Lady in Waiting

Reluctant Brides Series, Book 1

By: Marie Tremayne

Narrated by: Danielle Cohen

When Clara Mayfield helps her sister elope, she's prepared for the scandal to seal her fate as a spinster. What she doesn't expect is to find herself engaged to the vile Baron Rutherford as a means of salvaging her family's reputation. Determined not to be chained to a man she loathes, Clara slips out of Essex and sheds her identity: She becomes Helen, maid at the Earl of Ashworth's country estate.

William, Lord Ashworth, is attempting to rebuild his life after the devastating accident that claimed the lives of his entire family, save his beloved sister and niece. Haunted by memories of what was and determined to live up to the title he never expected to inherit, William doesn't have time for love. What he needs is a noble and accomplished wife, one who can further the Ashworth line and keep the family name untarnished.

From their first encounter, the attraction between them is undeniable. But Clara knows William is falling for Helen, a woman who doesn't even exist. The question is, if she reveals the truth about her identity, can she trust the broken William to forgive her lie and stand by her side when scandal - and the baron - inevitably follow her to his door?

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Marie Tremayne (P)2020 Tantor

Pretty Good

This book was good, I enjoyed it. I like a brave heroin. I also liked that the hero was instantly attracted to the heroin no matter her status.

pretty good

Would have been much better if there was a reduction of the statement "we can never be together"... when we all knew from to get go, yes in deed they can be together.

The Earl wasn’t very bright

They pursued each other constantly, using social position as the impediment. The Earl took outrageous advantage and would retreat into the inappropriateness and skulked off-blaming her…. Yes, really. Wasn’t a guy you could respect for long….. the one scene of intimacy, (thankfully only one) didn’t drag this reader through the embarrassment over and over . It was typically overwrought rather than erotic, focusing on what sounds like a painful ritual of sex which included unappealing attention to nipples. I guess it’s a standard in these types of novels- but still it almost ruins any attachment the reader could develop for the protagonists. This was free, so I can’t complain too much. The evil baron she was running away from was just a prototype-a boring bad guy bully who we are asked to observe his sadism and cruelty. BTW- even in those days, one couldn’t marry in Grebner Green in Scotland without full consent of both parties…so history was completely ignored to create false and heightened sense of danger. That’s just lazy on the part of the author.

Fantastic!

I loved all the characters in this audiobook. The story was full of suspense, romance and such vivid details that I felt I was there. I downloaded this one to listen to again and again.

Excellent storytelling! Delightful Characters!

This was my first book by this author and now it seems I have a new favorite! I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!