Publisher's Weekly Review
Turn-of-the-century lovers divided by lies and distrust rekindle their romance in this capable but one-note series launch from Feather (Reckless Seduction). It's 1902 and Diana Sommerville has just returned to London from her dead father's gold and diamond mines in South Africa to discover an infuriating situation. Her older brother Jem, killed in battle fighting the Boers, left his share of the family holdings to his best friend, Rupert Lacey, the unfaithful ex-fiance Diana dumped two years ago in Africa. Now they must share the house and the family businesses-all of them-in what Rupert hopes will be a "civilized arrangement." To satisfy society's curiosity, they'll pretend they're married when they're in public. The problem is forgetting they're not married when they're in private. Although the premise raises questions about colonialism, Feather sticks to the usual story of former lovers reconciling once they've regained each other's trust. Diana is a strong heroine who's more than equal to her troubled hero in intelligence-and stubbornness. Feather's fans and new readers will enjoy this series opener, as long as they don't expect it to dig too deep. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
In this series debut, the heiress to a diamond mine discovers that her unwelcome houseguest has a legitimate claim to her estateand to her heart.Diana Sommerville is surprised to find Rupert Lacey, her late brother's best friendand her ex-fiancein her Cavendish Square mansion. The last time she saw Rupert, he was in South Africa, where he and Jem had helped the English army protect her family's diamond mine before Jem was killed in battle. "Pointless to die in a war over diamonds and gold," Diana remarks. And she would be married by now if Rupert hadn't betrayed her. Now, Rupert tells her, they will have to share the mansion, since Jem left half the estate to him and he does not intend to move out. To avoid a scandal, Diana enlists the help of her friends Petra and Fenella to pretend that she and Rupert are already married until the two of them can reach an agreement on how to divide the assets. Inhabited by a horse named Kimberly Diamond and a pair of dogs named Hera and Hercules, the house has more sentimental than financial value for Diana. But as her old feelings resurface, heated arguments with Rupert over how to run the estate get even hotter in the bedroom. Rupert, ever the gentleman squatter, tries to win Diana's heart with honesty and consideration. But just like she did with the estate, Diana makes him work for what's already his.For the girl who has everythingdiamonds, a mansion, a racehorsefinding someone to share it with is the best gift of all. A solid start to the series. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In 1902 a pair of lovers-turned-enemies have just returned to England from South Africa at the end of the Second Boer War. After losing both her father and brother, Diana Sommerville is set to inherit a fortune from her family's diamond mines. But the estate she returns to is not hers alone; she must share it equally with her ex-fiancé, who was named as co-beneficiary in her brother's will. Rupert Lacey refuses to give up his half of the estate, even when Diana makes life nearly impossible for him. To avoid the scandal of living together in sin, they instead pretend to be married while living separately under one roof. The charade is precarious, however, since, despite their mutual mistrust, they still feel the same burning attraction that initially brought them together. The unusual Edwardian setting and flashbacks to South Africa notwithstanding, Feather fails to delve deeply enough into the details that could have set this apart from other conventional historical romances, making for a lackluster start to her London Jewels trilogy.--Kristina Giovanni Copyright 2019 Booklist
