When David Reece is injured while racing his carriage through quiet little Middleborough, vicar's widow Hannah Preston not only winds up taking care of him but also accepting his offer of marriage since it offers a practical solution to many of her own problems. It is only after Hannah arrives at her new home in London and meets David's twin brother, Marcus Reece, the Duke of Exeter, that she discovers that the roguish David has apparently played one of his infamous jokes by signing Marcus' name to the wedding register. Until he can sort things out, Marcus suggests pretending to proceed with the wedding, but Hannah quickly discovers that their marriage of convenience is going to be anything but convenient. Linden deftly adds danger to the mix in her latest elegantly written Regency historical as her delightfully autocratic hero tries to crack a counterfeiting ring while romantically clashing with the book's quietly efficient, equally stubborn heroine.



MarchRose (Italy) (2012/06/11):
from the back cover:

Marcus Reese, Duke of Essex, has spent most of his life pulling his twin brother out of trouble. An occasional thank you would suffice; instead, his resentful sibling forges his name to a marriage license and presents him with an unwanted wife. She's a vicar's window with a mind of her own who may be the first person in Marcus's well-ordered life to make him feel...completely out of control.

Hannah can't help but curse her own idiocy. Dire straits have led her to the altar with a gentleman she hardly knows. Played for a fool, she's embarrassed, furious, and worse, married to an equally outraged stranger - an exasperating man who unleashes all manner of emotions in Hannah, not to mention unwanted desire. Reluctantly, she agrees to play the wife until he can sort out the mess. But the nearness of the undeniably attractive Duke and the passion in his black eyes unsettles her well-guarded heart - making her want to do so much more than "act" the role of blissful bride...