Title: The Abduction of Julia
Series: Rogues bk 1
Author: Karen Hawkins
Genre: Historical Romance
Blurb:
What can a respectable Regency miss do when kidnapped by a nobleman intent on marriage? Why, marry him, of course.
Julia Frant has secretly loved Alec MacLean, the wild Viscount Hunterston from afar. So when he accidentally snatches her instead of her lovely, scheming cousin for an elopement to Gretna Green, Julia leaps at the chance to make her passionate dreams come true.
Alec’s in no position to quibble: if he doesn’t marry by midnight and live scandal-free for a year, he loses his inheritance. At least marriage with do-gooder Julia will guarantee his fortune. But as his plain brown wren transforms herself into an elegant swan, Alec suddenly can’t stay away from his last-minute wife–and when he kisses her, the inheritance is the last thing on his mind. Unfortunately, scandal can occur from the best of intentions…and Julia is never short of good intentions!
This is an oldie but a goodie. It started out a little slow for me but when it picked up, I really enjoyed it. Alec got schooled by Julia. Here’s what I mean.
Alec McLean is desperate. He must marry before his next birthday in order to claim his grandfather’s wealth. He promised his grandfather that he would keep the money away from his cousin, who wants nothing more that to do “mysterious” deeds with it.
Unfortunately Alec waited too long to claim his bride and he only had a matter of hours to wed in order to claim the money. He made arrangements with a woman to marry so that they can sprint of the Gretna Green, before it was too late.
Maybe because it was the black of night, but Alec unfortunately took the wrong woman, Instead of claiming the beautiful but scheming Therese Frant, he abducted her plain, stern cousin instead. What is Alec to do, with only two hours left on the clock?
Julia Frant has loved Alec since the moment she first met him. Knowing that she was no great beauty, she was content to secretly love him from afar. When she mistakenly took his carriage for a hackney, her entire world changed forever.
Now her far away dream , is up close and personal and for Julia it was a bitter sweet moment. Yes, she was able to marry the man she loved, and even claimed half of his fortune (you go girl!), but how was she to live, knowing that he preferred her beautiful cousin?
Things are not as they seem, but when Julia turned from plain to beautiful in what seemed, overnight, Alec does not know how to handle his new found attraction to his bride. Also, besides getting married, he must also stay scandal free for a year in order to keep the money.
How was Alec to do this with a scheming cousin out to ruin him, a wife that just won’t stay home and his own urge to do unspeakable things to his own wife? Alec is in to a long but fun year.
+Karen Hawkins is an amazing author that makes it fun to read. Julia was very sweet and caring, but quite frankly she disappointed me in this story. All she had to do was stay discreet for a year, one year. That’s all, but NO, she thinks that she is always right and did as she pleased.
Frankly I was not surprise that because of her and her doings that they lost the fortune. She was reckless and did not listen to reason. Alec tried to warn her, but……..I’m going off topic. You guys are probably wondering what in the world I’m talking about, but I’m not telling!
I felt sorry for Alec, lusting after his own wife, but she won’t give him the time of day. He tried to warn her and keep her safe, but to no avail. He gave up his pursuits to ensure that the money stays with them, but she thought that her actions were perfectly sound, even though it is frown upon in the ton.
This is a fun and compelling read that would have you laughing off your chair. It may have started off a little slow but it would be well worth it when you make it all the way to the end.
I want to say so much, but don’t want to give much away, so all I can say is…
HAPPY READING!
Thoughts: This is one of Karen’s first books.
Grade: B
