Manchester industrialist William Rose was a poor lad from the slums who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, but in order to achieve his greatest ambitions he must become the epitome of Victorian respectability: a family man.
She has a plan...
But the only woman who's caught his eye is sophisticated beauty Octavia Marshall, one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street. Though she was once born to great wealth and privilege, she's hardly respectable, but she's determined to invest her hard-earned fortune in Mr Rose's mills and forge a new life as an entirely proper businesswoman.
They strike a deal that promises them both what they desire the most, but William's a fool if he thinks Octavia will be a conventional married woman, and she's very much mistaken if she thinks the lives they once led won't follow them wherever they go.
In the third instalment of Rachel Brimble's exciting Victorian saga series, The Ladies of Carson Street will open the doors on a thoroughly modern marriage – and William is about to get a lot more than he bargained for...
Purchase Link - http://mybook.to/modernmarriage
Review
It's very refreshing to read a historical romance that isn't about the aristocracy and Rachel Brimble is very good at them. Rather than a debutante, Octavia Marshall is - well, she's a whore. Recent changes have left her dissatisfied with her lot and interested in striking out on her own as a woman of business. The only problem is that she has no idea where to start. Enter William Rose, mill owner from Manchester (and yes, there are strong North & South vibes). William has pulled himself and his family from poverty only to find certain business deals are closed to him due to his unmarried status.
If you're seeing a fake engagement on the cards, you would be right, but there are so many more layers to this romance, particularly Octavia's relationships with her friends as she strives for independence and the ever-increasing crackdowns on brothels. The couples of books one and two both feature strongly here as well, though this book does mostly stand alone.
While I found William's devotion to his family both charming and admirable, it's Octavia who is the star of the show here. Her determination and flirtation masks deeply held insecurity and she must put aside a past both privileged and abusive to decide what she wants for her future.
For a story more courtesan than patrician but no less a fantasy for it, this is a book best enjoyed among those who love you for who you are and not what you've done.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and Rachel's Random Resources, all opinions are my own.
Author Bio
Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association as well as the Historical Novel Society and has thousands of social media followers all over the world.
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Thank you so much for this wonderful review! :)
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