5++ stars for If I Loved You (Matrimony! Book 1) by Cerise DeLand #99cents #historicalromance #ku
top of page
  • N. N. Light
    • Nov 13, 2023
    • 3 min read

5++ stars for If I Loved You (Matrimony! Book 1) by Cerise DeLand #99cents #historicalromance #ku



Title: If I Loved You (Matrimony! Book 1)

Author: Cerise DeLand

Genre: Historical Romance


Book Blurb:


Love does not advertise. Love counts no wrongs. But when a young woman needs to escape an ogre, she’ll take an ad to find a man she can adore.

Verity Carr wants a new life in a new town far from her old home and the vile threat to her body and soul. She comes from a fine family, has a good education and a bold ambition to become a portrait artist. She’s ready to live her life with a man who will value her. A husband she can can respect and in time, hopefully love. Yet valiant though she is, she questions if she can escape her past and the one who will not let her go. Can a gentleman to whom great wrong was done, build a new life with a true wife and leave the past behind?

Miles St. John Armstrong, Viscount Bellamy, never should have wed his first wife. He vows to select a new one with logic and careful investigation via advertisement. The young lady he selects is Verity Carr who is no ordinary woman. She has charm, wit and a beauty that sears his soul. No wonder theirs is a relationship built quickly on admiration and trust. No wonder their marriage becomes one built of mutual mad passion. But devoted as they are, their past comes to call. And it asks of them the ultimate question, can their love withstand the tempest and survive the terror? Read Free in Kindle Unlimited! Matrimony! If I Love You Because of You You Do Something to Me


My Review:


Is it possible to find love in an advertisement? It is for Verity and Miles. If I Loved You is a historical romance that is a delight to read. The circumstances piqued my interest, and the narration hooked me from the beginning. It is historically accurate, sure, but the immersive writing is better than a Bridgerton novel. The characters propel the plot and are the sole reason why I couldn’t stop reading.


Let’s talk about these characters. Verity is a woman trying to outrun her past. Who is chasing her, we don’t know at first, but whatever it is, she’s willing to marry a stranger to outrun it. She’s a heroine after my own heart. She’s intelligent, educated, and is willing to take care of herself. She’s also very passionate. Her meet cute with Miles is comedic and such fun. Miles is a hero any reader will cheer for. He also has a shady past, one that haunts him still. But he’s turning a new chapter in his life and this time, he’ll pick a wife using logic. Life throws him a curveball and soon he’s in love. Miles oozes virility with a soft side. He’s also a man of action. Both main characters are well-written with a fair share of misunderstandings between them. Their chemistry is off the charts. The rest of the characters add depth and vibrancy to the overall story.


The writing is exceptional. Cerise DeLand brings the Regency era to life with her descriptive narration, plot progression, and characterization. I couldn’t stop reading because the writing is simply that good. I loved it and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.


My Rating: 5++ stars


Buy it Now:

On sale for 99 cents or free to read on Kindle Unlimited!








Author Biography:


Cerise DeLand is the USA TODAY bestselling author who loves to write about dashing heroes and the sassy women they adore. Known for her poetic elegance and accuracy of detail, she's won awards for many of the more than 60 novels she's written. Her work has been nearly life-long! First published in 1991 by Kensington, then Pocket Books, later by St. Martin's Press and independent presses, she is now published by DRAGONBLADE PUBLISHING. Plus her books have been monthly selections of the Doubleday Book Club and the Mystery Guild. To research, she's dived into the oldest texts and dustiest library shelves. She travels abroad taking good walking shoes, trusty notebooks and pens, plus a camera! She visits chateaux and country homes she loves to people with her own imaginary characters. And at home every day? She cooks. Never dusts. (That can be a problem.) She goes swimming or pumps iron once a week and tries (desperately) to grow vegetables in her arid backyard in south Texas!


Social Media Links:


Do visit her website, http://cerisedeland.com

Also visit her YOUTube Channel for her videos of her research travels here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCba82P_Q1kUrJUVVW0CwJmw/


Reviewed by: Nancy

Tags:

bottom of page