Blog Tour: The Stranger I Wed Review (The Doves of New York, #1)

Hello, all!

Whenever the weather starts getting warmer, I just want to read romance. If you're the same, then check out The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George. Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!

Pub Date: 4-23-24
Adult - Historical Romance

Cora Dove and her sisters have always been the talk of New York society, but not for good reason. Their parentage has always been questioned, leaving the girls on the outskirts. When their estranged grandmother leaves them a guilt-induced inheritance, Cora believes this to be the break they need to live life on their terms. But there's a catch--their father, Mr. Hathaway, will only release the funds if Cora and her sisters can find respectable husbands outside of New York. So Cora and her family head to England, hoping to snag a husband in name only.

Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth, is passionate about one thing: using his status in Parliament to pass a public health bill that would ensure clean water to the working class. He must also fix his floundering estate and bail his brother out of gambling debt. What Devonworth needs is a wealthy wife, so when he and Cora meet, it only makes sense for them to marry. Both were looking for a marriage in name only, but neither can deny their attraction. But with so many secrets littering their pasts, they'll find that marrying a stranger comes at a price.

I've only read two other books by St. George, but I enjoyed them. The first thing that drew me to this one was the cover, but I stayed for the marriage of convenience. That's one trope I'll eat up every time, and I liked watching Cora and Leo's relationship bloom. I loved their meet-cute and thought their banter was good. The romance was a little too slow burn for me, and I kept wishing things would develop quicker, but I still liked it. Another slow point for me was the plot. It dealt with political things such as Leo's place in Parliament and Cora's work with women's rights, and while I found those bits interesting, they never kept my full attention. It made the story feel heavy, and I tend to like my hist-roms a little more lighthearted. Still, I thought it was enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Rating: 3/5