Alice loves her family, but longs for independence… Lady Alice Thomasina Balfour is the acknowledged daughter of Dane, Duke of Wakefield, but her real father is Benjamin Hedley, her mother's secret and lifelong partner. Her third father is Stephen Spearing, Esq., who is Dane's secret partner. Alice is torn between her beloved family and their expectations and her need for the independence young, modern women are beginning to enjoy, which she believes she can have if she opens her own shop. She needs funds to do so, but as a woman, cannot take a loan with any bank. Her family for once, are not supportive.Garrick Lawrence Wortham is not a peer, but thanks to his family's fortune and upper-class status, he is expected to marry into the peerage and solidify the family's reputation. After refusing yet another debutante, Garrick feels obliged to bow to his father's wishes to fund and manage a new, shocking project; the opening of a retail establishment by the daughter of the Duke of Wakefield, a peer whose family have fallen into disgrace and social ruin. But managing the willful woman's new business venture is more taxing than he expected. It doesn't help that the lovely Lady Alice is prickly, defensive and hiding secrets that, as he learns more, brings him to make an outrageous proposal…This book is part of the Scandalous Family-The Victorians series. This is the second spin-off series to feature a new generation of the Great Family, who are now scattering across Europe and beyond in search of adventure…and love.Scandalous Family-The Victorians series:1.0 His Parisian Mistress2.0 Her Rebellious Prince3.0 Their Foreign Affair4.0 His Outrageous Proposal…and more to come!A Victorian Era Historical Romance___Praise for the Scandalous Family-The Victorians seriesTracy is a wonderful writer that loves a complicated story. While her stories are true to the Victorian era, she brings so much more to her books.The characters are full of emotion and suck you right into the story. I love how Tracy pulls the reader into the story and we feel we have a front row seat to the action, and feel all the ups and downs of the characters.One thing is for sure, this is not your usual Victorian romance. This story has a great, and at least for me, and unexpected plot.This is a really satisfying read! There's plenty of substance to the plot and an interesting storyline with intrigue, action and suspense as well as the delicious romantic relationship developed between the two main characters.Tracy Cooper-Posey has a succinct and yet enthralling writing style that creates such an immersive experience that I feel like I'm stepping into situations right alongside these characters that I am getting to know!
