Edith Layton - To Wed a Stranger

Is it possible? The breathtaking Lady Annabelle has actually agreed to marry, sight unseen, a gentleman of her father's choosing -- the self-proclaimed "exceptionally average" Miles Croft. The ton is aghast! After scandalously toying with so many hearts, why is the exquisite Annabelle chaining herself to the new Viscount Pelham, a complete -- albeit most attractive -- stranger? Could it be that her own heart has been irreparably shattered, and she wants nothing more to do with romance?
Yet there is certainly nothing "average" about their wedding night! There is magic in Miles's touch, and the smoldering ecstasy it ignites threatens to consume them both. Dare Annabelle dream this is the one passionate and enduring love she ached for in secret, but never dreamed she'd be worthy of? Might this tender, mysterious lover truly be the scarlet lady's redemption -- and could she be Miles's as well?

Comment: This book was recommended to me years ago, I can't remember why. Now that I've read it, I can assume it was because it has a couple who marries by convenience and then falls in love.

Lady Annabelle is a beautiful woman and everyone knows it, including herself. Still, despite her beauty, she wasn't proposed by any of the men she considered would be the ideal husband. Reaching 27 makes her aware she is the source of gossip and when a very suitable offer comes from Miles, the new Viscount Pelham, she accepts, hoping for the best. 

Miles made something of himself at sea and he is now able to properly take care of his responsabilities. What isn't as easy is to recover his family name and help his mother, sister and brother to be welcomed by the ton and for that he decides to marry someone who could help him socially and who better than Lady Annabelle. Their marrige starts as planned but before they have the chance to get to know each other, Annabelle becomes sick. It turns out that this vulnerable situation does make them closer and provides Annabelle the oportunity to decide what her marriage would be like...

When I added this book to the TBR I didn't realize it was part of a long series. I've checked the blurbs of those other books and I did recognize the names of some secondary characters which means they all know each other in some way. While reading this one (apparently installment #6) I didn't have the feeling I would have had to read the others and the references were mostly to Annabelle's past as a sought after lady.

The story begins with Annabelle and Miles marrying for convenience. She wanted a husband at last, while still feeling rather subdued since other men she was interested in chose other women, and Miles wanted someone to help him with his family's standing. Certainly a marriage of convenience isn't a novelty in romance and I've read many by now, but the real "fun" in this trope is to see how the couple gets to know one another and falls in love. In this case, the tactic was to have Annabelle becoming ill, Miles helping her and how the physical vulnerability allowed them both to see the other one through a different prism.

Annabelle is a heroine that doesn't seem likable right away. Of course this is so because she is hiding her softer side and her fears under the guise of aloofness and we know she is a lot more sensitive than what seems obvious. I'd say that, as the story went on, there were moments I think she did act a little condescending, but the fact she goes through a trial with being ill and how her looks are affected for a while, and how others react to her loss of beauty, gave her a very important view on what matters. I think the author used this theme in a thoughtful way, but then there were just too many issues at hand that this wasn't explored as deeply as it could.

Miles is a man who wants things to run well, he wants to help his family and now that financially things are in control, he feels it's his duty to find a way for his mother and siblings to be better considered by others. Marrying Annbelle might be a strategy but he realizes very quickly that perhaps it was a mistake to not marry someone he was in love with but taking care of her while she was ill did give him a clue on how their life could be if they are closer, if they talk, if they spend time together... I did like the evolution of their feelings and overall romance. Too bad there were somany secondary issues.

Miles' mother is a complicated woman who married an undesirable man after his father died and both husbands doted on her in a way that seemed to reinforce her idea of depending on a man. This made her a rather complex character but she isn't likable at all and I feel her relationship with Annabelle was just too obviously antagonist. We don't have much about his younger brother but his sister is someone who is genuine and nice and will be the heroine of the next book. I know it seems these things might not matter but they do fill up a lot of the story and while we always learn something about the protagonists by having them interact with others, it felt the romance wasn't always as richly developed as the author made it seem.

There are also other plot situations, especially closer to the end, used to highlight certain things, such as the fact Miles and Annabelle realize trusting one another and telling each other things is the safest way for them to be happy, or plot situations that add drama and/or intensity to problems at hand...some things seemed to be necessary while others not so much, but it's element after element that helps divide the readers's attention. Another interesting point of contrast to consider is what Annabelle finds about her parents' marriage and how this affects her perspective of her own situation. I think this element wasn't developed as well as it should but it did offer food for thought.

All in all, an interesting experience with this late author, the first time I've tried something by her, and it's one more story where I liked the overall ideas and plot, but whose romance could have been way more romantically addressed than what it is.

Grade: 7/10