Tabetha Waite, $0.99, ISBN 979-8215132401
Historical Romance, 2023
Lady Pandora Osbourne fancies herself a matchmaker extraordinaire, and in Tabetha Waite’s Winning in Wedlock, she is going to find the wallflower Dulcenia Hargrove—the take off her specs and she’s now all that kind of wallflower, that is—a hot husband.
She manages to persuade Dulcenia to join her in attending the party of the Duke and Duchess of Ross.
Then, she also invites Lord Carew Fernvine, Marquess of Dalhousie, to attend, letting him know that she invites to shove his pee-pee into Dulcenia’s hoo-hoo herself, in more genteel lady-like terms of course, if that’s what it takes to maintain Lady Osbourne’s perfect track record as a celebrated matchmaker.
Carew is appalled at the idea of anything believe that he is the right beau for Miss “Dull”cenia, and I have to agree. Where’s the logic in believing that a playboy and a mousy virgin would be a good match?
Fortunately, our heroine has gotten a fashion glam-up thanks to Lady Osbourne, and because she is neither fat nor ugly, she has Carew soon taken in with her.
That’s right, people, don’t be born ugly or let yourselves be fat, because that would make you all unworthy of love, and you’re all going to die alone as a result so let’s just stuff your face with one more slice of cake. At least the cake loves you!
Okay, if I made it seem like I don’t like this thing, actually, I do. It’s a fun, cute read.
The heroine isn’t dumb, and she’s certainly more than a match for the cynical hero. I like that she’s on to the hero when it comes to his ego and posturing, and she’s not a simpering doormat that will let him walk all over her just because she has the hots for him.
I also like how Carew is so confident and cocksure about himself, only to have his layers peel away to reveal that he is just a silly fool for love like everyone else.
I really have fun with this one, but—yes, there’s a but, a big one—this story is too short and moves too fast to make the happily ever after believable. While I smile and chuckle as I turn the pages, I have a little frown on my face when I reach the last page, because I wish this one had been a full-length romp and I’d like to read more about Carew and Dulcenia.
All in all, it’s been a fun blast, reading this one, but the party ends too soon and I am left feeling tad blue as a result.
