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The Silver Foxes of Westminster #2

El hombre con un secreto

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Todos los hombres la quieren, pero ¿puede ganar al hombre con el corazón roto que nunca podría amarla?

La heredera industrial, Marigold Bellowes, sabe que el matrimonio es solo otra transacción comercial. Ella lo haría, ya que ha sido perseguida por hombres codiciosos que solo quieren la fortuna de su padre desde hace años. Pero está decidida a tomar su destino en sus propias manos y no ser un premio en una fusión. Así que cuando conoce a la estrella en ascenso del Parlamento, Alexander Croydon, ve una fusión que los beneficiaría a ambos en lugar de convertirla en un adorno inútil.

Pero Alex lleva secretos que protegen un corazón roto. Encuentra a Marigold inteligente y vivaz, deslumbrante en eventos sociales y sensual en la cama, pero no se permitirá acercarse demasiado a ella. Hasta que un amargo giro del destino expone a James, el hijo ilegítimo de Alex, y potencialmente el único heredero que tendrá.

Al revelar a James como el heredero de Alex convierte al niño en un objetivo para los enemigos de Alex, Marigold y Alex deben dejar ir su dolor para unirse y salvarlo. En el proceso, descubren una camaradería que podría conducir al amor que ambos han anhelado, un amor que ha estado bajo sus narices todo el tiempo. Pero, ¿ha llegado demasiado tarde y es suficiente?

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2018

547 people are currently reading
327 people want to read

About the author

Merry Farmer

292 books1,137 followers
USA Today Bestselling author Merry Farmer lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats, Justine and Peter. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. Her books have reached the top of Amazon's charts, and have been named finalists for several prestigious awards, including the RONE Award for indie romance.

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5 stars
329 (42%)
4 stars
255 (32%)
3 stars
150 (19%)
2 stars
34 (4%)
1 star
13 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
2,440 reviews29 followers
July 7, 2019
I loved this book! I liked the main characters of Alex and Marigold and enjoyed the changing phases of their relationship. This story moved along at a good pace and had many elements to it. There were times of heartbreak, danger from known enemies, help from familiar friends and a delightful toddler who will bring a smile to your face. Alongside this was the political aims of the day. Now for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Pam  Bereznak.
1,815 reviews136 followers
September 4, 2023
So there are a few authors I read that I call my “go to” authors. Merry Farmer is one of those authors. I have read all my "regular read" authors new releases and looking for more to read until the next group of new releases come out. Nothing against not calling her one of my “regular authors” because I really enjoy her books and always get a good read. I just picked up her books way later than some of the other authors I read. I like to know I have some good authors to fall back on and also I can actually read a whole series back to back and not have to wait in-between each new release within the series. This is actually my 14th book by her. I read her the first time when she wrote Second Chance Manor series that she wrote with Scarlett Scott and Caroline Lee.

I loved Marigold and Alex. I don't like to give anything away in my reviews so I'll just say that this was a great read but sad at times. Gives you all the feels. It was a happy ending which ever book I read is, I just wish it would have had a little bit of a miracle at the end. I'll leave it at that. Just know it was a really good read.
Profile Image for Chaos.
3,549 reviews115 followers
April 28, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book. It dealt with some horrifying issues, especially for women. I admire Alex so much and the other men who are fighting so hard for women's rights. I really hope Turpin gets what's coming to him. He cost Marigold so much pain! She is extremely resilient and the perfect match for Alex. She is ambitious and intelligent. She is charming and kind. Everything a future prime minister needs in his life. And most of all, they do love each other. Lady Stanhope is amazing! And I adore that woman!! I hope that she and Malcom figure out their issues because they are perfect together. I also hope that Lavinia will find her happily ever after.
2,312 reviews11 followers
March 16, 2023
Exciting!
I have just finished reading this exciting story about two lovely main characters, Marigold and Alex. Alex’s young son by another woman quickly crept into my heart – he is just so cute.
The other characters, some of whom come across either as good or really evil individuals, played their parts well, which made this an enjoyable tale filled with passion, heat and a couple of kidnappings too.
For great entertainment, this one is it!
Profile Image for Nicole.
921 reviews15 followers
April 2, 2022
Outstanding

I loved the previous book in this series and this book was just fantastic, the suspense was amazing, the way even servants played a key role in the storyline was unique. I definitely look forward to book 3.
Profile Image for Jordan.
1,879 reviews
July 15, 2023
I really didn't care for this one. It started out with promise, the political partnership could have been very interesting, but then it just became about anything other than that, and the characters seemed to get dumber as they went along. I wanted to like them, but they just kept sabotaging their own chances for happiness. Like eye roll, facepalm levels. *significant spoilers* The rest of the plot strained all believability as well. Content/Trigger Warning

I've read 7 previous books by this author that were honestly all pretty middle of the road (I have heard that her m/m books are maybe better though, and I haven't tried them). So this book is an outlier in that sense, but it was still pretty disappointing.
Profile Image for Angel.
53 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2018
Marigold Bellowes is a dollar sign for those seeking her hand in marriage, and she's well aware of the motives of those hoping to claim her vows.  But she's not your everyday cookie searching for just being a wife.  She wants to matter, and she wants the power of standing behind a man of power.  Alex Croydon is a man of power pushing womens' rights.  He has some heartbreak and a little baggage. Attraction is instant, a mutual friend introduces them, encourages the union, and well, that was that.  FYI, Lady Stanhope deserves her own fan club, just saying.

The marriage is somewhat rushed.  I wasn't thrilled that it seemed more due to physical purposes, but hey, it moved the story along.

There are some people who want nothing more than to block Alex's womens' rights agenda at any cost.  Horrible things happen, lives are irreversibly altered, emotions are felt.  Comparing this book to the first, I wasn't quite prepared for such a sensitive subjects, but they were very well written and absolutely holds the reader in.  Interesting twists here, but nothing crazy that isn't somewhat predictable (not a bad thing).

I torn between the 3 and 4 stars, but I think because so much was unresolved for the reader in the ending, I just couldn't bring it to that 4.  Since this one had some of the same ill-motived characters as the first book, I expect the next books will work through them as well, especially considering how so much was left unpunished in this book.  I may very well come back to change that if/when justice is served.

Again, I absolutely adore this author and I will be following her in the future.
Profile Image for Ariella Rosefield.
22 reviews
November 27, 2024
August Sunrise by Merry Farmer is the second full novel in the author’s Silver Foxes of Westminster series (what a title!!), and follows a charismatic progressive politician, Alexander Croydon, and a beautiful heiress named Marigold Bellowes, both fighting for women’s rights. It’s love at first sight—or at least lust—when they meet after Alex makes a speech in favor of women’s suffrage in the House of Commons. And let me tell you, there is some crazy chemistry between these two! When they get married very early on in the book, it doesn’t come as a surprise at all.

But, while Marigold comes to the marriage pretty much as an open book, Alex is keeping secrets. He blames it on their whirlwind courtship, but tbh I think he’s just in denial and afraid. The age gap and related experience gap comes to the foreground once they make it to Alex’s country home; I think people who aren’t specifically into age gaps may be put off by it. I liked it, but hey, it’s my favorite trope.

Shortly after they retire to the country, tragedy strikes the Croydons. No spoilers, but the depiction of Marigold’s depression and recovery is incredibly well done. I’ve never experienced what she does nor ever will, but oh, it hurt to read about.

The rest of the book follows Marigold and Alex working through the complexity of their relationship while fighting against their opponents in Parliament. The HEA, when it comes, is very satisfying! Like the first book, December Heart, my biggest complaint here is the historical inaccuracy (to the point of wondering how these characters are still received in society!), but I’m willing to deal with that for an emotionally satisfying romance.
700 reviews57 followers
August 10, 2021
Well I disliked this. I read the first one in this series and was not too keen on that one either. The author writes about the "Silver Foxes" and with some age difference romance. However, there is not much to tell that there is an age difference except for creaky knees and graying hair. The heroine in this, Marigold, thought she knew everything and would fake it til she made it. It reminded me of a fourteen year old girl trying to impress her older brother's best friend - not a twenty-seven year old well read woman.
Also, she had her obnoxious mentor - the widow Lady Stanhope as her guide and a sniveling miss five years her junior as her best friend. Both loathsome characters to be around. Lady Stanhope was continually pushing Marigold to have the same attitudes as her, when in reality Marigold did have some more decorum. Here is what Lady Stanhope said to Marigold during a session in Parliament, "I know the look of a woman who's just been run up the flagpole and saluted when I see it." Just gross, not sexy at all.
Speaking about sexy, I did not see much in the way of chemistry between the two MCs. Also, it annoyed me how Marigold wanted to marry a powerful man, but then was fuming when he had to actually work. What? How did she think he was to attain those goals? By having tea with her? SO dumb.
Also the ending was rushed and did not have much in the way of closure. But at least the book was finished.
Profile Image for Lori D.
4,079 reviews129 followers
May 4, 2018
I was so looking forward to this second book of the Silver Foxes of Westminster because book one was fantastic. Well I was not disappointed and again, Merry Farmer has written a moving character study of Alex and Marigold's story. Alex is of course the Silver Fox in this story as an older hero who has a place in Parliament and has been fighting for the rights of women. Marigold is the daughter of a wealthy man and has many suitors asking for her hand in marriage, mainly for the money. But she is made of much sterner stuff and at what was considered spinster age, she is determined to marry as she likes. Interested in Politics, she catches Alex's eye as he is debating on the floor at Parliament and with a little intervention, their match is almost set. This is a story of a second chance for Alex on so many levels, trust and a strong desire for love. There are several surprises and many twist and turns that will keep you engrossed in the story and holding your breath to find out what happens! Although part of a series, this can be read as a standalone. But I encourage you not to miss the first story and I cannot wait for book three!
244 reviews2 followers
December 24, 2020
Young Marigold Bellowes, heiress to a fortune, is a beautiful, intelligent, witty, kind and vibrant young woman. She has been pursued for marriage by men she has no interest in, until she meets Alexander Croydon.
Dashing, Handsome, intelligent a very distinguished older man, she can see herself spending her life with him.
He is a rising star in the world of politics, interested in giving women a much fairer world, but Alex is nursing a broken heart and an even bigger secret.
Marrying in haste, will she regret her decision, as darkness and danger surrounds them both and the loving, wonderful future they are both hoping for.
Yet again Merry Farmer's beautifully descriptive writing captures the era and one's imagination. She re-introduces characters from her earlier books into the story, so that you immediately feel ensconced in what is going on in the book. Great characters, I loved Marigold and Alex and little James was a splendid addition to the story.
I thoroughly recommend this book and cannot wait to read the third in this entertainingly thrilling and very passionate series.
Profile Image for Martha B..
835 reviews11 followers
March 17, 2023
Life Has Unexpected Turns

Although I liked the beginning of the plot and it started off well, but by the midway point August Sunrise took a sad and depressing turn. Then several chapters later the story took an even more dangerous turn. Thankfully, this book by Merry Farmer had a happy (not necessarily satisfying) ending.

I liked the author's writing style because it was a balanced mix of thoughts, dialogue and actions. However, the overabundance of sex and swearing was a bit of a turn off for me. Also, the epilogue was really more of a set up for the next book, rather than a feel-good ending.

Content 411: In addition to pages and pages of marital sex, this book also contains secular and religious swearing and a few vulgarities. It also features a violent miscarriage trigger and touches on human sex trafficking.
Profile Image for Lesley.
2,454 reviews17 followers
February 15, 2023
Marigold is a heiress and despite her beauty her family’s origins mean her marriage offers tend to come from fortune hunters. Nearing thirty, a new friend suggests she treat marriage like men do, decide on the type of future she wants and go for it. Marigold is delighted with this idea and Lady Stanhope introduces her to Alex Croydon, an up and coming politician nearly twenty years her senior. Both like what they see in each other and are married within two months of their meeting. However a marriage that starts with passion is marred by Alex’s political opponents, an important lie of omission, attempted murder, irredeemable damage and kidnapping. Never was there a more eventful start to a marriage!
Read in Kindle Unlimited
Profile Image for Jeene Hobbs.
558 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2018
A series of unfortunate events for adults

A whirlwind courtship and a roller coaster ride of highs and lows dominate this second novel in the Silver Foxes of Westminster series. I did read book 1 and it’s associated novellas prior to reading this one. But it stands alone nicely. I haven’t read the West meets East series which preceded this series so some character references are lost on me.

I am definitely a fan of Merry Farmer. If you have read her historical western romances, you will not be disappointed in this series. I am throughly enjoying them.

Believe the warnings that these are “spicy” and “steaming hot” romances.

Profile Image for Sandra.
671 reviews26 followers
September 23, 2019
This provided quite a refreshing change, it probably was a closer reflection of actual marriages from that time than most of the historical romances I read. Here two people agree to a marriage based more or less on the reccomendation of a mutual friend, who thinks they will be well suited.
Once married they have to deal with challeges to their relationship, and learn to love each other, as no doubt many real life couple had to do in the days when marriages were often arranged and couples knew little about each other in reality. Add to this the nefarious plotting of the villians in the backround.
All in all a very good read.
Profile Image for Rhonda Jones.
102 reviews1 follower
September 22, 2022
Marigold

This was an excellent story about two people who was instantly attracted to each other and decided to marry. Once married they realize they didn't know anything about each other. Also no matter how your distracted you don't forget you have a kid and not tell your spouse. This was to be done before the marriage. Now back to the story. Mari and Alex worked well together but never sat down and actually talked about what they both wanted out of this marriage. So when the threat came it was too late. The other characters have their stories. Can't wait for Lady Stanton and Malcolm. Great book
Profile Image for EzliOak.
170 reviews
May 21, 2018
I so much enjoyed the book. At times it was funny, at times sad, I was never bored :) But the ending was so very disappointing for me :( There was no punishment for the doctor, the driver was never caught, the thief was never caught. I understand that the Silver Foxes series has one evil man who causes a lot of problems and is not done, but in my opinion somebody had to be punished after the consequences of the accident.
The couple had HEA, but as reader I felt cheated with the hurt/comfort aspect - there was hurt, but there was never comfort :(
Profile Image for Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams.
2,705 reviews5 followers
May 24, 2018
August Sunrise (The Silver Foxes of Westminster Book 2)

The love story of Marigold and Alexander. Marigold has turn down many proposal of marry because she thought the man wan to marry her because of her father's money. Marigold and Alex met in the halls of Parliament. He dismiss her because of who she is but when he found out that Marigold is interested in the right of women, he take another look at her. They marry and now someone is try to kill him. Will he be kill or will love win out? Great love story.
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,108 reviews86 followers
June 1, 2022
More than anything, attractive, frantically sought after heiress Marigold Bellowes would love to be a mother but without a simpering husband that is more interested in her monies and properties than her. But who is that speaking so eloquently? Before long, Marigold learns the attractive, not so young politician is Alexander Croydon. A man she must meet.

A side plot with Alex’ vicious adversary in the House of Lords wreaks havoc in Alex and Marigold’s personal and business lives along with a issue that upsets Marigold’s future plans.
Rating: 4stars
1,296 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2018
Marigold and Alex

Marigolds and Alex are combustible from the start. They marry soon after meeting but it's not what either expects. An amazing heart wrenching story. Heartache brings them closer together and they form an united front to save their son. Well written, energetic book. Not a dull spot in the story. I cried, laughed and grew to love this couple. This series is a hit.
I really hope to see Lord Shayles and Turpin get what they deserve soon.
Profile Image for Bridget Love to read Lewis.
2,447 reviews28 followers
July 12, 2019
Hot in August

A whirlwind romance and an lusty infatuation gives way to intrigue secrets, carriage accidents shots, brothels of the absolute worse sort! Not to mention kidnapping and a diabolical politicians! This story is a page Turner with non stop action! Marigold is not sure of her life as wife to a powerful politician! Alex thinks he has a fertile wife but life can throw you a curve! Loved this!!
Profile Image for Ishara.
559 reviews9 followers
July 31, 2019
This book had potential but it suffered a bit from all the various plot lines and side characters. It seemed that this story was used as a vehicle to set up the other books in the series, which I totally get. Yet, somehow, I felt a bit short changed. Perhaps this story should have been the first book in the series. Too many key things were not resolved at the end, so I didn't think justice was served.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
6,067 reviews113 followers
April 13, 2020
Though I love the complicated political world that this series has created, I did realllllly want a character map! The highlight of this novel is that you really feel like you are immersed in the London Parliament with all its rivalries and gamesmanship. But, as in all books with nobility, keeping up with real names, titles, properties, and relationships is a whirlwind. Great plot twists! Loads more drama to come!
1,324 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2023
Marriage to the MP

This is a good love story, based on political aspects. Of one young lady. I was disappointed because the writer made it so
That Marigold couldn't have children 'ever'.
Alex already had a 3 year old illegitimate
son, for me the story could of been more interesting if Alex and Marigold could of had a child together, instead of the tragedy of loosing one.🤷
. thank you ❤️
2,453 reviews18 followers
August 24, 2024
An interesting politically motivated story. I enjoyed the challenges faced by this couple-married quickly with lots to learn about each other. Once again I am reminded about the very terrible and manipulative things people do in their quest for power. Oh yeah… that must be why politics was such a central focus… Enjoyable story but only a superficial HFN though with little closure/follow up particularly for James and Ruth.
314 reviews
July 15, 2019
So many twists and turns.

Although I enjoyed the book, I was a little disappointed in how it ended. The feeling of justice served was not there for me. I do know,however, in politics its not always justice that is served, but the leaders taking advantage of every opportunity to get what they can while the can.
Profile Image for AmazingJ.
991 reviews7 followers
January 19, 2020
The Story was ok, it could have been better. No justice was served in regards to the kidnappers, Dr. Miller & the driver who caused the carriage to crash.
When the Police showed up after Marigold was freed from the kidnappers not 1 of the Police officers questioned her on what happened.
Other than that, the Story flowed through just fine.
1,103 reviews7 followers
May 14, 2020
Love at last

I was glad to read a story of more mature couple! Also although wealthy these are not of the ton, although he is a member of parliament. This book covers every thing from bedroom scenes( within marriage) attempted murder more than once, kidnapping and political intrigue. I didn’t like the was it ended, but it’s probably the way politicians act!
Profile Image for Lisa C.
1,099 reviews22 followers
March 24, 2023
Wonderful story of Marigold Bellowes, industrial heiress and Alexander Croydon, an influential man in parliament. Loved these characters and how they interact with each other. Found myself holding my breath at times to see what the outcome of the circumstances were going to be. Age gap, convenient marriage turns to love.
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