This story was great fun; a very entertaining and refreshing tale with unexpected plot twists. The first half of the book was set on a cruise liner in the mid-Atlantic on its way to England. Much of the fun stuff happens on board the ship. Once Annabel and Christian (and families) arrive in England, the author explores their relationship and individual histories. Annabel was a fighter, a poor Southern girl who was determined to become something from nothing. She had ambition but was never obnoxious or overbearing. She had pluck and a sense of humor. Christian was easy to like as well. A man with a title, a huge estate, and no money, he needed some quick cash but refused to marry for it. Circumstances forced them together, and their strong sexual attraction made their situation difficult. Although the love scenes weren't numerous, they were poignant. The writing was well done.

In the past, this writer has been more a miss than a hit for me, but I'm glad I didn't give up on her. Of the three books in this series, this one by far gets my great big cheer and 4.5 stars.

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Twenty-five-year-old Annabel Wheaton has had a checkered past. She grew up poor in Mississippi but received an unexpected inheritance from her biological father upon his death in Alaska. Her father and mother had divorced years before and Annabel's father had gone to the gold mines of Alaska to seek his fortune.

After the inheritance, Annabel and her family had moved to New York City and tried to break into society there with virtually no success. So Annabel decided to buy a position in British society by getting engaged to a penniless earl, Bernard. The marriage was planned on board a transatlantic ship, heading to England. However, Annabel's Uncle Arthur has investigated Bernard and knows that Annabel will be unhappy with the cad's womanizing, etc.

He finds another penniless peer, a duke, and offers him a shipload of money to break up the wedding. Christian DuQuesne has his own baggage (he married a woman for money and she committed suicide about 12 years before). Christian is absolutely opposed to marrying again, even though he unexpectedly rose to the position of duke after the surprising death of his older brother. He is desperate for money to keep his stately home but has decided to seek investments to improve his lot, instead of marrying again.

Christian accepts the challenge and manages to create enough questions in Annabel's mind to cause her to doubt Bernard. The rest of the story takes place in England. Christian's sister, a social maven, takes Annabel under her wing and tries to help her find a husband. I questioned the ease with which Annabel entered British society; after all, she was 'nouveau riche' and the British of that era were all 'old money.'

Christian has to face his failure with his first wife before he can hope to have a successful second one. At that point, Annabell decided that she couldn't marry him because he didn't love her. That falderal dropped my rating to 3.5 stars.

Abandoned at the Altar
1. Wedding of the Season (2010)
2. Scandal of the Year (2011)
** 3. Trouble at the Wedding (2011)

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I liked the first two books in the series but I didn't "love" them. This third book is Christian's story, and my favorite of the series. Christian won me over big time! I wasn't sure how I felt about Annabel at first, but she really grew on me. I liked her wit and her sassiness. I was able to get into the story right away and read it straight through. This series is set at the turn of the century so it had things like motor cars and telephones. After reading so many Medieval and Regency era romances, it was interesting to find something a little different.

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