Bargaining for the Barrister by Anneka R. Walker

Bargaining for the Barrister
by Anneka R. Walker

ISBN-13: 9781524421496
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: March 7th 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Louisa Cox is tired of fortune hunters pursuing her dowry. So when Lady Kellen offers to help her find an eligible suitor, Louisa eagerly accepts and makes a list of what she wants in a husband. The man selected is barrister Paul Sheldon. He may be a complete stranger, but he has one thing in his favor: he is unaware of her fortune. What Louisa did not anticipate was his curious behavior—or being so attracted to him.

When Paul catches wind of the matchmaking organization his mother and her friends are establishing, he pities the fellow who will be caught in their scheme—until he realizes he is to be their first victim. Horrified, Paul determines to thwart his mother’s plans by whatever means necessary. After meeting his intended, however, his increasing desire to be near her threatens to disrupt his convictions. Louisa is everything he could want in a wife, and when an unexpected adventure sets in motion the very plan he had determined to halt, he almost wishes his mother’s plot could succeed. But Paul harbors a secret and a past that make it impossible for him to give Louisa the life she deserves.


My Review:
Bargaining for the Barrister is a romance set in 1821 in England. Louisa knows that she has much to be grateful for, but she's grieving the loss of her parents and her local suiters are clearly just after her money. She agrees to meet a man who's kind, considerate, and doesn't know about her dowry. Will a man finally like her for herself? She tries to smile and find things to be thankful for even when things seem bad. This attitude draws Paul, but he refuses to marry until he proves himself worthy to be his parent's heir and of love.

This was a sweet, slow-building romance. The two became friends as they got to know each other and then caring turned into love. It's funny when Paul's friends try to interfere on his behalf and the match-making mamas try to force them together. But it also went deeper as the characters struggled with real issues from their past and found healing. All of the main characters were likable. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'm recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.