Books › The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne
The Surrender of Miss Fairbourne
352 pages
A sparkling battle of wits where commerce meets aristocracy, and stubborn independence gives way to equal partnership.
What it feels like
Reading this historical romance feels like stepping into a richly appointed London drawing room where the air crackles with unspoken challenges. The narrative unfolds at a steady, elegant pace, allowing the delicious friction between a fiercely independent businesswoman and an arrogant aristocrat to simmer into genuine heat. Madeline Hunter's prose is sharp and sophisticated, prioritizing sparkling banter and emotional intelligence over melodrama. The mood is warm and spirited, balancing the opulent world of high-end auctions with the intimate vulnerability of two guarded people learning to yield. It is a deeply satisfying experience for readers who crave a battle of wills where surrender does not mean defeat, but rather the discovery of a true, equal partnership.
- Mood
- sophisticated
- romantic
- crackling
- warm
- Tone
- witty
- elegant
- spirited
- playful
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- female independence · battle of wills · commerce vs. aristocracy · vulnerability and trust
- The writing
- Elegant and sharp, with a focus on sparkling banter and rich historical detail.
- The arc
- Moves from stubborn defiance and mutual frustration to a tender, hard-won partnership built on genuine respect.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love capable, business-minded heroines going toe-to-toe with arrogant but ultimately swoon-worthy aristocrats.
Content notes
- grief
- historical sexism
About the book
A woman running a prestigious London auction house? Preposterous! But that is exactly what Emma Fairbourne intends to do when her father dies, leaving her the reins of this fabulous enterprise. Of course, she is not addlepated enough to do this openly and scare away her wealthy collectors. So she and her friend concoct a deception, hiring a handsome and charming front man who will do her bidding...
All would have proceeded smoothly--if it weren't for the maddening interference of Darius, the arrogant Earl of Southwaite, who has been her father's "silent partner" and now shares ownership of Fairbourne's. An earl, of course, has no interest in running an auction house--and Darius is certainly not interested in allowing the lovely Miss Fairbourne to run it either, her ludicrous scheme notwithstanding. Clearly the business must be sold.
But the headstrong Emma is like no other lady he has ever encountered, refusing to follow his dictates. Holding his temper in check, Darius decides to attack on a different front. There is another way to achieve her surrender, one far more pleasurable for both of them..
Description from Open Library.
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