First Chapter Review: Bella's Betrothal by Anne Stenhouse

I won a free digital copy of this historical romance during the Christmas in October event at Penny's Tales.

BLURB:  While she is travelling north to find sanctuary from the malicious gossip of the Ton, Lady Isabella Wormsley’s room in a Dalkeith inn is invaded by handsome Scottish Laird, Charles Lindsay. Charles has uncovered a plot to kidnap her, but Bella wonders if he isn’t a more dangerous threat, at least to her heart, than the villainous Graham Direlton he wrests her from.

Bella settles into the household of her Aunt Hatty Menzies in Edinburgh’s nineteenth century George Square where Charles is a regular visitor. She has been exiled to the north by her unfeeling mama, but feels more betrayed by her papa to whom she has been close. Bella hopes the delivery of her young cousin’s baby will eventually demonstrate her own innocence in the scandal that drove her from home.

Bella’s presence disrupts the lives of everyone connected to her. Direlton makes another attempt to kidnap her and in rescuing her a second time, Charles is compromised. Only a betrothal will save his business and Bella’s reputation.

Mayhem, murder and long suppressed family secrets raise confusion and seemingly endless difficulties. Will the growing but unacknowledged love between Bella and her Scottish architect survive the evil Direlton engineers?

COVER: MuseItUp Publishing has many lovely covers. This is just one of them. Bella with what one can assume is Charles in the background, an estate far behind them, makes for a stunning historical cover.

FIRST CHAPTER: Bella is startled late at night while in her room at the inn by the handsome Charles. He warns her of a plot by Graham Direlton to kidnap her while she is on the way to her aunt and uncle's home. Bella isn't certain she should believe a man who would enter a woman's room without permission, but she can't disregard his handsome features.

KEEP READING: While I'm not always into damsel in distress kinds of stories, this one captured my attention right away. There is an air of mystery surrounding what happened to put Bella on the road to her relatives' home, some gossip that may or may not be true. One has to wonder, also, why Charles is willing to go to such lengths to protect Bella. Stenhouse creates a strong first chapter that entices the reader to continue. I know I want to see how this turns out.

File Size: 2663 KB
Print Length: 300 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing (September 25, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00FGEC5N0

PURCHASE HERE!

This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.