Author: Christina Britton
Series and Number: The Isle of Synne, #2
Release Date: January 26, 2021 (eARC)
***Thanks to NetGalley and Hatchette Book Group for providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***
What’s this? A review of a book that isn’t even out yet?
Yes, dear readers. There is a glorious little website called NetGalley where authors and publishers offer digital Advance Reader Copies (ARCs or eARCs) of books that are set to be released soon. The people who get these are folks like book reviewers, book sellers, librarians - people who will talk up new releases to their audiences. And I’ve been a member of NetGalley for a few years now. I admit, it took me a while to figure out how the whole system works, but it’s been a fun experience. I’ve certainly learned a lot about my reading habits, as well as the kinds of books I enjoy.
I happened upon this offering from Christina Britton, a new-to-me author, and I went ahead and got the first book in the series. I know - most romances are written so you don’t necessarily have to read the whole series. But I like to. It gives me an idea of the setting and the characters and the tone that the author is going for. Especially when it’s an author I’m experiencing for the first time.
I read “A Good Duke is Hard to Find” a month or two ago and really liked it. And once things started to settle down (regarding my To-Read-Right-Now List), I started on “Someday My Duke Will Come.” And, oh my sweet giddy aunt - I LOVED this book! It’s got so many wonderful romance tropes that I adore - a broken hero, a broken heroine, two stubborn people that slowly start to fall in love with each other, Shippers on Deck (I’m looking at you, Lady Tesh). There’s even an insufferable mother that gets her comeuppance, and in spades!
So before I continue, as this is a book that is yet to be released, there will be spoilers. Though I’ll try not to spoil things too much.
We first met Quincy Nesbitt in the last book, where he was introduced as Peter Ashford’s best friend and business partner. Quincy has returned to England after years of being away from his horrible family. His mother wanted to ship him off to the Navy after his father died, but Quincy ran off before she could do so. Now he’s back and quite wealthy and ready to put his past behind him so he can travel the world, like he and his father often talked about.
Except his three older brothers have all died and he is now the Duke of Reigate - a title he never wanted and was never supposed to have. And the dukedom is in ruins because - surprise - his brothers were all utter shit at managing the estate.
Oh, and Quincy’s mother is a hag of the highest degree. The story makes that crystal clear from the beginning.
Meanwhile, Clara Ashford is trying to fade into the background by promoting herself the Mother Hen of the entire family. She has no desire to be in society, certainly never wants to marry, and the story slowly unfolds her reasons for it. Reasons that she’s kept secret, even from her sister Phoebe, who she is otherwise very close to.
Clara’s great-aunt, Lady Olivia Tesh, is ALWAYS trying to set Clara up with eligible men and Clara hates it when she does that. Not just because Clara simply doesn’t want to marry. Her reasons for that run deep and cold - to the point that she’s buried them utterly and is simply out to help her family.
Except... her sister is getting married and her great-aunt really doesn’t have a need for her to be around. So, she’s trying to figure out where she’s going to park herself after she has obtained spinsterhood and is no longer needed at home.
Quincy’s mother tries to corner him into marrying this meek little church mouse of a lady (with a hefty dowry) and because Quincy wants nothing to do with his mother and she is good at making monstrous threats, Clara steps up and claims to be Quincy’s fiancee. Out of the blue. When no one is looking for it. Though the scheme does benefit both of them - Quincy gets his mother off his back for a little while and Clara gets Lady Tesh off her back regarding her unmarried status.
Though I will say that Peter’s reaction (and that of his wife, Lenora) upon finding out about this fake engagement is hilarious. As is every time Peter is shown stewing about the situation.
But the real shining light in this story is how Quincy and Clara slowly come to realize how much they love each other. All those dreamy fantasies about a couple who can’t live without each other - it’s all here. I don’t want to give away the journey that Quincy and Clara make both as individuals and together - but it is so sweet and so satisfying. It was one of those that made me want to run and give my hubby a big kiss and a hug because - dammit, I feel that way about him too.
(Talk about relatable :D )
Though I will say that Quincy and Clara’s interactions are only improved by the contrast of Quincy’s interactions with his mother. Clearly, the Dowager Duchess of Reigate is absolutely the villain of this story. But she is written in such a way that you know she isn’t going to win, and you definitely want to see how she gets thwarted. Quincy is not fooled by any of her society scheming and, happily, neither is Clara. Nor is any of Clara’s family, I’m pleased to say. Sometimes, you’ll have stories with these horrible society women and men that are just awful to others, but because they’re super-high up on the social food chain people have to pretend that they’re okay with all their shit and it’s annoying. But that does NOT happen here, so the Duchess of Reigate doesn’t get to run roughshod any of our main characters (poor Lady Mary, having to deal with that seabeast...)
Ever heard the phrase "A hero is only as good as the villain"? It definitely applies. Because the obstacle that Quincy's mother poses makes both Quincy and Clara even better characters when they get around her schemes and finally admit their love for each other.
Overall, the characters in this story feel human. These are people with real problems, not modern author-stand-ins trying to shoehorn message fic into a story. They’re also good people who’ve been given a raw deal, but who deserve whatever happiness comes their way. But as was established in the first book of the series, the Isle of Synne is a place where happy endings and true love can be found.
I highly recommend this book, and this series.
Also, having gone back into the few books that Christina Britton has written before, I’m really looking forward to more of her stories!
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