The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St George

 

I'm delighted to be part of the Blog Tour for The Heiress Gets a Duke by Harper St George. This is the first of a new series; The Gilded Age Heiresses marking a departure or the author from her familiar Viking and Western Romances to the ballrooms and country homes of Victorian England. Following the marriage of her friend Camille to an English Lord, August can see that marriage is not all it's cracked up to be. Visiting London with her family she sneaks away to a boxing match with her friend where one of the fighters asks her to kiss him for luck. Imagine her surprise when she meets that same boxer a few days later in her parent's drawing room. 

August is the older sister but it is Violet that her parents seek to marry off. Having made his money with the Crenshaw Ironworks business, building railroads across the U.S, Mr Crenshaw is looking to expand, but he needs connections and being 'new money' and American the only way to make connections are through marriage. With his eldest daughter August involving herself in the business on a regular basis, making financial decisions and planning for the future she is seen as mannish and outrageous to many of the stuffy British aristocrats. Not to Lord Evan Sterling Duke of Rothschild. Having come into his title on his father's death, he finds his estate riddled with debt and fears for the future of his family and his tenants. He needs the money an American heiress can provide but when he meets the Crenshaws who are apparently looking for a suitor for Violet, he decides August is the bride he wants. 

This is a brilliant page turning historical romance with a hero and heroine readers can really root for. Evan needs money and August needs her freedom. While they seem at loggerheads the spark between them is undeniable. If you have recently devoured Bridgerton or enjoy reading Tessa Dare, Jenni Fletcher or Eloisa James then you will love The Heiress Gets a Duke. Thanks to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the chance to take part.