A Lady To Treasure by Marianne Ratcliffe Published by Bellows Press on October 15, 2023
Genres: Fiction / LGBTQ+ / Gay, Fiction / Romance / Historical / Regency, Fiction / Romance / LGBTQ+ / Gay
Pages: 302
Format: ARC
Source: The Author
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Louisa Silverton is the daughter of a wealthy American businessman, brought up to believe a healthy profit is the only route to happiness. With the family company over-leveraged and in need of a capital injection, she travels to England to find a rich husband. The Honourable Miss Sarah Davenport has no time for romance. The family estate of Kenilborough is mired in debt and only she can save it. Unconventional and outspoken, Sarah is dismayed that somebody as intelligent and attractive as Louisa is willing to sacrifice herself for financial gain. As Louisa pursues her campaign, Sarah realises her objections to the project run deeper than mere principles. At the same time, Louisa finds herself captivated by Sarah's independent spirit. Yet to indulge their unexpected passion would surely mean the ruin of both their families. Bound by duty, will they ever be free to follow their hearts?
I received this book for free from The Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A slow burn, stately pace book, A Lady to Treasure gives us two MCs bent on restoring their family fortunes through means of marriage or unmitigated work. Louisa, the American sent to England to snare a rich husband, is shapely, beautiful, with a head for numbers who is instantly annoyed but attracted to the breeches wearing aristocrat, Sarah.
The first half of the book is spent mostly in the country as these two neighbors work on their respective missions to fill their family coffers. Louisa finds true friendship with the Lowthers, and slowly a relationship grows between her and the prickly Sarah. Louisa’s guidance in business helps Sarah begin to turn her family’s fortunes around.
As Louisa’s need to marry for money becomes desperate, she is sent to London and the distance between the pair grows. Yet these two cannot keep apart for long.
There is a really nice mix of supporting characters, some sweet and endearing and some terrible and frustrating. This is really a study in provincial England, for although we get a glimpse of a little amusement in London, most of the book is stolidly focused on the pecuniary difficulties of those in straightened circumstances.
I have to share that the cover suggests it might be a light hearted read, but its fairly serious in tone. The romance is sweet, with a solid friendship underneath it. There is also not a lot of drama centered around the Sapphic romance, which was refreshing.
There is depth and detail explored in finances, war, and banking which was well researched and thought out. In some respects, this focus pulled the story closer to resembling historical fiction than romance. In the first four or so chapters (having quite forgotten the author’s pitch after it had been in the TBR for a while) I was confused about the romance set up. The meet cute should have tipped me off, but honestly the tone was probably not quite overstated enough to hit me. It does meet the main definition of a romance (HEA/HFN) however, so I will suggest that this is a book for a reader who likes subtlety, slow burn, and a prickly MC. Louisa is not very sunshiney, so it was not a grump/sunshine, more like two fairly serious MCs who end up finding each other, love, and at the very end passion.
Kisses only, with one near sexual assault and mentions of violence that occurred off page, and gambling. There is some melodrama, and some misunderstandings, but it was not overblown.
I recommend this for readers looking for a women loving women Regency that is kisses only, slow and steady, and has some nice provincial slice of life features.
