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Lords Fall First #3
It's a Wonderful Wife
He wished he had never met her... until he saw the world without her.
James Reed, Lord St. George, the Baron of a struggling estate, has spent years in London avoiding the responsibilities of his title and the wife he married for her dowry. Mariah Reed, the daughter of an Irish linen mogul, has spent those same years saving the family estate, supporting the nearby mill town, and secretly nursing dreams of becoming a playwright.
When James returns to Bailey Hall with a secret plan to save his childhood home by pressuring Mariah’s father to lower worker wages, he finds a woman far more passionate and capable than the shy bride he left behind. After a drunken confrontation leads to the destruction of Mariah’s community project and her dreams, James is met by a mysterious figure who shows him what a charmed life he had.
Through a harrowing vision of a world where Mariah never entered his life, James witnesses the ruin of his brother and the total desolation of his town. Faced with the reality of his own selfishness, James must embark on a path of redemption to prove to Mariah, and himself, that he is worthy of the life she built for them.
Return to the Victorian world of the Lords Fall First series in this emotional, second-chance holiday romance!
James Reed, Lord St. George, the Baron of a struggling estate, has spent years in London avoiding the responsibilities of his title and the wife he married for her dowry. Mariah Reed, the daughter of an Irish linen mogul, has spent those same years saving the family estate, supporting the nearby mill town, and secretly nursing dreams of becoming a playwright.
When James returns to Bailey Hall with a secret plan to save his childhood home by pressuring Mariah’s father to lower worker wages, he finds a woman far more passionate and capable than the shy bride he left behind. After a drunken confrontation leads to the destruction of Mariah’s community project and her dreams, James is met by a mysterious figure who shows him what a charmed life he had.
Through a harrowing vision of a world where Mariah never entered his life, James witnesses the ruin of his brother and the total desolation of his town. Faced with the reality of his own selfishness, James must embark on a path of redemption to prove to Mariah, and himself, that he is worthy of the life she built for them.
Return to the Victorian world of the Lords Fall First series in this emotional, second-chance holiday romance!
- GenresMarriage Of Convenience
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2026
About the author
Anna Valleria
7 books64 followersI live in a beautiful old city in the southeastern U.S. with my husband, newborn son, and rescue pup. I’ve been lucky enough to live in Austin, New Orleans, and a historic city in Spain. I am a huge fan of both history and romance, as well as unusual and socially active women who support other women. I am also a big believer that everyone should be able to see themselves in historical romance, including characters of different size, background, ability, neurodiversity, and illness, and I strive to write a wide array of protagonists who reflect windows and mirrors into readers’ lives.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 1, 2026
Thanks to Booksirens for a copy of this story and this is my freely given opinion.
This is a third story in Lords Fall First and is also a Christmas story - as the title suggests, it follows a similar story to it's A Wonderful Life. As seen briefly in the second story of the series, Lady Petra and the Wolf, James Reed, the baron Lord St. John is known as a man about town, in a marriage of convenience, with his wife left behind in the country while he lives a carefree life in London, financed on her budget. This story is about their relationship and what occurs when he reunites with her.
But James does not return out of yearning to be with her; he has a hidden agenda. Mariah Reed, his long-suffering and abandoned wife, is the daughter of a successful linen industrialist, and from the example set by her father, is a hardworking woman with a strong sense of community, but also a secret dream. In the years since James has left her, she has revitalized his estate and made it profitable. As the war in the Americas progresses and there is a blockade against cotton, more people who have lost their livings because of this have arrived in their town, and Mariah has turned her attentions to aiding them as much as she can, considering her father cannot hire them all.
When James reconnects with his wife, he discovers a driven and passionate woman and is enthralled by her. He also finds himself becoming jealous of the friendship and support she has formed with his estranged brother, who has returned scarred inside and out from the war. While initially he is there to manipulate his father in law to change his work practices, because of pressure from a business rival he owes debt to, James finds himself drawn to Mariah, and wanting to be closer to her, and help her in her endeavours. But he almost destroys their newly budding, closer, relationship and his own endeavours after a drunken outburst.
This is when James is aided by a mysterious Irishman who shows him what life would be like without Mariah, and how he and others would suffer if he were not married to her.
A sweet story and lovely read for the upcoming holiday season, with Christmas vibes and an HEA. Themes of differing social status, marriage of convenience, and reformed rake. Definitely feel good and a nice escape from... well, reality.
3.75 stars out of 5
This is a third story in Lords Fall First and is also a Christmas story - as the title suggests, it follows a similar story to it's A Wonderful Life. As seen briefly in the second story of the series, Lady Petra and the Wolf, James Reed, the baron Lord St. John is known as a man about town, in a marriage of convenience, with his wife left behind in the country while he lives a carefree life in London, financed on her budget. This story is about their relationship and what occurs when he reunites with her.
But James does not return out of yearning to be with her; he has a hidden agenda. Mariah Reed, his long-suffering and abandoned wife, is the daughter of a successful linen industrialist, and from the example set by her father, is a hardworking woman with a strong sense of community, but also a secret dream. In the years since James has left her, she has revitalized his estate and made it profitable. As the war in the Americas progresses and there is a blockade against cotton, more people who have lost their livings because of this have arrived in their town, and Mariah has turned her attentions to aiding them as much as she can, considering her father cannot hire them all.
When James reconnects with his wife, he discovers a driven and passionate woman and is enthralled by her. He also finds himself becoming jealous of the friendship and support she has formed with his estranged brother, who has returned scarred inside and out from the war. While initially he is there to manipulate his father in law to change his work practices, because of pressure from a business rival he owes debt to, James finds himself drawn to Mariah, and wanting to be closer to her, and help her in her endeavours. But he almost destroys their newly budding, closer, relationship and his own endeavours after a drunken outburst.
This is when James is aided by a mysterious Irishman who shows him what life would be like without Mariah, and how he and others would suffer if he were not married to her.
A sweet story and lovely read for the upcoming holiday season, with Christmas vibes and an HEA. Themes of differing social status, marriage of convenience, and reformed rake. Definitely feel good and a nice escape from... well, reality.
3.75 stars out of 5
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've been planning to read more historical romance, so this was a nice little break from my usual dark romance!
James married Mariah for her money and then left her to deal with his estate. She worked hard to keep everything together, tried to be the perfect aristocratic wife, and buried her own dreams of becoming a playwright. She also helped the people who depended on the estate, all while believing her husband was ashamed of her Irish heritage and her background.
James wasn't a bad man, just a selfish one who needed a little push! He resented the circumstances that had forced him into this marriage and pushed his wife away. A case of "be careful what you wish for" made him realize what his life would look like without Mariah, and that was exactly what he needed to get his act together.
He starts helping her instead of standing in her way, going from putting his own interests and dreams first to supporting Mariah and hers. Add some jealousy, possessiveness, protectiveness, and a little miscommunication, and you have a lovely second-chance romance.
A lovely, short Christmas romance with a redemption arc, a lot of feelings, and an interesting historical backdrop: the Lancashire Cotton Famine. Looks like it's time to make room for more historical romance between my dark romance reads!
James married Mariah for her money and then left her to deal with his estate. She worked hard to keep everything together, tried to be the perfect aristocratic wife, and buried her own dreams of becoming a playwright. She also helped the people who depended on the estate, all while believing her husband was ashamed of her Irish heritage and her background.
James wasn't a bad man, just a selfish one who needed a little push! He resented the circumstances that had forced him into this marriage and pushed his wife away. A case of "be careful what you wish for" made him realize what his life would look like without Mariah, and that was exactly what he needed to get his act together.
He starts helping her instead of standing in her way, going from putting his own interests and dreams first to supporting Mariah and hers. Add some jealousy, possessiveness, protectiveness, and a little miscommunication, and you have a lovely second-chance romance.
A lovely, short Christmas romance with a redemption arc, a lot of feelings, and an interesting historical backdrop: the Lancashire Cotton Famine. Looks like it's time to make room for more historical romance between my dark romance reads!
October 31, 2026
Very well written, full of drama, society, suspense, family, love, friends, community, emotions and an angel.An Angel who comes to Lord St. George while he sleeping to show him what he lost if things were not what they are. James shows up at his house where his wife has been living. Mariah has taken care of their home, helped the town and the people. She made the manor a living and profitable while James was in London spending the hard earned money. James is there for a reason of his own- needing to get her father to drop the wages he pays the factory workers. Being there he sees what Mariah has done for their people , home and town. James has the terrible dream when his angel shows him what his life could be whils he is dreaming and James wants to know what he needs to do to protect what he has. He needs to change and make the corrections but how. The Angel tells him to "Wake UP". Has so much of a favorite movie that makes this a great holiday story. Would strongly recommend to everyone.
I received this story and leave this unbiased, honest review.
I received this story and leave this unbiased, honest review.
November 3, 2026
Two opposites, James Reed or Lord St. George, the has spent years in London avoiding his responsibilities and his wife, whilst Mariah Reed has been busy saving the family estate and the linen mill. James returns to Bailey Hall with a plan to save his home by pressing his father in law to lower worker wages. He realises that he does not really appreciate Mariah’s worth until he meets a mysterious man who shows him what a lucky life he has with his sacrificing wife. Faced with his own selfishness in an alternate world where Mariah does not exist and where he is shown the ruin of his brother plus the total desolation of his town, James is transformed and seeks redemption to prove to all including Mariah and himself, that he is fit to stand up and be the man she deserves. A wonderful story of evolving, life changing love that will make you smile!
Review of advance copy received from Author
It's arranged...I think this is pretty good reading. The story confronts the different expectations for an arranged marriage. Mariah is very independent and has a big heart for the less fortunate but a low tolerance for her husband. 😁 James has been missing in action when it comes to dealing with the responsibilities he's inherited title brings which are not anything near the future he'd always planned. He gets a mysterious eye-opening experience, after Mariah gives him the "cut-direct" instead of a warm welcome back. This comes together well and I enjoyed reading how he earned his way into Mariah's heart. I received a free copy and voluntarily chose to share my thoughts/opinion.
October 27, 2026
He married to save his estate but then leaves to go to London and does not see what his wife did. Follow him as things take a turn and he ruins her dreams. He will be made to face the world without her and see what he may just learn. A lovely read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a brilliant read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a brilliant read
Review of advance copy received from Author
All the rising angst in the first few chapters of the book the devastation the disappointment it was so heartbreaking. I didn’t know if I could go on and then the moment of change occurs and it’s such a beautiful thing. I loved reading James and Mariah’s love story through all the emotions.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews