kirkusreviews.com
In this series debut, the heiress to a diamond mine discovers
that her unwelcome houseguest has a legitimate claim to her estate—and to her
heart.
Diana Sommerville is surprised to find Rupert Lacey, her late
brother’s best friend—and her ex-fiance—in her Cavendish Square mansion. The
last time she saw Rupert, he was in South Africa, where he and Jem had helped
the English army protect her family’s diamond mine before Jem was killed in
battle. “Pointless to die in a war over diamonds and gold,” Diana remarks. And
she would be married by now if Rupert hadn’t betrayed her. Now, Rupert tells
her, they will have to share the mansion, since Jem left half the estate to him
and he does not intend to move out. To avoid a scandal, Diana enlists the help
of her friends Petra and Fenella to pretend that she and Rupert are already
married until the two of them can reach an agreement on how to divide the
assets. Inhabited by a horse named Kimberly Diamond and a pair of dogs named
Hera and Hercules, the house has more sentimental than financial value for
Diana. But as her old feelings resurface, heated arguments with Rupert over how
to run the estate get even hotter in the bedroom. Rupert, ever the gentleman
squatter, tries to win Diana’s heart with honesty and consideration. But just
like she did with the estate, Diana makes him work for what’s already
his.
For the girl who has everything—diamonds, a mansion, a
racehorse—finding someone to share it with is the best gift of all. A solid
start to the series.
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