Design your own perfect match......these two characters are just so ready for love with each other. I really enjoyed this book it was a easy read. The desinty for the happiness of West has a few challenges ingrained from his past and his desire to do good for all his estate and his family. Priscilla has heard that intimacy moments are meant to feel so passionate but is yet to experience it until her connection with West. Totally loved the plot to the happily ever after.3 s Sarah Anne1,766 159 Shelved as 'did-not-finish'

May 11, 2024

DNF @ 20%

Plot felt heavy handed and didn’t enjoy the writing.

2 s Mindy 103

Let me just say right off the bat that I'm glad the very first page is the definition of the word "bequeathed", lol. Thank you Andie James, I was about to have to look it up. :)

Priscilla and West were VERY likable characters. If there's ever been two people that need each other and are right for each other - it's them. Both were trying to break away from years of strict parenting and rigid expectations placed upon them.

I really d that Priscilla had a redemption arc. When I first heard about how she treated her best friend 5 years ago, I got a sinking feeling of oh no, I hope this gets resolved. I was delighted to see that she had apologized and made up with her friend prior to the beginning of this book, and now they are friends again.

It's so refreshing to see characters set 200 years ago and trying to do the right thing, even if no one else around them does at that time. West and Priscilla are the kind of good people that would be considered allies today. They used the power that they had to make a change and they spoke up, and let that be a lesson for all us white people today. West and Priscilla are the people today that would still be wearing masks in the current pandemic and caring about all injustice. And trying to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

My only *gentle* criticism is the trope of pursuing an affair to find out what you want, who you are and to gain experience led me have some expectations that were slightly let down. I've wracked my brain as to whether it's my own fault for having these expectations and is my opinion about this unreasonable? I haven't come up with an answer yet but unfortunately, I feel the way I feel and that's all I can go by.

The criticism is the steam level. Now, I will read any romance (as long it isn't advertised as clean or inspirational lol) and range from completely closed door to completely open door. I did not know going in what kind of spice level it would be, but once I got to the mc looking specifically for an affair, I thought it would be more open door. When the characters finally got to the moment it was pretty much glossed over.

I will admit it, I felt a bit "Veronica & Stoker-ed". (sorry Deanna Raybourn). I felt I was set up. Sorry if these opinions are completely off the hook, but there it is.

Thank you to Andie James for the ARC. My opinions are my own.1 Alexandra339 15

A delicious entanglement of convenience with some strong ‘The Duke and I’ vibes. Only this time both parties are seeking to avoid the ton’s pushy singletons and their own family’s unwanted opinions.

West is a marquess in dire financial straits who just wants to reunite his family and see if he can replenish his coffers with honest trade and hard work instead of dowry hunting. Priscilla is a wealthy young dowager duchess fresh out of mourning the elderly husband her parents pushed on her, hoping to enjoy her newfound freedom - with its possible benefits - as a widow a little longer.
His mother is urging him to find a bride, if possible a wealthy one. Her mother is pushing her to remarry as soon as possible - why, that newly titled marquess might make a fine match.
Neither of them is looking to marry any time soon, and if and when they do, it will be someone of their choosing - someone their parents won’t - and only for love.
So when these two strike a deal to fool everyone, whatever could go wrong?

Safe to say, boundaries will be crossed and lines will blur because feelings will always and unapologetically disrupt even the best laid plans.
It’s a joy to see these two grow close from prejudiced acquaintances, to partners, to friends and eventually lovers. They’re both convinced it’s unrequited love, even when neither of them is willing to give in to their own heart. He’s stubborn and sober, she’s a bit more emotional but also unafraid to speak her mind - and she does it so well! These MCs are layered, lovable and intelligent.
This story has witty dialogue, strong women, some sweet and tender romance, a lot of fear and pride to overcome, just a splash of steam, a muck-up and a beautiful grand gesture in the end. And he wears glasses! It’s totally predictable, but also beautifully written, captivating and fun!
1 Historical romance nerd54 4

This book was so lovely! It's a fake courtship romance, which is a trope I absolutely love, so I was excited to read this one.

Priscilla is a widow. She was married to a man much older than her. While he was kind to her, she now wants to make her own choices for her life. She also wants to discover what all the fuss is about in the bedroom. Unfortunately, because her husband left her a large settlement after he died, she is a target for every fortune hunter in town.

West is a new marquess with father issues. He is trying to bring his family back together and restore the family fortune. His mother wants him to marry someone with money, but he wants to marry for love and doesn't want to marry someone his father would've approved of.

These two have a spark immediately and form an agreement to fake court so people will leave them alone. Of course, they start to have feelings. So inconvenient!

I loved this couple. The way they interacted with each other was so sweet. They were clearly perfect for each other, everyone could see it but them.

I would classify this as low spice. One sex scene that was mostly glossed over.

Definitely pick this one up if you love fake relationship romances!

This book comes out on March 22nd!

I received an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.1 K.A. Raz3 1 follower

@andiejamesauthor is becoming a fave of mine, she’s a newer author on the scene who’s stories and writing just keeps getting better, and Bequeathed I think is the best of them all.

The story follows West, the Marquess of Hampton, and Priscilla, the newly widowed Dutchess of Stern (who, if you have read any of Andie’s past works has been in the background slowly redeeming herself for some seriously messed up mean girl sh*t).

West’s father dies having left the family’s coffers in ruin, along with a hefty set of daddy issues for West to unpackage. Determined to replenish the lost funds and also improve family name he sets out on a mission to make some radical changes, though not ready to go so far as to wed for money - especially to someone his father would have deemed appropriate, someone exactly Priscilla.

Priscilla, following a couple seasons of being Regina George ends up being forced to wed an older man for her status seeking parents. The marriage, though not awful, was also not one she would have dreamed of. It did have its benefits however leaving her wealthy, as well as humbled by her past mean girl ways. Upon the death of her husband her mother forces her back into the season to find a new husband, even though she doesn’t want one. Pricilla, seeing what she has missed amongst her friends in loving relationships decides she wants passion, and determines a fling is the perfect way to go about that. But the last thing she wants is a man who would please her mother, a man exactly West.

Unfortunately for both, the attraction and pull is much too strong, so why not agree to a pretend courtship to keep their families off their backs, and enjoy some of the benefits in private for themselves. It seems a good idea in theory, but is it really?

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.


1 Ginny MooreAuthor 6 books43

Bequeathed is a lovely regency romance that plays with the fake dating trope between two strong-minded leads fighting to overcome the expectations of their families. I adored West’s determination, as the new marquess, to separate his family from profiting from the institution of slavery. Kudos to the author for facing the aristocracy’s troubled association with the slave trade head on! I had a harder time connecting to Priscilla as the heroine; she’d been a villain in a previous book, and while the author redeemed her, I wish I had had more time with the couple on page earlier in the book so I could have felt more empathy for her. A good read!

Thank you to Andie for an advanced copy; these are my honest opinions. 1 Celine7

I received this book as an ARC, but all opinions are my own

This novel reminded me why I fell in love with the Regency period. The social events from the balls, concerts, and beauty of the English Countryside fully enrich the story. I especially enjoyed those tender moments where West and Priscilla are revealing truths of themselves, whether it be through dancing, listening to music, escaping for a few quiet moments to themselves, they were incredibly sweet together. My favorite microtrope appeared, sexy spectacles which always wins me over. I would classify the intimacy as more lower stream, but I still felt that chemistry between the two. The family dynamics of the Beaumonts and the set up for future love stories is explored.

A great start to a new series and I’m excited to see what’s next for the Beaumont family!

4.5 stars rounded up to 51 Shiney15

Can two people be too perfect for each other--and thus shouldn't be together? In Bequeathed by Andie James, this is the quandary that West, newly the Marquess of Hampton, and (by virtue of the title) head of the Beaumont family, faces when he finds himself in a staged courtship with Lady Priscilla, the Dowager Duchess of Stern. At the time they meet, West is bent on correcting the wrongs of the previous generations while restoring their family's finances; Priscilla, for her part, is looking to find true intimacy and physical fulfillment now that her current status and circumstances afford her the opportunity to do so.

From the get-go, West and Priscilla are evidently perfectly matched--in their attraction and chemistry, but most especially, their world view and their stance towards doing the right thing. They are so perfectly matched, even in the eyes of society's standards and expectations, that it's getting the way of their growing feelings beneath the masquerade of a ton courtship they were affecting. Because West has got it into his head that everything his father did or thought was wrong (which, in all fairness to West, is extremely justified), that the fact that Priscilla would've been the deceased marquess's choice for West's bride is the main deterrent to their progress.

Priscilla, meanwhile, is a recovered mean girl. She's played by society's rules so much as a young debutante that she's determined never to repeat her mistakes of making a play for an advantageous marriage simply for the sake of status. It stands to mention that Priscilla's first marriage, that to a much older man who quickly took ill, was not particularly cruel or harmful to her. She had done her duty, and cared for her late husband as a matter of responsibility and as a decent human being--it just wasn't one of passion and wasn't made of something more that made her life sing or more meaningful. And so for her to find that she is attracted to West, and that she can now pursue a physical relationship with him with none of the censure she had been so conscious of, is an opportunity she intends to take for herself.
It frustrated me at times, at how much they're fighting their good fortune in finding the person perfect for them, though I thoroughly understand where each is coming from. Priscilla gets to wisdom faster, and I that she was able to confront West with it in a truthful manner, with no wiles or machinations behind her actions.

For a fake-courtship-with-benefits book, it wasn't as steamy as I expected. While there are on-page love scenes, they are written in allusive language and brief. That said, it added to the general romantic feeling of the book, and how a lifetime partnership is threaded together with a sincere courtship.

If there was a little bit of a challenge for me in the reading, it's that I somewhat pick out a modern vibe in the construction of the language. I really can't quite put a finger on it--and this is not to say that the writing wasn't skilled or fluid, there's just something in the diction that sometimes pricks the bubble. This bit doesn't subtract from the story nor the ideas that Andie James puts forth, and it was a really charming and enjoyable read.

Bequeathed is a series opener for the rest of the Beaumonts, and looking forward to getting to know more about this upstanding generation of a society family.

I received an ARC from the author. This review is made voluntarily, honestly, and for free.1 MistyAuthor 14 books62

A charming, heartfelt tale of finding love even despite yourself...

Priscilla is a bit of mean girl in Ruin and Redemption for the Earl but we see her on the other side of a transformation as she is now the widowed Duchess of Stern and contemplating her ability to pursue life on her own terms. (She's also developed a strong friendship with Elise, the girl whose life she once almost ruined, testimony to the power of second chances.) Priscilla might even pursue an affair, now that she has a bit more liberty, but she won't certainly won't bow to her mother's matchmaking schemes.

West, Marquess of Hampton, is also free to live on his own terms now that he's free of his father's iron grip--and relentless disapproval. West is faced with the monumental task of rescuing the fortunes of the Beaumont family. Committed to proving he's as different from his father as possible, he won't do anything that his father might approve of--and his father would have loved Priscilla.

With the pressures of the marriage mart weighing on them both, Priscilla and West hit on the solution of a fake courtship that will free them from unwanted suitors and temporarily cease the meddling from their families. But the closer she comes to West, the more Priscilla sees the deeply kind, ethical strength at his core. And the more he sees of Priscilla, the more West wants her in his arms. But how are these two to overcome the legacies left to them in order to carve out a life they want?

James's stories are simply lovely, her prose as graceful as a gavotte. Her characters are mature and in touch with their feelings, which leads to thoughtful conversations that modern readers can appreciate. Priscilla is amusing but relatable as she encounters desire for the first time, and West is sympathetic even in his stubbornness. I so enjoyed watching these two characters come together, and I'm glad there are books to come featuring the lively and entertaining Beaumonts. A pure pleasure!1 Ruth276 1 follower

West (Robert Westley Beaumont III) is the new Marquess of Hampton and has inherited the family mismanaged finance. West wants to run the estate his way and change the way his father did. He also wants to reunite the entire family even the ones his father cut off.

Priscilla is now a wealthy widow after her husband the Duke of Stern passed away. She is now out of mourning and her mother is back trying to control her life again. She decides she wants to have an affair.

West meets Priscilla at a ball, and he asked her to dance, as the music starts, she leaves the floor, so he doesn't see tears in her eyes. West spots her in a room and goes and talk to her, another gentleman comes in the room and Priscilla pulls him in for a kiss.

West and Priscilla decide to have a fake courtship, so their families leave them alone. They both decide they can't truly be together since both their families what that. They enjoy each other company as they fall for each other. Love has a way of making things harder. What will it take for West to wake up before he loses the one thing he wants for his self.

1 Olivia227

West is the new marquess and has inherited an impoverished estate that he needs to revive. While he’s at it, he also wants to avoid doing anything his overly strict late father would have approved of, marrying a wealthy woman for her dowry. Priscilla is a young widowed duchess out of mourning and in the swing of the Season, looking to assert her independence and not just go along with her parents’ expectations. Unfortunately, her late husband left her with quite a bit of money, so the fortune-hunting gentlemen are paying too much attention for her liking. Priscilla and West are encouraged by their respective parents to spend time together, both are clear they’re not interested in an attachment, and then end up in a fake relationship to get their families and fortune-hunters to leave them alone. As they spend more time together, they realize that they do genuinely each other, despite their social appropriateness. The question becomes what to do with their newfound feelings when they’ve already agreed to a expiration date of their relationship.1 PlotTrysts812 343

A light, fun historical romance. Priscilla is a young, wealthy widow; West just inherited his father's impoverished marquessate. They both finally feel they're engaging with the world on their own terms, but their independence is sidelined because they're both hot and seen as good marriage prospects. What better idea, then, than that they team up in a fake relationship to keep their unwanted suitors off their backs? They definitely won't be interested in each other, because that's exactly what their parents would want...

The book is set against the backdrop of West's trying to divest his family holdings from the slave trade and Priscilla's resolution to be a better person and friend. I will say it's not quite as sexy as I hoped from a book where Priscilla makes an affair a condition of their fake relationship...

3.5 stars rounded to 4. This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel. romance-novels5 s Ava BondAuthor 10 books48

This was my first Andie James and I very much enjoyed it. The author paints a delightful regency romance set amongst the ton with widow Priscilla looking to have an affair and West looking to salvage his family’s reputation. Neither of them precisely want marriage although their surviving parents are keen for them to tie the knot. So they agree to fake date (court?) despite their attraction.
There is a lot of world building so it’s definitely on the slow side in terms of slow burn but I felt this added yummy stakes. I especially d West’s show of jealousy.
They do spend a lot of time denying their feelings since it wasn’t what either of them planned. But it was nice to see the slow crumbling of their defenses. 1 Ly187 1 follower

A delightful romance!

Priscilla and West are the two main characters. They are strong, independent, and know what they want. He is obstinate, and she speaks her mind, resulting in beautiful verbal exchanges between them for the reader’s great pleasure. As a widow, Priscilla isn’t yet looking for another man to engage with, but she hopes to engage in an affair. Circumstances will lead West to offer that they pretend to be in a relationship. I found they were a nice couple with a charming relationship. I enjoyed the lovely growth of their romance.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
1 NixLapi312 1 follower

I love a fake dating romance, especially when the MCs decide they absolutely can not get emotionally entangled!

This was a sweet romance between a newly minted Marquess, West, and wealthy widow, Priscilla, who decide to fake date to get their respective mothers (and other potential suitors) off their backs.

An enjoyable read complete with the requisite shitty family members pushing against West who is just trying to be a good guy, while Priscilla is fighting her own moral code while trying not to give in to the temptation that is a sometimes bespectaled West.

I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.2024-release arc-copy bookstagram-rec ...more1 Melissa Williams10

I have read every book by this author and this is my FAVORITE. If you love Bridgerton, this has major vibes, but with another -very FUN twist. I love the strong female lead out to find HER pleasure, and the very willing (LOL) but also engaging West. It was fun, it gave me butterfly's, I loved the back and forth. I read it all in one sitting!1 Melanie Purcell207 2

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