The Howertys Book 2 (have not read the first book yet but plan to!)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219236335-kissing-the-rake
Lady Jessica Howerty is smart, beautiful, funny and caring she is given the opportunity to spend the summer at a neighboring estate (Hurst estate) and she accepts the opportunity to be a companion to Olivia who is coming to visit her uncle and as a younger lady in need of someone closer to her own age to spend time with. The Duke at that point writes to his wayward son Jacob (the Earl of Wortham) to notify him that he will be spending more time with Jessica at the estate he goes on to relay that he plans to propose marriage soon if things go well.
Jessica has a secret that she has kept onto forever since it's not likely to turn into anything more than a crush but she has been in love with Jacob Hurst (her older brother's best friend) since she was young but he has always just noticed her as a little sister and nothing more. He has also been widely known for his rakish ways and has at several points been at the center of the Ton's gossip due to his behavior with the ladies, she can never tell him her true feelings she must guard this secret.
Jacob receiving his father's letter at first is confused that he is even writing to him at all they have never been close and their most recent in person interactions have been anything but pleasant. After the initial shock of this news Jacob finds himself traveling from London to his father's home in the country to spend time there and make sure that his father's plan to propose marriage to Lady Jessica does not come to be... he needs to stop this at all costs in fact.
The more time he spends with Jessica the more he realizes that he isn't looking at her like his best friend's little sister anymore... he's looking at her as a beautiful woman maybe his rakish days are behind him and he can get on board with Jessica getting married... but not to his father to him.
Conflict arises due to Jacob believing that Jessica is after his father for his title and wealth it leads to Jacob saying some rotten things to Jessica at times. Jessica fights between her continued love for Jacob and the thoughts that he is never going to change and she should just move on and find a more suitable man who she can grow to love and during these times Jacob becomes more aware that his feelings towards Jessica are growing stronger.
Jacob and Jessica's banter is perfect throughout the book and leads to some passionate encounters when they can't keep away from each other any longer this ends with them in a marriage of convenience but can they build something lasting with his past history? Can he really stay with one woman forever when he has been so wild for years? When old baggage comes back to haunt him will Jessica think the worst of him like everyone else or will she listen to his side of the story?
I really enjoyed this story and plan to read the first in the series and the next book in the series when it comes out. I did find myself struggling with our lead characters at times due to the length of time with no communication/miscommunication and running away from each other instead of talking. I really loved Jessica's family and I'm looking forward to Rain's story, I also hope that Ravenscroft finds his love match he was a true sweetheart.*ARC read 2025 *banter *older brothers best friend *handsome rake *Duke's son *friends --> more
*long term pining (FMC huge crush on MMC) /she falls first *drama
*miscommunication/no communication *Forbidden romance *FMC has a wonderful close family
*historical romance *spice *Marriage of convenience *Happy ending
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