the trouble with true love by laura lee guhrke

It’s wonderful that writers want to tackle these important matters head on, but if the romance or courtship is no longer the central tenet, is the book still a romance? I know it should go without saying, but I’ve read many historical romance novels that are bogged down by so many issues-politics, child abuse, missing people, revenge-that the romance between the protagonists falls by the wayside. I’m pleased to note that the romance between Rex and Clara is the beating heart of this book. Rex, too, benefits from the growing friendship-in Clara, he finds someone he can truly be himself with. Rex writes up the answer to The Devastated Debutante with Clara in mind, and under his close attention she begins to get out of her shell she becomes more confident and at ease with others. Like Clara, the story blooms beautifully from the moment Clara makes a pact with Rex. A rake known for expensive tastes cannot go without money for long.

Rex would have laughed her head off if not for one terrible truth: both his father and his beloved aunt have cut off his allowance until he finds a suitable bride. That way the paper survives and Rex has no choice but to keep mum about her secret. The result: the couple breaks up and Rex seeks Clara out and threatens to expose her as Lady Truelove.īut Clara sees an opportunity: she offers him the job of writing the column until her sister’s return. A woman who, apparently, is very much in love with said friend.Įnraged for this unknown woman, Clara writes up the column using Rex’s words. Clara is impressed by his handsome, fair-haired looks until she hears him talk: Rex is, at that moment, busy dispensing advice to his friend on how best to dangle his lover without offering for her hand.

Then she sees Lord Rex Galbraith sitting at the next table. She takes to the nearest tea shop and tries to come up with ideas on how best to answer one sender who calls herself The Devastated Debutante, whose shyness and difficulty in enjoying herself in company mirror her own. The idea makes her feel not only anxious but, also, like a hypocrite.Īlas, she has no choice but to come up with Dear Lady Truelove’s answer. Now Clara, aware of her acute shyness-she even stammers when she’s nervous-is conflicted about penning advice on love. When Irene extends her stay abroad, Clara’s work is made complicated by having to take over the writing of the Dear Lady Truelove, an anonymous advice column for the lovelorn, which is the heart and soul of the paper. Laura Lee Guhrke has written another enjoyable and heartwarming romance in The Trouble With True Love.Ĭlara Deverill, the younger sister of Irene (the heroine in the previous book), is left with the task of managing the family business-the Weekly Gazette-while Irene is away on a honeymoon.

The trouble with true love by laura lee guhrke