Review: Rule's Bride by Kat Martin

I received this book to review from NetGalley.com
I can't find an official blurb, but this is the info for the book off of NetGalley's site:

Unrepentant rake Rule Dewar is living the good life when a most surprising event occurs—he falls in love with his wife. After their strategic “marriage of commerce” three years ago, Rule quite forgot about Violet Griffin, the teenage heiress to a Boston manufacturing fortune. He simply spoke his vows, took over her father’s business and returned to England to resume his usual pursuits: high-priced wine, high-stakes gambling and high-born women. Yet when Violet unexpectedly appears at Rule's London townhouse—he can't resist his sophisticated wife. Violet, however, is not so easily led: she has her own ideas and is seeking an annulment to marry again. But as Rule attempts to win her over, someone else is determined to get rid of him for good

So, we have Rule and Violet. Two people that married several years ago to appease her dying father, but haven't seen each other since the wedding. Violet decides she's done with this farce of a marriage that was never consummated and hightails it to London to tell her errant hubby to his face that she wants an annulment.

Rule remembers Violet as a gawkish tomboy that he married and deserted. Now she shows up on his doorstep a woman grown full of fire and passion and he decides that marriage to her suits him just fine.

I was a little disappointed by how easily Violet fell pray to her husband's charms, but I also liked that even though he seduces her body, he can't seduce her independence and determination out of her.

Rule has trouble admitting to love and Violet doesn't fully trust him so they have a host of issues to overcome to make their marriage work. Also there's a murder mystery and Violet's other love interest to add some problems to their marital bliss.

The story of Rule and Violet was a nice love story of two strong willed people that were brought together by circumstances beyond their control and that have a chance to find happiness if they'll just be bold enough to grab it. There was also a charming side romance between both of their best friends that I thought was touching and I rooted as much for that couple as I did for the main couple.

I don't feel like Ms Martin did anything particularly new with the genre, but she did tell a charming story of a reformed rake and the independent and strong willed woman who loves him.

My final grade for this story is a B.

This book will be published April 27, 2010 and is available for preorder from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.