that he was married more than sixty years ago but never divorced the woman, has brought Edwards orderly world down around him. He’s dealing with the loss of his father, the potential loss of his families legacy and having the chore of fighting for everything dumped on his by his older brother (and dukedom heir), Charlie when a whirlwind with red hair stormed into his life.

Lady Francesca Gordon thought she’d finally secured herself a lawyer to help her obtain custody of her niece, but all that fell apart when an heir to the Duke of Durham demanded a meeting with her lawyer causing him to dismiss her case. Angry, she storms over to the de Lacey residence and gives him a piece of her mind. When that didn’t seem to have an effect on him, she stormed out. But she was back the next day with the scandal sheet and a proposal. He helps her secure a lawyer to help her with her case and she’ll get the gossip reporter to retract his statement. As soon as the two of them make their agreement, they pretty much sealed their fates.

Edward, the son who stayed by his father’s side and learned how to run their properties and other Durham business, tends to have a very cool demeanor towards everything. It was how he was taught to look after the families affairs and how he looked after his own personal business. When he choose his fiancee, it was after much thought and consideration, and someone who was much like him. When Francesca blew into his life, she upset EVERYTHING. She yelled, accused and didn’t hold anything back, which was much different from him. Yet, despite himself he couldn’t seem to stay away from Francesca, even when the opportunity arose.

Francesca thought they only thing she needed in her life, after the death of her sister and husband, was her niece. Since she had no children of her own, she would raise Georgina and build a loving family for her. When she met Edward, she took a dislike to him because of his coldness, but the more they were together, the more she saw that he was much more than he would ever allow anyone to see. Yes he could be controlling and tended to internalize things, but her listened to her and never made her feel as if she was less than him.

This was an enjoyable story that has readers cheering for Francesca as she melts that icy wall Edward has built around his heart and teaches him that having things “in order” is not always for the best.

Oct 04, 2011 | 9780062025326

Original review was posted on Night Owl Reviews and can be accessed via the link above.