The Casualty of the Heart

 

"And right then, I fell off the fence I had teetered on and straight into love. With Patrick Milton of all men. What a disaster." 

Can I just begin by stating that I thoroughly enjoy the way this author writes? She has a way of telling a story that captivates my mind completely. The way she brings real life circumstances into a regency setting is beautiful. 

Now to the book...

The author weaves my favorite trope into the Season of the ton so well. The main female character has anxiety and a true dislike for crowds in a time when evening balls are on the menu almost daily. Enter the childhood rival main male character and a fake dating ruse. 

Fake Dating-in a regency book. Yes, please. And thank you. 

And to top it off, there is a mystery, twins switching places, a lost necklace, and a hilarious grand gesture.  

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Pick it up and enjoy the banter as Clare and Patrick learn to know each other as adults and each take their own time to realize their love for each other. 

**I received a free copy of this book for reviews. All opinions and ravings are my own. 

About this book:

Title: The Casualty of the Heart

Author: Rachel Kelley Stones

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Publication Date: May 7, 2024

Her first London Season has arrived, but Clare Compton is far from enthusiastic. In fact, she finds the experience positively nauseating, and when her first ball ends in disaster, the consequences threaten to upend her entire Season. She wants nothing more than to retreat to her country home away from Society’s judgmental stares. Instead, respite comes from a most unexpected source. Patrick Milton, Clare’s childhood enemy, offers a cunning solution: he will serve as her escort for the final five weeks of festivities to help repair Clare’s reputation. The plan seems foolproof. But can she repair her reputation without forfeiting her heart?

Patrick has more than Clare’s welfare in mind when he proposes his ruse. He needs to stay close to the ballrooms of the ton, where he can keep an eye on his wayward twin brother—and serving as Clare’s escort offers the perfect pretense, with the added advantage of saving himself from matrimonial matchmakers. But as the weeks fly by in a whirlwind of candlelit ballrooms and dizzying dances, Patrick’s scheme takes on a life of its own, forcing the now friends to navigate feelings they never expected.