You did it! We figured this one out! It is a truth universally acknowledged (by me for certain) that the Bitchery pretty much knows everything, and really, it's true. Scroll down to see the solution for this HaBO - and many thanks!
This HaBO is from Hen, who wants to find a historical romance:
Book starts with Titled Idiot finding a Half-Dead Girl in a dodgy part of London. The name Devon is involved. I think.
Titled Idiot, being the chivalrous man that he is, takes Half-Dead Girl home to fix her where he discovers she’s very pretty (shock, horror!). But she’s also a thief (more shock, horror!!) because she has a fancy necklace. That “obviously” isn’t hers. But Titled Idiot keeps Half-Dead Girl at his place because this is a Trashy Romance.
Stuff happens. He compares her breasts to roses. More stuff happens.
Then, naturally, Titled Idiot decides to marry Half-Dead & Very Pretty Girl, but of course she declines. Duh.
Bad things happen, but Titled Idiot saved Half-Dead & Very Pretty Girl. Then, as mentioned, being a Trashy Romance, he convinces her to get hitched. Yay.
Twins are born. Book is over. Everyone is happy.
I don’t know about you, but I could read Hen’s book summaries for days.
In the last few years, I’ve read at least 2 different books with a titled idiot and half dead & very pretty girl they eventually marry. Unfortunately I can’t recall either title at the moment. I’m hoping others can because obviously my list needs updating.
I think it is A Perfect Bride by Samantha James. Good luck!!
Isn’t there a Lisa Kleypas with a half dead heroine? And they’re from rival families. Or the rival family part is from someone else. Who did the Georgian series with the stern duke Who always wrote black and had duels? Too many books.
This summary is everything.
Half-dead girl named Devon with a necklace is A Perfect Bride by Samantha James. Someone to Watch Over Me is the Lisa Kleypas with the half-dead girl.
Somehow I didn’t notice this was a historical in your HABO above until I zapped over to Amazon to buy it. Ok so, love historicals but demand they match history itself at least a little bit. Which means I won’t buy this.
However, I ABSOLUTELY DEMAND someone write this plot as a contemporary, because it sounds way fun. Definitely absolutely contemporary territory. Because this is the world I am pretty sure I want to live in.
I read one a long time ago called Angel something where the heroine is wearing a fancy necklace but has lost her memory and the hero finds her and he’s rich and she gets into partnership with him and opens a dance hall with ex-prostitutes. But none of those prostitutes can have sex in the hall. And it turns out that she’s running away from her step-brother who tried to rape her and gave her this necklace, which actually he stole or something. God, why can’t I remember the name of this book!
I am trying to understand how breasts can be compared to roses. I mean, roses have thorns. Breasts don’t. Or am I being too literal.
I adore Hen’s summary.
It’s definitely a Perfect Bride by Samantha James. Heroine’s mother just died, she has her necklace that she refuses to give up, is attacked on the way home from work in St. Giles, and is knifed. Hero finds her while looking for his younger brother, takes her home, they both stare at her breasts when she’s naked. Hero takes the necklace because he thinks she stole it. Necklace is important later. Hero is convinced that he wants her as his mistress, takes her to the country chasing after younger brother, they decide to stay while younger brother leaves, of course. X-rated things happen and younger brother comes back, realizes what happened and is very upset that his staunchly older brother would treat such a sweet thing so horribly, since she might get ideas, and she’s really very nice. More staunchness by the hero, plot comes full circle, happily ever after.
Totally just re-read it a few weeks ago, it’s a nice read and the first in a trilogy.
oops forgive me. forgot to mark the notify box. Be easier on me if the notify box were in front of the submit box.
You guys nailed it! It’s definitely that Samantha James book.
THANKS
Ahhh I’m in the middle of reading A Perfect Bride. Then Courtney Milan put out her new book, which I had to immediately purchase and start.
@ Phyllis: “Who did the Georgian series with the stern duke Who always wrote black and had duels?” Eloisa James’ Desperate Duchesses?
@Phyllis Or Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series? The sixth book, Duke of Midnight, has a hero who is basically Georgian Batman. (Bonus! Also involves a mysterious necklace!)
I do love that review, and I can even see breasts as roses if the hero is thinking texture and sort of colour, and maybe she had on some perfume. Even shape sort of, if the rose was upside down and the stem cut off and she had green nipples.
green nipples lolol
Just to throw it out there- is it Once more my darling Rogue- Lorraine Heath? he does find her half dead and she might have a necklace?