Her Enemy at the Altar

<b>I've given this a B at AAR</b>.<br /><br />This is the second book from new-to-me author Virginia Heath, whose début for Mills and Boon – <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/28926691.That_Despicable_Rogue" title="That Despicable Rogue by Virginia Heath" rel="noopener">That Despicable Rogue</a> – was published in May this year, and which I somehow missed but definitely intend to go back to. <b>Her Enemy at the Altar</b> is a simple but well-written enemies-to-lovers story inspired, she says in her author’s note, by the time her daughter came home from school upset because her handprints/footprints were bigger than those of all her classmates.<br /><br />Lady Constance Stuart, daughter of the Earl of Redbridge, is too tall, her hair is too red, her figure is too straight, her tongue is too sharp and her mind too apt to form opinions of its own. Cruelly nicknamed “the ginger Amazonian” in her first season, she is still unmarried five years later and is widely regarded as a bit of a joke throughout the ton. Even her own father thinks she is useless if he can’t marry her off for his own gain. Over the years, Constance has developed a defence mechanism to cover her insecurities and the continual hurt and humiliation she suffers, with the result that most in society now gives her a wide berth, fearing to come within striking distance of her withering sarcasm and haughty demeanour.<br /><br />The only man who doesn’t seem to care about earning her censure is Aaron Wincanton, son and heir to Viscount Ardleigh, whose estate borders that of the earl. The Wincantons and the Stuarts despise each other and have been at each other’s throats for the past three hundred years; and the viscount and the earl are continually attempting to best each other in whatever way they can. Recently returned from the war in Spain, Aaron realises his father’s estate is not being well-run and knows that before long, they are going to be bankrupt. He is courting an heiress whose dowry will go a long way towards solving the family’s financial problems, but Aaron knows that if things are to improve, he must find a way of ending the enmity between his family and the Stuarts, as his father is only too ready to throw money away if he thinks it will gain him the upper hand.<br /><br />Constance’s father has recently engineered her betrothal to a handsome, impoverished, marquess; and while she knows he doesn’t love her, she can’t help hoping that perhaps, one day, that will change. But when he wastes no time in making clear to her that all he wants from her is money, Constance is hurt at his bluntness even though, she tells herself, it’s not surprising that he doesn’t want her – what man would, with her horribly vibrant hair and gangly, unfashionably tall body?<br /><br />Aaron and Constance don’t like each other, although Aaron can’t deny that he likes teasing her and watching her temper fire up. But when he finds her, alone, desolate and hiding away during a ball, it’s not temper that fires up between them. What begins as an attempt at consolation explodes into an almost uncontrollable passion that lands them both into hot water when they are discovered in an extremely compromising position.<br /><br />Aaron is left with little alternative but to offer for Connie’s hand, but just to make life extra uncomfortable – because he is a Wincanton – her father withholds her dowry and makes it clear that Connie is no longer welcome in his house. She tries to refuse the match, but the earl gives her an incredibly cruel ultimatum threatening her mother and younger brother and she has no alternative but to agree.<br /><br />Ms. Heath does a very good job of describing the uncomfortable relationship between these two people whose families have been at loggerheads for years. Aaron thinks he might as well make the best of things – he’s attracted to Connie and wants to see if he can rouse her to more than passionate kisses – and tries to make his new wife comfortable and to show her courtesy and consideration, but it is all thrown back in his face. So, with bigger problems concerning the estate to occupy him, Aaron distances himself, leaving his bride to ponder a future with a man she despises and who despises her, and without the comfort and support of her family. She and Aaron agree to seek an annulment, but even then, Connie will not be able to return home; the best she can hope for is to change her name, go far away and try to find employment to support herself.<br /><br />As time passes, Aaron and Connie begin to thaw a little towards each other. Having previously had no interest in estate management and then been away in the army, Aaron is struggling to work out how to turn things around, and is surprised and impressed at the way his wife is able to understand the salient details and work with numbers. And Connie realises that she has been so wrapped up in her own thoughts and negative emotions that she has failed to realise how much strain Aaron is under; not only because of his financial problems, but also because of his father’s failing health.<br /><br />Their gradual rapprochement is well done, the growing physical attraction between them being complemented by their increasing understanding of each other. There’s strong chemistry between them from the start, and Ms. Heath keeps it bubbling nicely beneath the surface, building it skilfully so that when the couple finally consummates their marriage, it feels like the natural culmination of everything they’ve been through rather than just a casually dropped in sex scene because it’s time for one.<br /><br />The author’s presentation of Connie’s low self-esteem and the methods of self-protection she has adopted are spot on. Anyone who has been called names will know that the development of a thick skin is absolutely necessary, and then you show the bullies that you don’t care and develop ways of getting your own back. But deep down, it hurts and it sticks – and that aspect of Connie’s character rings completely true. I was also grateful that Ms. Heath didn’t fall into the trap of having the characters believe that non-consummation of a marriage was grounds for an annulment, a common mistake in many historical romances.<br /><br />There are a couple of small sub-plots which work well within the context of the larger story, and Ms. Heath writes with warmth, humour and intelligence, putting her own stamp on a couple of well-used tropes. I spotted a few incorrect word choices and the odd turn of phrase that wasn’t quite right, but overall <b>Her Enemy at the Altar</b> is an enjoyable romance and one I’d certainly suggest is worth your consideration if you’re looking to try an author new to the genre.

This book had the unlucky coincidence of being read right after a lackluster book that pretty much had the same storyline.<br /> <br />Tall heroine who hides her hurt behind a tough abrasive exterior. This book's heroine was better constructed but the whole "I can never believe I have any minuscule attractiveness to me" carried on far too long. It ended up giving her a bit of immaturity.<br /> <br />Poor gorgeous hero who needs to marry for money to save estate. Same character outline as the other books I read but story placement here was a bit different with hero and heroine's families having a centuries old feud. The feud wasn't really explained but how it effected their present families was detailed. They are caught in a compromising position and hero marries heroine even though her father doesn't give him her dowry, thus bankrupting the hero.<br /> <br />This book had more of a story construct but how long it takes the hero and heroine to develop past the immature "I hate you!" "No, I hate you!" took too long and I missed seeing their relationship without any animosity. <br />Since I read this right after not enjoying an extremely similar storyline, I definitely think I already had my fill of insecure abrasive tall heroines (I'm even one!) and the poor gorgeous heroes who just want them to recognize how regal they are. <br />The bottom line, I was exhausted by how long it took hero and heroine to move beyond their animosity.

<b>I really enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers story by new-to-me author, Virginia Heath. It combines an engaging and well-written story, interesting characters and an emotionally satisfying romance.</b><br /><br />The Stuarts and Wincantons have been mortal enemies for the past three hundred years and Lady Constance (Connie) Stuart has every reason to loathe Aaron Wincanton with a vengeance. After he scathingly nicknamed her Ginger Amazonian during her come out six years ago, Connie endured hurtful and humiliating jokes about her unruly red hair, tall, unimpressive figure and long legs. In her second year, she decided that, if she is going to be compared to a mythical warrior, she will act like one. A haughty air and a razor-sharp tongue become her chosen weapons of defence; even her dresses are a statement of defiance.<br /><br /><i>They were no longer merely gowns; now each dress was a statement of defiance. She might well be an ugly wallflower, but that did not mean that she had to be a shrinking violet.</i><br /><br />Having always been self-conscious of the bump on my nose, I found it was easy to relate to Connie and sympathise with her insecurities and understand how much she was hurt and humiliated by the constant cruel barbs. I so admired her courage in facing her tormentors with defiance.<br /><br />Connie is now engaged to the Marquis of Deal and, although it is an arranged marriage, she hopes to find a measure of happiness, until she discovers his true motives. Feeling hurt and dejected, she finds comfort in the unlikely arms of Aaron Wincanton but, when they are caught in a compromising situation, Connie finds herself married to her sworn enemy.<br /><br />To everyone, Aaron appears a charming, flirtatious rogue, but this is a mask he wears because the war had left an indelible mark on him. He had seen too much death to remain the carefree young man he once was.<br /><br /><i>The new Aaron Wincanton found no joy in balls or parties, nor did he find it in intimate gatherings or quiet solitary contemplation either. He did not deserve to feel joy any more. Most of the time he felt burdened. The rest of the time, if he was lucky, he just felt numb.</i><br /><br />He has personal demons to fight, ones that conjure up terrifying, tortuous nightmares, night and day, convincing him that he is slowly going mad. He is a desperate to find peace but unable to, believing himself unworthy of love or forgiveness.<br /><br />Aaron is shocked to find that the Wincanton estate has been brought to the brink of bankruptcy by his father’s mismanagement. All his father’s decisions have been motivated by one thing only – revenge against the Stuarts – without thought for the consequences. All Aaron wants to do is put an end to the pointless and costly feud and restore the family fortunes by marrying a wealthy heiress. But his plans go awry when he is caught in a compromising situation with Lady Constance Wincanton and his strong sense of honour compels him to marry her.<br /><br /><i>Everything about this marriage was wrong. At best they were strangers, at worst sworn enemies.</i><br /><br />I appreciated how Ms. Heath takes the time to build the romantic relationship between Connie and Aaron. At first, there are a lot of angry words spoken but gradually, they begin to discover more about each other<br /><br />Connie has always thought of Aaron as confident and charming- <i>as though he tiptoed through life largely unscathed</i> – but realises that he has hidden depths and feels things as deeply as she does. While Connie was feeling sorry for herself, she never realised the sacrifices Aaron made by marrying her.<br /><br />While society regards Connie as a social oddity, Aaron sees her as striking, intelligent and witty and finds he enjoys her company. Recognising that she has many conflicting and contrasting elements to her personality, I like how Aaron compares her to a rainbow…<br /><br /><i>At one end of the spectrum she was indomitable, sharp-tongued and aloof. He had been on the receiving end of that with alarming frequency and they had only been together for such a short time. But then she was kind-hearted. Finally, buried beneath all of that, was a seam of vulnerability that she worked hard to hide—but he knew that it was there.</i><br /><br />Connie’s kindness, gentleness and compassion shines through in her care for Aaron’s dying father, and her desire to do everything she can to comfort Aaron and convince him that he has no reason to feel any guilt for his actions during the war.<br /><br />I adore Aaron for realising the extent of Connie’s grief and sadness at the loss of her family and for arranging a secret meeting with her mother and brother.<br /><br /><i>His throat felt tight with emotion. For the first time he truly saw all of her grief and sadness at the loss of her family until she had realised that they had come to see her, then the relief and desperation on her lovely face had moved him and he was glad that he had been able to do this one tiny thing for her.</i><br /><br />Whether it is standing up to Aaron’s irascible father or Aaron himself, Connie is definitely a force to be reckoned with!<br /><br /><i>“Perhaps I did not make myself clear. When I said that I wanted to help I meant that I am going to help you, whether you like it or not. I am not some ornamental woman and I will not let you treat me like one.”</i><br /><br />The sexual tension builds up deliciously so that their falling in love feels genuine and when they finally make love, it just seems right. Ms. Heath writes such lovely, romantic scenes and I love this one where just a touch of a hand conveys so much. Sometimes, I find it far more romantic than an overtly explicit scene.<br /><br /><i>When his eyes slowly drifted down to her lips and lingered there, Connie’s heart began to race. His palm was still cupping her cheek, making her skin prickle with an awareness that was both quite alien and intoxicating at the same time.</i><br /><br />I also like how Ms Heath includes lovely touches of humour, and this is one of my favourites because it conjured up such a comical picture in my mind!<br /><br /><i>The door edged open slowly to reveal him standing there with the handkerchief of surrender in one hand while the other hand held a bucket over his head like a helmet. He surveyed the room with exaggerated wariness before he gingerly stepped inside, still holding his bucket armour about his head and looking, much to her utter consternation, quite delightful. ‘I come in peace, Connie. Put down your weapons.’</i><br /><br />The Earl of Redbridge, Connie’s father, is a truly despicable man. Not only does he threaten to put Connie and her mother out on the streets if she (Connie) refuses to marry Aaron, but he selfishly pursues his feud with Aaron’s father to the detriment of his daughter’s happiness. A thoroughly dislikeable character whom I’m pleased to say gets everything he deserves.<br /><br />I was disappointed in the lack of an Epilogue because but I love seeing the hero and heroine enjoying their well-deserved Happy Ever After.<br /><br /><b>MY VERDICT: This was a lovely introduction to Ms. Heath’s books and I will definitely be reading more.</b><br /><br /><br /><b> <i>**I received a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review**</i> </b><br /><br /><br />This review was first posted on my Rakes and Rascals blog:<br /><br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/2017/04/16/review-her-enemy-at-the-altar-by-virginia-heath/">https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

(2.5 stars) I love marriage of convenience stories and this sounded like it would be a good one, especially considering it's by a new-to-me favorite HR author. Virginia Heath may very well be my favorite Harlequin romance author and she's probably even in my top 10 overall HR author list now.<br /><br />But no author turns out a winner every time and this one disappointed me a bit. It's not that this is a bad story. It just has a few of my personal bugaboos that annoyed enough to make me feel impatient while reading.<br /><br />Let's start with the heroine. She was the one causing me the most stress. Described as very tall (6 feet), slender, with abundant beautiful red hair, green eyes and alabaster skin, she focuses only on the "very tall" and believes herself to be shapeless and unattractive to the opposite sex. She develops a feigned I-don't-care attitude around others which makes her belief about her unattractiveness self-fulfilling. It doesn't help to have an unfeeling father who tears her down at every opportunity and has now "sold" her in marriage to a man who does not care for her but only for what the marriage will bring him.<br /><br />Now, here it must be said that the Stuart family has been feuding with the neighboring Wincanton family for ages. Our hero, Aaron Wincanton, has arrived home from the Wars with PTSD and also a desire to bring the feud to an end. He would like Constance to be an ally in this but since some years ago he had created a teasing nickname for her (Ginger Amazonian) which still smarts and still haunts Connie, she wants nothing to do with him.<br /><br />However, wouldn't you know it, circumstances find Aaron and Connie having to marry. A "marriage of inconvenience" to both. She because she detests him and he because the Wincanton family is in financial straits and he needs to marry money. (Connie has been disowned by her father and no dowry is forthcoming.)<br /><br />This book had the bones of a very good story and every once in a while it was to my liking. Aaron's PTSD, for example, is treated realistically and well and Connie's poor self image and low self esteem makes one feel sympathy for her. However, Connie is just too touchy and abrasive and volatile. I found her lacking at times in even common courtesy to Aaron. And the Misunderstandings and Failure to Communicate tropes were out in full force in this HR. It took until the very last few pages for Connie to come to the realization that she was attractive and loveable. (I must say that Aaron's reticence didn't help her much either with this.)<br /><br />Throughout the story, there were times that Connie would show moments of kindness and consideration for others. That just made her angry, unpleasant outbursts on many occasions that much more disagreeable to me. Also lacking in this story was the fun in the read that I found in the other two Heath HRs I've read. Those were romantic and humorous and witty and a joy to read. This one not so much and I guess I need to laugh or at least smile while reading nowadays.

Beautifully written.

<b>3.5 stars rounded up</b><br /><br />Very satisfying traditional HR. HEatA takes well-worn plot devices (the forced marriage, feuding families, PTSD) and makes something fresh and delightful out of them. Connie and Aaron actually talk to each other; each notices the other's virtues (slowly, to be sure) and their coming together feels both hard-worn and satisfying. I'd read this again, and I'll certainly look for others by Virginia Heath.

DNF<br /><br />Not feeling the chemistry or anything between the MCs.<br />Average writing style.

Well, after a dodgy beginning, I grew to really like this book! At first, the heroine was driving me nuts- such low self-esteem and apparently tall, gangly and unattractive. Her father was just awful and she was simply a bundle of neuroses.<br />Then we meet the hero, who is clearly suffering from PTSD and carries a massive guilt complex over something that happened in a war. What a combination- blind leading the blind, you would think.<br /><br />But it develops into a lovely story of how they manage to break through each other's walls and help each other start to heal. Their pride and stubbornness causes problems with communication and creates misunderstandings, but they come through all their difficulties with flying colours.<br />He is a caring, sensitive man, she is actually an attractive, magnificent woman- a sweet, enjoyable read. They deserved their HEA:)

I related to and felt for the heroine for at least 40%, but then she started to get on my nerves. She was a shrew for way too long and her insecurities started to overshadow the story. The poor H was henpecked to death.

It was fine. I feel like the hero is more patient than I would be with a heroine who constantly bemoans how <i>hideous</i> she is, even though she is actually quite attractive. Aaron's financially foolhardy and outspokenly crude dad is my favorite character, and he spends half the book <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="0bda157e-585b-4310-8667-a53879dcf6c0" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="0bda157e-585b-4310-8667-a53879dcf6c0">dying</label>, so that probably says a lot (bad things, mostly) about the other characters. That said, I like Heath's voice when the dialogue gets flowing. It rolls along nicely and keeps the story interesting even when it isn't compelling.