This was a fun and unique novel from a new to me author. I really enjoyed the set up for this story and the unusual situation that Willow found herself in. It was heartwarming to see the full faith that Willow’s parents had in her. They were confident that she was able to run the company for her father, yet they were in an uncomfortable situation with the board members of their company.
The competitions and time spent with the suitors included creative ways for the suitors and Willow to play games, dine together, interact in large groups, and also time to spend courting as a couple would want to do. I knew who my favorite contestant for Willow’s heart was, however, the author did a very good job of keeping a couple of men in the running who clearly fell in love with Willow.
I enjoyed watching as Willow narrowed the field down to the key players. Her heart definitely got involved in the process. There was plenty of underlying tension due to the competition, but also due to the unkind articles that began to show up in the press. Concern regarding the future of the company and whether someone was trying to undermine the family’s efforts to secure a husband who would help run the company added to the need for Willow to make a good decision in her choice of men! I was happy with the way things played out in this book and look forward to reading future novels in this series.
(4 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father’s unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, plans changed. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan–find Willow a spokesman king in order for her to become queen of the empire.
Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society’s elite group called the Four Hundred. She has six months to court the group and is expected to eliminate men each month to narrow her beaus until she chooses one to marry, ending the competition with a wedding. Willow reluctantly agrees, knowing she must do what is best for the business. She doesn’t expect to find anything other than a proxy . . . until she meets Cullen Dempsey, and she must discover for herself if his motives are pure.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Grace Hitchcock is the author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in Baton Rouge with her husband, Dakota, son and daughter.
