Someone To Love: Avery's Story (Westcott, #1)

by Mary Balogh

New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh presents the first historical romance in the Westcott series, where the death of an earl reveals a most scandalous secret.

Humphrey Westcott, Earl of Riverdale, has died, leaving behind a fortune and a scandalous secret that will forever alter the lives of everyone in his family—including the daughter no one knew he had...

Anna Snow grew up in an orphanage in Bath knowing nothing of the family she came from. Now she discovers that the late Earl of Riverdale was her father and that she has inherited his fortune. She is also overjoyed to learn she has siblings. However, they want nothing to do with her or her attempts to share her new wealth. But the new earl’s guardian is interested in Anna…
 
Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby, keeps others at a distance. Yet something prompts him to aid Anna in her transition from orphan to lady. As London society and her newfound relatives threaten to overwhelm Anna, Avery steps in to rescue her and finds himself vulnerable to feelings and desires he has hidden so well and for so long.

• ISBN10: 0451477790
• ISBN13: 9780451477798
• Publish Date: 8 November 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Berkley
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 400
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780451477798

Reviews

[stacey_is_sassy]

...and someone to love them back

My fellow historical romances readers, you will be horrified to learn that I sometimes hate a historically accurate historical romance. Yes, I'm one of those dreaded readers who would rather be sheltered from the realities of the past. I don't even mind when an author takes a little historical license and gives the heroine an opinion and the hero less of a "you are my property" feel. So, while I truly enjoyed Someone to Love I also struggled with it a lot. It was just a little too real.

Anna Snow was left in an orphanage at the age of four years. It wasn't the worst place to grow up but there was always that nagging feeling of abandonment and lack of someone to love. Years later and Anna has taken on the position of teacher at the orphanage and she's relatively happy with her lot in life. Yes, she had dreams of being "found" and returned to a loving family, but she was also very realistic and resigned herself to being alone. Imagine her surprise when she is summoned to London...and has a family...and is rich beyond her wildest dreams.

The Westcott's appear to be a very snooty and spoiled bunch, so, basically a very historically accurate portrayal of an aristocratic family. Their world is shattered when the rug is ripped out from under them as the truth of Anna Snow's existence comes to life. It was horrible to observe these ladies and gentlemen act in such a mean-spirited way to a woman who can not...should not be blamed for the sins of her father.

The Ton turn on the Westcott's and Anna Snow's quiet existence is definitely a thing of her past. Anna must learn to all the ways of being a proper lady knowing that she will be judged. I absolutely loved that Anna took all of her education in her stride but was determined to keep a little of her old self intact. She does not want her hair short. She does not want her dress to have flounces. She does not want to keep quiet when her family is disrespected. So...she doesn't.

Throughout all of this, one man is witness to all of the drama by his connection to the Westcott's. He is intrigued by the plain and slight woman who holds herself in a dignified and calm way. She's not at all his type of woman but there's something about her that draws him in.

Someone to Love is not a story of insta-love or even insta-lust. There is an attraction but it appeared as if it baffled them both Anna and Archer with what they are feeling. With time together they soon realise their attraction is more than just physical. They actually like each other and may have even found their very own...Someone to Love.

I really enjoyed listening to this story and while a lot of it can be attributed to Mary Balogh's beautiful writing, some of my enjoyment must be credited to Rosalyn Landor's narration. She is one of my favourite narrators and I find her voice very easy to listen to. If you haven't listened to Ms Landor narrate a historical romance, you are missing a treat. She portrays each character with their own voice and I never struggled with identifying who is who.

I'm so glad to have finally started the Westcott series and I will definitely be back for more in the future.

[wyvernfriend]

Anna Snow always wanted to know who her parents were, having grown up in an orphanage she never knew, but she had a few vague memories. Now she receives a summons to go to London to meet a Lawyer and there she finds a different future from the one she had planned. It turns out her father didn't wait for her mother to die before marrying again and now she has inherited the family fortune and his children are disinherited. Now she has responsibilities beyond her wildest dreams and she has to marry.
 
Avery Archer is the Duke of Netherby and keeps everyone at a distance, now he finds himself drifting towards Anna and he finds her interesting.  A relationship develops but can it survive all the stresses?
 
I liked the characters and how Avery wins the duel.  Anna is very determined to be her own person and you can see the hardships in doing that here. I enjoyed the read and found it very difficult to put down.