REVIEW: The Trouble with a Fake Courtship by Maggie Weston
Will a courtship ruse…
Lead to complete ruination?
Roguish gentleman Jameson Russell is given an ultimatum by his brother: marry or be cut off. So he hatches a foolproof plan—find a lady so entirely unsuitable to court that his brother will beg him to stay a bachelor!
Society has shunned Charity Beaumont since her broken engagement and her sister’s shameful elopement. So she accepts Jameson’s scandalous offer as a means of freedom from London’s scathing gossipmongers—on one condition: Jameson will not touch her. But that’s the trouble with a fake courtship—even the strictest rules can’t tame blazing desires…
Dear Ms. Weston,
I usually avoid Victorian era books for a probably silly reason. I hate the clothes and hairstyles popular then. But I decided to make an exception and try this book due to the blurb promising me two people who are going to turn the tables on those trying to control them. There are things I both liked and felt ho-hum about.
Jameson actually has some bad in him and isn’t just misunderstood. He gambles on anything, he “enjoys” the company of women, and even when he understood how miserable his sister was in her abusive marriage, he didn’t help her because “then they would both be cut off without a penny between them.” Charity has been ruined by association after her older sister ran off with the gardener. Now all she has are two dear friends and an aunt who hates her.
He decides to use her to avoid his brother’s ultimatum while she is going to use him to grab for her freedom. Of course it starts as a pact but feelings have a way of changing all that.
Unlike some misunderstood heroes, Jameson is and realizes he’s been caddish and is actually worried that his father and brother will discover the true degree of his debts. He also finds the heroine alluring and loves her hair – something that she dislikes about herself.
“I’ve come to enjoy the days I spend arguing with you.”
Charity feels free to be honest with Jameson because this is a sham relationship from the start. She also has a plan in that the money he’s supposed to pay her will allow her to flee her aunt’s loathing and live free of auntie and society until she comes into her inheritance. She also voices that with the money that will be under her control, she won’t need to marry.
Then after I was enticed deeper into the plot by two characters enjoying being honest with each other and not caring what the other thought, the sexual tension had to begin. He dares her to go the entire two months of their fake courtship without asking him to kiss her. This flies out the window two minutes later when she agrees to let him kiss her just so he can see how little she enjoys it. Of course she enjoys it. Then after they meet at the National Gallery, he guides her into a closed off room where they begin to feel each other up. Wicked arousing ensues.
This whole time, Charity is bucked up and consoled by her two besties, Olive and Nora who are also “on the shelf” though, as Charity reminds them, they’re not socially shunned as she is but have chosen to turn down proposals. Of course it’s obvious that they’re being positioned for their own books and love stories.
At a ball, Charity flees after a run-in with Jameson’s brother which leads to Jameson running after her. Taking her to his rented rooms (don’t worry, he thinks he’s hidden them in the shadows so no one will see him and then sneaks her in), he reveals his hobby which Charity finds amazing. Expecting scorn from her as he got from his father, Jameson is astounded at her reaction though of course he doesn’t quite believe it. Feelings flare and going all noble, he decides to give her the proverbial “one night of passion and love” which she demands. Hot, wanton, sexy loving here we come.
The usual post-coital “the world moved for me” feelings ensue. Ah, but their problems haven’t been solved yet. More sad, Noble Sacrificing as well as deep, cloying despair follows. Me, I’m getting bored. The end is sweet and All Is Wrapped Up for both characters with their family and each other. What seemed hopeless is fixed and Jameson is forced into acknowledging that he’s had the means to hoist himself out of debt and feeling downtrodden all along. But I finished the book thinking that Jameson has got the better deal as Charity is worth ten of him, IMO. Yeah, she loves him and he loves her but she’s still better than he will ever be. B-/C+
~Jayne
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@Jayne, I read your review with a smile on my face and the impression that you would like to smack Jameson.
@LML: Maybe just nudge him out of Charity’s way so she can find someone better. ☺