A Sham Engagement is the first book of the Mismatched Lovers series.
Overview
Elenora is in her first season. Due to her father’s gambling debts, she needs to marry a fast and wealthy man. The problem is, she doesn’t want to get married. She knows she’s strange, but she just wants to live a quiet life as a spinster. But being the eldest girl means her sisters are waiting for her marriage so they can find their own husbands.
Jack is infamous as a rake. A reputation he’s been working on for most of his 39 years. He is getting annoyed by his parents’ persistence for him to marry and supply an heir. Not only does he not want to give up his freedom of selection, but he also has to protect his bastard son, whose mother died in childbirth.
To silence both families, they agree to a fake engagement. Secrets don’t stay secret for long, and shadows are lurking in the dark.
Positives
Elenora is an interesting young woman. She obviously has something like ASD. It’s interesting seeing that in the context of a regency romance. In a world where you have to say and do certain things at specific times, being shy of touch, unable to lie, and missing social cues makes life difficult.
Jack is very patient with her, and her uniqueness is part of what he likes about her. Not only is she a mystery, but she also doesn’t swoon over him.
Negatives
I was a little put off by how childlike Elenora was at times. I know it’s part of her social “awkwardness,” but I feared she might be taken advantage of. But when her time to shine arrived, it really showed her strength.
Recommendations
This was a little difficult. It’s a four-star, but was really close to a five. Very well written, and the spice was surprisingly chaste for how it started.
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