The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George

The Stranger I Wed

by Harper St. George

I was drawn to the The Stranger I Wed by Harper St. George because of it's beautiful cover - the dress is so gorgeous and it screams historical romance! I found the book very easy to read - I devoured it in 2 days, afterall. While the concept itself brimmed with potential, the execution didn't fully capture the complexity and passion I was hoping for.

The story follows newly wealthy American heiress Cora Dove as she ventures to London in search of a husband who will appreciate her independent spirit. She sets her sights on Leopold Brendon, the Earl of Devonworth, who requires a rich wife to support his public health reform campaign. Though neither anticipates finding love, an undeniable attraction grows between them. However, hidden secrets on both sides threaten their burgeoning bond. As their pasts collide, Cora and Leo learn the cost of loving a stranger, even as they discover that kind of love is worth fighting for.

Marriage of convenience plots are one of my favorite historical romance tropes. There's so much potential in the simmering tension and "will they or won't they" dynamic between the characters. Cora and Leo had strong chemistry right from the start of The Stranger I Wed - it has such a great meet-cute moment. Their attraction was lush, and I was eager to see it develop as the story progressed. They also shared a comfortable rapport and mutual respect that made them likable as a couple. While it started off strong, their relationship lost some momentum in the middle chapters. I waited with bated breath for them to give in to their passion, but the pacing felt a bit too slow. While I enjoyed watching their emotional bond deepen, the romance lacked that special spark to give it that special oomph.

I believe another reason why the romance lost momentum was because the characterization in the book fell short of its potential. Leo's passion for public health reform in historical England and Cora's involvement in the suffragette movement provided great foundations. However, these backstories weren't fully integrated into the narrative or their romantic trajectory. Deeper exploration of these themes could have added complexity and heightened the stakes for both of these characters and their relationship, in my opinion. At times, they came across as somewhat one-dimensional and frankly, a little boring. I liked them well enough, but they lacked the spark and depth that would make them easy additions to my roster of favorite characters. 

Though The Stranger I Wed didn't fully meet my high expectations, I'm still glad I picked it up. While Cora and Leo's romance wasn't entirely satisfying, the supporting cast of characters left me intrigued to see who the author will explore next. Harper St. George did an excellent job planting seeds about potential future couples that has me curious to read the next book.