Sabrina Jeffries

Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, has been London’s most notorious rake for years. Fed up with his behavior, his grandmother threatens to disinherit him if he doesn’t tame his wild ways and wed within the year. Outraged, Oliver decides to hire a woman from a brothel to pose as his fiancée to prove that he can’t be forced into marriage. When he meets Maria Butterfield, a beautiful American woman who is searching for her fiancé in the most unlikely of places, he knows she’s perfect for his ruse. But before long, Oliver finds himself willing to risk anything to make Maria his—even his heart, and the dark secret he hides inside it. Filled with larger-than-life characters and lively dialogue, this sizzling romance proves once again that Sabrina Jeffries is a “grand mistress of storytelling” ( Romantic Times ).

The Truth About Lord Stoneville

Lover of Romance 

Maria Butterfield has come to England looking for her fiancee (Nathan) who has seemed to gone missing. She is from Baltimore in America. Her father had recently passed away, and having been the owner of a shipping line, the only way to get her inheritance is to locate Nathan, who was her father's partner. He came to England at her father's request, to negotiate a sale of clipper ships. However after sending him many letters and not receiving a word about his whereabouts, Maria decided to come to London to find him, thinking that he has been hurt or taken. She is accompanied by her cousin Freddy, who thinks carrying a sword with him will protect her. During their search they come across a brothel that may be the key to finding Nathan, however events occur which puts Maria face to face with Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville. Oliver, along with his other siblings, have been instructed by their grandmother that unless they marry within one year, that they will lose all of their inheritance. Oliver is outraged, and comes up with a plan to trick his grandmother into giving up this "folly" thinking that she is just tricking them and would never go along with it. It decides to go to a brothel, and pay a woman to act as his fiancee although he never thought that he would come across a young american woman that puts a sword to his throat. (which that alone should get you interested in this book :) ) Oliver acts nonchalantly of course, and convinces her of a better way to resolve the current issue at hand. He suggest that they do a trade of sorts, if Maria will act as his fiancee for the time being, he will assist her in her search for her lost fiancee. Where Oliver hopes to trick his grandmother into reengaging from this plot which he believes is just a bluff on her side of things. Well both Oliver and Maria will be taken on a adventure of their lives where they discover the hidden power of love in the midst of any circumstance.

I definitely believe that Sabrina Jeffries is one of the best Historical Romance authors out there!!! She has such a way about her writing and the way she brings her characters alive. I enjoy reading each and every one of her books. The Truth About Lord Stoneville is the first in her current series, the Hellions of Helstead Hall. Oliver is a arrogant but has a past that no other knows about except for himself. He is filled with guilt thinking he caused his parents death, and has lived with that for many years. The moment he comes in contact with Maria, he secretly knows that his life will never be the same. For she brings a vitality back to his reality and even though he has this act to play out, in his heart he is playing for her heart for real. Maria is at this point poor to say the least, due to her father's will, so when Oliver tells her of this plot that she must go along with, she only see's it as a means to a end. She worries about her fiancee and where he is at, but despite all that she starts to have tender feelings for this rogue, whose heated kisses set her body on fire. I truly enjoyed the way that this story played out, although this was a enjoyable story, it isn't one of my fav's of Jeffries, but I loved it all the same. It had such a spark of vitality about it, that really sets the reader to life. It was a very enchanting read with compelling characters both main and sub, and with a aching desire that sets the room ablaze.

Natalie

I didn't care for this book--I felt the hero was too much of an asshole and I hated the way he used his privilege to manipulate the heroine into going along with his scheme at the beginning of the book. It did improve a lot by the end, but I don't think I'll reading anything more from this author.

I don't read much romance any more, and this book really cemented the reasons why for me--I like moral complexity and ambiguity, I don't necessarily want a Happily Ever After (although it's nice!), and what I seem to like most of all is well-developed characters and lots and lots of plot. Plot plot plot. And really good worldbuilding and characters interacting with that. So often, worldbuildng and plot in romance is secondary to the characters and their relationship that it's hard to get a sense of who the people are in the world--they're in a romance bubble and that just doesn't work for me.

Christine Bruce

I love this series so much, there's mystery and romance and intrigue and it's wonderful! I recommend this series, and this author, very highly to the romance reader who likes more conflict than "I'm not good enough for you." Is there some of that? Yes, to an extent, but it's also not the only source of contention for the hero and heroine who also have a mystery to solve. Add in the underlying series mystery of who killed the Hellston Hall's parents and you've got yourself a great book to curl up by the fire with.

The Truth About Lord Stoneville

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