Beauty and the Rake

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><em>There's no denying eternal love.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Widowed from an arranged unhappy marriage to a much older nobleman Lady Roxanne Smith dowager countess of Temple returns to England to reestablish her life. She's self-assured confident and caring. As a widow her place in society is much different with more freedom. Marriage is the last thing on her mind.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Graham Hawksbury Earl of Otley is not only handsome he's a well-known rake. An unexpected new arrival and learning his best friend's sister Lady Roxanne has returned upend his world. His feelings for the lady come tumbling out.</span></p><p></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><em>Try as they may neither party can convince others or themselves they're only friends and can no longer deny the love between them that's always been there.</em></strong></p><p></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Tropes / Themes:</strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>✅ Victorian Historical Romance</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>✅ Friends to Lovers</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>✅ Widow Heroine</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>✅ Reformed Rake</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>✅ Second Chance at Love</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>✅ Nobleman/Noblewoman Romance</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>✅ Forbidden (or Secret) Longing</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>✅ Slow-Burn Romance</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>✅ Emotional Healing from a Past Marriage</span></p><p></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><u>Endless Love</u></strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Book 1: Beauty an the Rake</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Book 2: A Duke's Love</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Book 3: The Forgotten Spare</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Book 4: Love At Last</span></p>