REVIEW: The Solicitor’s Wife by Iris Lim

JayneB Reviews / Book Reviewsarranged-marriage / middle class / mistaken-identity / novella / Regency / twinsNo Comments

He expects an arranged marriage to a sweet, biddable wife—but gets her spirited twin sister instead.

A straightforward solicitor, Rupert Iverson looks forward to an uncomplicated arranged marriage to a distant, quiet family friend. Yet when the woman he brings home is anything but meek or mild, Rupert questions everything he’s ever thought he’s wanted—and whom he wants it with.

Determined to save her twin sister from an unwanted marriage, Ruby Galehart takes her twin sister’s place at the altar. When her ruse starts to slip, she worries for her secret. But as she warms to the kind, bookish solicitor she’s married, she starts to worry more for her heart.

A sweet, bite-sized, switched places historical romance

Dear Ms. Lim,

I was looking for something short and sweet and got both of them in this novella. I’m not exactly sure how historically correct it is but it’s fun. 

Rupert Iverson is a steady, grounded solicitor who, due to his wealthy uncle’s £ moolah, was able to get an excellent education and become established in his profession. Now, after seeing friends marry, Rupert has decided that a sweet wife at home would be nice. Wealthy uncle knows a family with too many children and not enough money and thus an arranged marriage is born. 

Ruby is willing to take one for the team – the team being Ruby and her twin sister Ruth. Ruth loves another and is heartbroken to be the one chosen to marry this stranger. Now that the marriage contract has been signed and the banns have been called, she’s stuck though. Unless … Ruby jumps in and takes her place. 

There are signs early on for Rupert that all might not be as he thinks it is. The quiet woman he thought he was marrying appears to enjoy climbing trees and can turn his hired flat upside down merely by unpacking her valise. But after separate beds on the road to London and their first night interrupted by his work, he’s finally home only to discover the truth. 

Do they want to fix what’s happened and if so, how? Ruby has tried to ensure that the marriage, even with a switched bride, is legal but solicitor Rupert realizes it will take a bit of effort to unravel this twisted tale. The love is a bit insta but once they’re open and honest with each other, there is a fix. And they even get the vicar on board. I had fun with this by just accepting it as is and going along for the ride. B  

~Jayne

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Jayne

Another long time reader who read romance novels in her teens, then took a long break before started back again about 25 years ago. She enjoys historical romance/fiction best, likes contemporaries, action- adventure and mysteries, will read suspense if there's no TSTL characters and is currently reading more fantasy and SciFi.

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