The Doves of New York: Book 1
Publication Date: April 23, 2024
New to wealth and to London high society, American heiress Cora Dove discovers that with the right man, marriage might not be such an inconvenience after all. . . .
Cora Dove and her sisters’ questionable legitimacy has been the lifelong subject of New York’s gossipmongers and a continual stain on their father’s reputation. So when the girls each receive a generous, guilt-induced dowry from their dying grandmother, the sly Mr. Hathaway vows to release their funds only if Cora and her sisters can procure suitable husbands—far from New York. For Cora, England is a fresh start. She has no delusions of love, but a husband who will respect her independence? That’s an earl worth fighting for.
Enter: Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth, a no-nonsense member of Parliament whose plan to pass a Public Health bill that would provide clean water to the working class requires the backing of a wealthy wife. He just never expected to crave Cora’s touch or yearn to hear her thoughts on his campaign—or to discover that his seemingly perfect bride protects so many secrets…
But secrets have a way of bubbling to the surface, and Devonworth has a few of his own. With their pasts laid bare and Cora’s budding passion for women’s rights taking a dangerous turn, they’ll learn the true cost of losing their heart to a stranger—and that love is worth any price.
I absolutely loved the Harper St. George’s Gilded Age Heiresses series. So, when I heard she was starting a new, adjacent series, The Doves of New York, I knew I needed to try them. The Stranger I Wed is the first book in this new series.
This is the story of Cora Dove and Leo, Earl of Devonworth. Cora goes to England to find a titled husband in order to get a surprise inheritance from her grandmother. With the help of Camille, a dowager duchess and former New York heiress from the previous series, Cora and her sisters are given a list of needy bachelors. Leo is on that list due to some mismanagement of the earldom from his father, a recent disaster at the estate, and gambling debt from his brother. Leo is hesitant to get into a marriage of convenience but is desperately in need of an influx of funds in order to continue his passion, which is serving in Parliament.
I’m a total sucker for the marriage of convenience trope. There’s just something about two people, generally practically strangers, getting married and then finding love as they traverse through their marriage. The Stranger I Wed is a great example of the trope, and I just adored watching as Cora and Leo circled each other, got to know each other, and came to love each other. They each had secrets they tried to keep hidden and protect their hearts, and it was fun to watch it all unravel.
I enjoyed both characters. They each had flaws and strengths that complimented the other. Both characters had great development as their relationship grew over the course of the story. I think my only real complaint is that at the climax of the story, when there’s that bump in the road of their happily ever after, well, it wasn’t much more than a speed bump, and I would have preferred just a bit more tension and strife for them to overcome.
I truly enjoyed The Stranger I Wed, and I can’t wait to continue this series as Cora’s sisters get their romances. This novel might be for you if you enjoy historical romances or even marriage of convenience tropes. Well done, Ms. St. George!
Harper St. George was raised in rural Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was a setting filled with stories of the old days that instilled in her a love of history, romance, and adventure. By high school, she had discovered the historical romance novel which combined all of those elements into one perfect package. She has been hooked ever since.
She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and two children. When not writing, she can be found devouring her husband’s amazing cooking and reading. She would love to hear from you. Please visit her website at www.harperstgeorge.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagra
