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 request is from PeBee, who wants to find a historical romance:
It was the first of a pair or a series. I think the heroine name’s was Jennifer. She lived with her orphan cousin and dad in the country. Heroine was engaged at an early age to Villain; however, she rarely saw him.
Dad decides to take them to London for the season and get the wedding planned. Villain is charming, but not really around. Cousin has a major crush on him and Heroine meets lots of new people including Hero. Hero and Villain have a back story (stepmother?) and hate each other. Heroine starts major lusting for hero, but alas, wants to hurry and marry Villain.
On the night of their engagement ball, Villain announces that he won’t marry her because she is hooking up with Hero. She is humiliated and shunned. Dad is ready to lock her up far away. Hero stops by and then they are married so that she can at least leave the house.
The two make a go of it, later find out that Cousin helped Villain, then comes the big reveal – I can’t remember why Villain did it. He leaves and all is well.
Later, Cousin had her own book where she marries the disabled neighbor of Hero and Heroine. It took awhile to get over the trust issues. And, I think there may have been another book where Cousin’s male BFF is heartbroken and ends up with another girl?
Does any of this sound familiar?
I’m very curious if the author does a good job redeeming the cousin in the next book.
Sounds like Dark Angel by Mary Balogh. The cousin’s book is Lord Carew’s Bride.
I remembered because Jennifer is not your usual historical romance heroine name!
I think this would be Dark Angel by Mary Balogh. In which the cousin’s book is probably Lord Carew’s Bride.
I agree, it definitely sounds like Mary Balogh’s Dark Angel. The cousin’s bok is Lord Carew’s Bride and the third book is The Famous Heroine. There are two additional, loosely connected books in the series.
Hah! Finally I know one and everyone beat me to it. But I’m pretty sure it’s the Mary Balough. Iirc, the villain blatantly manipulated the cousin, who was pretty young and impressionable.
Same here, Cleo!
Thank you everyone – I am going to find it at the library!
This is the first HaBO that I knew! Marking it on the calendar!