The Stranger I Wed

St. George (the Gilded Age Heiresses series) opens her Doves of New York series with a fun if slightly unconvincing late Victorian romance that sends American heiresses to London to hunt for titles. Cora Dove and her sisters are illegitimate—and society ensures they never forget it. When their father declares they must marry to access their family inheritance, the Manhattanites, along with their mother, a scandalous former actor, head to England to find husbands who don’t know all their baggage. A vocal advocate for women’s rights (under a pseudonym, of course), Cora is decidedly unhappy with her father’s edict, but she knows that marriage would enable her to take care of her family. As luck would have it, the perfect man, in the form of Leopold, Earl of Devonworth, literally knocks her off her feet at a sporting event. He’s desperate for money to save the family estate and finds the young American woman refreshing. Their mutually beneficial arrangement develops into deep friendship and respect, but it’s hard to see much romance in it even after their relationship becomes physical. Still, the author’s attention to historical detail adds authenticity while offering a fresh perspective on a tumultuous time. The sisters’ sparkling dynamic will leave readers excited for the sequel. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (Apr.)