AN INCONVENIENT BEAUTY
Hawthorne House, Book 4
by
KRISTI ANN HUNTER
Genre: Regency Romance
Publisher: Bethany House
Date of Publication: September 5, 2017
Number of Pages: 384
Scroll down for giveaway!
Griffith, Duke of Riverton, likes order, logic, and control, so he naturally applie s this rational approach to his search for a bride. While he’s certain Miss Frederica St. Claire is the perfect wife for him, she is strangely elusive, and he can’t seem to stop running into her stunningly beautiful cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge.
Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, she has no choice but to agree to a bargain that puts her at odds with all her romantic hopes—as well as her conscience. And the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she regrets the unpleasant obligation that prevents her from any dream of a future with him.
As all Griffith’s and Isabella’s long-held expectations are shaken to the core, can they set aside their pride and fear long enough to claim a happily-ever-after?
══════════║║║══════════
Praise for An Inconvenient Beauty:
“With the latest superbly written installment in her Hawthorne House series, RITA award-winning Hunter once again proves she has the key to inspirational-romance and traditional-Regency readers’ hearts as she gifts them with another gracefully executed love story that delivers all of the richly nuanced characters, impeccably researched historical plotting, and sweet romance they could ever crave.”
—Booklist
“The final book in the Hawthorne House series brings Hunter’s saga to a sigh-worthy conclusion. These family members have become like real people, and although readers will celebrate that the characters have found love, it is bittersweet to say goodbye. The plot moves briskly, yet the romance never feels forced. The period details are, as always, charming, and entrench the reader in the culture and traditions of the era.”—RT Book Reviews
“Hunter’s final installment in the Hawthorne House series will delight those already invested in the series as well as any reader who enjoys stories set in Regency-era England. . . . As the London Season plays out, secrets are revealed, past loves return, and hearts align—despite a fair amount of underhanded conniving–to create a fitting finale to the series and a lovely addition to the Regency genre.”—Publishers Weekly starred review
CLICK TO PURCHASE:
Amazon ┃ B&N┃ Baker Book House┃CBD┃LifeWay
Regency Romances are such fun, and An Inconvenient Beauty is no exception. With any historical fiction, we must accept that those times had obvious (sometimes cringeworthy) ideologies and social norms. I’m talking about the lack of agency for women, even the elite, and the socio-economic disparities rampant throughout history.
With that said, An Inconvenient Beauty is entertaining and not without a hefty dose of subterfuge and excitement. While the reader pretty much knows what’s going on, our dear Duke of Riverton (Griffith) has to figure things out for himself.
Isabella is trapped in the situation of ‘do as you’re told or I’ll destroy your family,’ and by her uncle no less. Isabella wants only to save her family from poverty, so as she goes along with her uncle’s insidious plan to advance his own agenda, she finds herself falling for the Duke of Riverton just as he is falling for her. Oh, what a tangled web!
While the main characters (Isabella and Griffith) are well developed and engaging, I found myself drawn more to Frederica (Isabella’s cousin and daughter to the infamous uncle). It’s not only because of Frederica’s obvious “flaw” of an oversized nose. I swear I wanted to see what her nose looked like because with every mention, it seemed to become even larger, matched only by Griffith’s hulking stature. Frederica is a delightful study in friendship, fortitude, patience, and gumption. I most definitely liked her the best.
While the romance aspect is sweet and lively, the dark undertone of Isabella’s false flattery toward her admirers during her first London season adds a layer of intrigue to an otherwise standard romance. No spoilers, but keep your eye on the uncle. he’s devious, yes, but his backstory is quite heartbreaking.
As an added bonus, I found myself looking up the Apothecary Act (or Apothecaries Act of 1815) to find out more on this topic that drives the plot of An Inconvenient Beauty. When a book sends me off looking for more information, everyone wins!
I look forward to reading more in this Hawthorne House series!
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy of An Inconvenient Beauty as well as a chance to win the entire Hawthorne House series by Kristi Ann Hunter.
Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in computer science but always knew she wanted to write. Kristi is the author of the Hawthorne House series and a 2016 RITA Award winner and Christy Award finalist. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
ONE WINNER: FULL PRINT SET OF THE HAWTHORNE HOUSE SERIES
THREE WINNERS: PRINT COPY OF AN INCONVENIENT BEAUTY
September 25-October 4, 2017
(U.S. Only)
CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
| 25-Sep | Author Interview | Hall Ways Blog |
| 26-Sep | Excerpt 1 | Forgotten Winds |
| 27-Sep | Review | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 28-Sep | Playlist | Missus Gonzo |
| 29-Sep | Review | Reading By Moonlight |
| 30-Sep | Top 10 List | Texan Girl Reads |
| 1-Oct | Excerpt 2 | Books and Broomsticks |
| 2-Oct | Review | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 3-Oct | Top 5 List | Margie’s Must Reads |
| 4-Oct | Review | The Librarian Talks |
