To Charm a Lady - Review

To Charm a Lady (The Cartwells, # 2)

By: Joanna Barker

Publication: June 6, 2024 by Rose Petal Press

294 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Clean Romance, Regency

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Cora Atherton wants nothing more than to finally fall in love—real love, not the unrequited sort. When she is invited to attend a house party without her disapproving, overbearing mother, Cora leaps at the chance, desperate to make a match of her own. That is, until she finds that Oliver Cartwell is also attending the party. Oliver, the boy she has loved since she was a girl and the man she is determined to forget.

A house party in the country is just what Oliver needs to distract himself from the shadows of his past. When he discovers that Cora, his sister’s best friend, is in need of a little matchmaking, he resolves to help her in her search for a husband. He quickly learns that no man is good enough for her, least of all himself. Why, then, does he find himself fighting his attraction to gentle, beautiful Cora at every step?

As the two draw closer together, Cora is forced to confront the feelings that have tortured her for years. With her future on the line and a deadline fast approaching, can she trust that flirtatious Oliver has changed for the better—or will he leave her heart in pieces once again?

Cora and Oliver's story was setup in A Game of Hearts. Oliver was in a flirtatious relationship with Cora and Marigold's friend, Sylvia, until she chose not to support Marigold when her reputation suffered a small blow before she and Tristan got engaged. Sylvia never did choose to reconcile with Marigold. Thus Oliver and Cora both cut ties with her. Oliver has been a party boy, not taking life or his responsibilities too seriously. 

Cora has loved Oliver since she was about ten. But her mother is overbearing and refuses to say anything nice about Oliver. She doesn't view him as a serious young man and assumes he will make a terrible husband no matter who he marries. When Cora's mother injures her leg and cannot attend a house party as Cora's chaperone, Cora jumps at the chance for Lady Englefield to play chaperone for her. Cora wants so badly to find love from without the heavy burden of her mother's disapproval. 

I think what I liked most about this book was that there were few truly awful characters. Of course, there's Oliver's friend and the married lady continually hitting on Oliver, but other than that, all of the other characters just felt normal and human and mostly "good". Oliver's parents, although loving, still said something hurtful that he overheard, and has affected him deeply. Cora unintentionally leads on Lord Stanton. Lord Stanton and Oliver have a history from their school days, but even now, he seems to have matured and doesn't take offense to plenty of things he could have. Oliver has made poor choices in his youth but finally sees his need to change. Lady Englefield wasn't as attentive of a chaperone as she should have been, but her overall goodness shines through. Cora's mother is only tainted by her own experiences and hurts and mostly wants her daughter not to be hurt by an irresponsible rake. I could go on, but I think I've made my point. The characters were not perfect, but you could see goodness shining through most of the time.

The only quote I highlighted:

-"You are too easily deceived, Cora," Mother said. "You know so little of this world, of what people can truly be like." "Perhaps," I said. "But I do not think I will ever regret being generous with my good opinion. I would much rather be kind than indifferent."

I barely touched on Cora and Oliver's relationship or their journey to each other. I haven't even touched on what each must overcome. But I will tell you that it was worth the journey. It was enjoyable every step of the way. Most of us can relate to having unrequited feelings for someone else at some point. And that makes this story one that anyone can relate to. To Charm a Lady gets 4 Stars. I can't wait to see who gets a story next. Have you read To Charm a Lady? What did you think? Let me know!