The Rejected Suitor

Author: Teresa McCarthy
Published: April 2004 (Signet)
Category: Regency Romance
Rating: 6/10

This book had a lot of promise, but it got too complicated for its own good. Basically, Lady Emily Clearbrook's four older brothers have returned from the war and have decided to marry her off to a suitable gentleman. They are unaware that she was almost engaged to Jared Ashton, Earl of Stonebridge, three years prior, but due to the machinations of their father, Jared was set up to appear as though he'd compromised another woman, and they had to marry to save both their reputations. Emily's brothers are also unaware that she served as a spy called the Silver Fox during the war, and in the course of her missions, she indirectly saved Jared's life and took a bullet in the shoulder for her troubles.

Emily still loves Jared, and she is thrown in his way when her brothers send her to a more remote estate under the care of her great aunt Agatha, who also happens to be her boss at the War Office. Jared is amazed at how much he's still attracted to Emily, and at how angry she is with him. When it seems like the romance will take off, Emily is swept off to London for the season.

She keeps complaining that she doesn't want her husband chosen for her, but she gave up so easily. For God's sake, the woman was a spy, and she couldn't even stand up to her own brothers. That's what made this book so difficult to enjoy. And four brothers? That was too many and I lost track of the middle two brothers because they were so unremarkable. They more often served as yes-men to the eldest (the duke), and the youngest brother was on Emily's side sometimes, but followed the rest of the boys when he most needed to stand up for his sister.

Then it gets crazier, what with the addition of the jealous Susan Wimble, who thinks she's about to become engaged to Jared. Of course, Emily overhears this after Jared declares his love and asks her to marry him. She gets pissed and refuses Jared. Then they reconcile. Then she finds out that he didn't tell her about his hidden daughter, and refuses him again. Then she almost marries her mother's former beau (eeeuw), but Jared climbs through her window to convince her he's really trustworthy, etc.

After all the trouble and the announcement that there will be a double wedding (Jared and Emily with Emily's mother and her former betrothed), there isn't even a description of how the dowager duchess handles the announcement that she will get a chance with true love after all!

Too much back and forth for a 217-page regency! There was also a lot of male dialogue, what with four brothers and Jared taking much of the stage. I should've found a lot of it amusing, but it was a little over the top with the juvenile testosterone and I couldn't believe them calling each other "nincompoops."