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What I liked about this book was that it was filled with many different states of mind and emotions. I smiled, I laughed and then became very sad for our heroine. It seemed she had no choice in her life except that of her family, home and her father's business. She had nothing left for herself. Lady Alexandra Woodley, daughter of the Earl of Grebs, has had more than her share of burdens to bare. Her mother died when she was eight years old. She now was the lady of the home. Having three younger sisters to raise, Alexandra selflessly guided each in their education and into womanhood. She also chaperoned them at social events. She not only ran the household, raise her sisters, but she also had to take care of a father so deep in grief that he withdrew from life and sequestered himself to his library for his studies. She had to run the estate, what little there was of it. She had to make sure whatever moneys they had stretched for the household, two sisters who were now out in society and care for the museum her father owned. A great many burdens indeed. She made sure her sisters did not feel her burdens and grew up in the most gentile ladylike manner. I could not help but admire this emotionally and physically strong woman. She worried, felt pressure, felt exasperated, felt exhausted, always concerned about her family, she was the lady of the house, bookkeeper, assisted the kitchen by shopping for supplies and food, she made sure her sisters had fashionable clothes, she made sure her father ate and was looked after. She always tried to be thankful for the small staff they could afford. A loyal butler, a cook and a maid. She and her sisters shared bedrooms because the townhouse was the only home they had. I felt sorry for Alexandra and her sisters because they had never left London proper. They had never been to the country. Although her father studied plants, fauna, animals from all over the world, she appreciated learning about the heavenly stars. By sheer accident she met His Grace, Theodore Hendricks, Duke of Raven. Theodore's parents died when he was very young. He was raised by his mother's older sister, his aunt, Lady Rebecca Sinclair. She is the only family he has left. Rebecca summoned Raven from the colonies to her side for the purpose of him getting married to a young woman she arranged for him. According to her, the perfect match. But she also had an ulterior motive in this match that he was not aware of. Rebecca and Raven attended a ball so he could be introduced to Lady Charlotte Weiderhold, daughter of Earl Derber. Now Alexandra and her sisters were attending the same ball. Her dearest friend, Lady Regina Eagleton advised her that her husband, the Earl of Eagleton, was a close friend of the elusive Duke of Raven. Regina immediately brought Raven up in conversation to Alexandra as a potential match. Alexandra would hear none of it. She would be only interested in his acquaintance to further her sisters’ interests. Aunt Rebecca could not find Lady Charlotte. Raven asked what she looked like so he could find her on his own. He found a woman who fit the description and asked her to dance. While dancing, he called his partner Lady Charlotte, but in actuality, it was Alexandra. She felt hurt because she thought he sought her out personally. She did not realize, she made quite an impression on him. He could not get her off his mind. Not even after he met Charlotte, could he stop thinking of Alexandra. They had many things in common but the most significant thing was her father's Museum of Natural Wonders. Lord Grebs is a naturalist and has devoted his time and money to the pursuit of plants, fauna and animals from around the world for the museum. After Alexandra's dance with Raven, knowing he thought her to be someone else, she felt embarrassed and upset about the way she handled the situation. She shared her distress to Regina and left the ball leaving her sisters in the care of Regina. This is the beginning of the relationship of Raven and Alexandra. Thank goodness Raven is a kind, intelligent astute man for it came in handy when he happened to cross paths with Alexandra. The more Raven was around her, he realized the pressures she was under and made a commitment to help her and her family. Raven could see Alexandra's many talents and strengths. He began to admire her more and more until he found himself taken by her and no one else. This is such a wonderful love story filled with such realistic emotions. It was not hard to empathize with the characters. I highly recommend this book and know you will not be disappointed.
