A Marriage of Necessity: Rules of Refinement Book Four (The Marriage Maker 8)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I hadn’t read the previous entry in the series, but this didn’t end up being a problem for me as the author has crafted a story that stands perfectly well on its own.

Anne, Viscountess Kinsely, must marry to save her family’s estates. Risking everything by going to Lady Peddington’s School for Young Ladies, Anne is dismayed when rumours circulate destroying her hopes of marriage.

Kennedy Douglas, Viscount Buchanan, despises his father and will do anything to hurt him. His father, lying in his death bed creates a cunning plan to ensure his son cooperates with his wishes. Kennedy has a week to marry or he will marry Kennedy’s sister to an abusive man. Trapped, Kennedy agrees and follows the matchmaker’s suggestion that Lady Kinsely would be a good match.

This is a novella and the story does suffer because of the shortness. The author crafted well rounded and likeable characters. The interactions between the protagonists is steamy but the relationship does not have enough time to develop. The story ends abruptly and suddenly the characters are in love.  I would have given the book a much higher rating if the story had been fleshed out more.