Well that was fun!

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This Earl of Mine (Rogues and Rebels #3) by Kate Bateman          


An usual woman, a former soldier (ex Rifles, ah Sharpe!), and a hurried marriage at Newgate Prison ensure this tale opens with a bang. Fortunately the pace doesn't waver and the beginning frames the subsequent action superbly.
Georgiana Caversteed, a fabulously rich young woman who controls a shipping empire has decided to do away with importunate odious cousins, fortune hunters and other such sycophants that haunts her every step. Her plan is failproof! She will buy herself a husband, one who's about to depart this world, and then present herself to society after a time as a widow. Unfortunately her target died of jail fever and the only other candidate was to be shipped to the other side of the world. Not to be thwarted Georgina goes for plan B and decides to make do with the replacement.
What she didn't know was that the dubious character, her prisoner husband was actually Benedict William Henry Wylde, second son of the late Earl of Morcott. He worked for the Admiralty and currently Bow Street gathering intelligence. This time his search sent him to Newgate.
Imagine Georgina's surprise when a few weeks later her husband turned up at a ton function. This was not going to do! Oh, no! Never!
Well of course things became more complicated in all sorts of ways. And our Georgina is a feisty, intelligent woman. But ah! Those complications!
A lively read filled with an interesting array of characters and situations that please.

 A St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley

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