After being widowed by a steeplechase accident in Ireland, Lady Kate Whelan abandons the turf. But once her mourning is complete, her late husband’s debts drive her to seek help in Newmarket amidst the whirl of a race meet. There she encounters antiquities expert Evan Rhys, her late husband’s roguish friend―whom she hasn’t seen since the day of his lordship’s mysterious death.
Now that fate has reunited them, Evan seizes the chance to win over the woman he’s always loved. But once back within the old stone walls of Whelan House, long-held secrets come to light that shake up everything Kate thought she knew about her marriage. Now she wonders who she can trust with her heart―and Evan must decide between love and a truth that will separate him from all his heart desires.
Titles in the Romance of the Turf series include: A Gentleman’s Game – Scandalous Ever After –
Title: Scandalous Ever After
Series: Romance of the Turf #2
Author: Theresa Romain
Genre: Historical, Regency Romance
Published: July 1, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
My Rating: 4 stars
Getting a chance at being with the woman he loves was never something Evan thought would be possible. Kate was married to his best friend, and the three had formed a tight circle, one that although Evan loved Kate, he never stepped outside of his role as friend. Now a widow, Kate is attempting to put her life back together and clear up the mountain of debt that her husband left behind. She never suspected Evan’s true feelings, so when a chance encounter once again brings them together again Kate is expecting her friend… and soon discovers that there is far more than friendship between them, even if she is afraid to act on any of their feelings.
Scandalous Ever After is a fun, intriguing story full of bantering, sexual tensions, confused emotions and one overshadowing mystery. It’s one of the best friends to lovers romances that I’ve read in quite a while. Kate is afraid of her feelings for Evan. Theirs has been a relationship of years as friends and she is terrified of losing that connection. What she won’t accept is that they could still have the friendship on another level plus so much more, she’s not willing to take that risk. Evan has spent far too many years loving this stubborn, amazing woman from afar and he isn’t about to back down now. There has to be a way to break through her barriers, and he’s determined to find that way. They are so right for each other and he will not walk away again.
Add into the romantic mix an accidental death that was no accident, a trail of fake antiquities that leads right to Kate’s estate plus the mystery thread that flows throughout this series and you have one heck of an intriguing romance. I enjoyed Scandalous Ever After very much. If you’re a reader who enjoys romance, mystery and a couple who will grab your heart from the first pages, then this is a book I’d highly recommend for you.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
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