She’s more than just an heiress…

Letitia Trentham is noteworthy for three reasons. One, she’s extremely wealthy. Two, she can distinguish truth from lies. Three, she’s refused every man who’s ever proposed to her.

Until Letty receives a proposal she can’t turn down.

Icarus Reid barely survived the Battle of Vimeiro. He lives for one thing—to find the man who betrayed him to the French. He doesn’t want to marry Miss Trentham; he wants to use her talent for uncovering lies.

Suddenly, Letty finds herself breaking the rules, pretending to be someone she’s not, and doing things a lady would never do. But her hunt for the truth may uncover more than one secret—including the secret that haunts Icarus day and night. The secret he intends to take to his grave…

Click on title below for direct Amazon buy link:                                         Trusting Miss Trentham (Baleful Godmother Historical Romance Series ~ Book 3)

MY REVIEW:

Wealthy heiress Letitia (Letty) Trentham has turned down countless proposals over the last six years.  It’s not that she doesn’t want to be married, it’s just that she wants to find a man who genuinely desires her, not her fortune.  Letty has a unique and magical gift, which she received on her twenty-first birthday – the ability to tell if words spoken are truth or lies.  Letty’s stepbrother investigates each suitor, usually finding that they are seriously in debt.  He tells Letty his findings, and she questions them when they propose.  All their declarations of love, affection, and fidelity ring false, leaving Letty feeling that she’ll never find love.

Major Icarus Reid, now retired from being a soldier, knows that he will not live to see another year.  All he wants before he dies is to find the traitor who betrayed him and his men to the French, causing their capture and torture.  Icarus was the only survivor, and suffers guilt and nightmares now, reliving his torture every night.  He even looks forward to welcoming death to end his pain once he sees justice done.  He has heard stories about Letty, and how she can discern whether a person is telling the truth, and he wants her to help him find the traitor.

Letty is taken aback when she’s approached by the gaunt, obviously ill man who requests her help.  At first, she thinks it’s just a ploy to get close to her, but his answers to her questions all have the ring of truth.  Letty agrees, and one by one, they confront each possible suspect, and she determines if they are honestly answering the questions Icarus poses.  Eventually, they have to travel further afield to reach the remaining potential betrayers, and Letty volunteers to go along, disguised, and posing as his wife.  There is no instantaneous flaring attraction between Letty and Icarus.  In fact, he finds her plain, while his own looks have suffered due to his illness.  As they become better acquainted, they find themselves respecting and liking each other.

Letty is a very sympathetic character.  She has no illusions about herself, and is strong enough to stick to her principles, even if that means she will never marry.  Yet, she’s very compassionate and generous and loving to her family.  Icarus is an honorable, but wounded and vulnerable man.  The anguish he suffers from his nightmares is truly heartbreaking.  Author Emily Larkin has written another amazing book which I read in one sitting.  There were so many facets to the story, and questions begging to be answered.  TRUSTING MISS TRENTHAM flowed along effortlessly, and this book had it all for me.  There was slow building romance, steamy passion, mystery, exceptional protagonists, and a bit of magic.  I love, love, love this book and the Baleful Godmother series, which I’m delighted to give my highest recommendation.