This is probably my favorite book by this author, and I’ve been following her since her debut. It was a fun, fast read with a lovely slow burn romance and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading.
The heroine, Miss Mina Penny, is the ward of a spymaster and has lived a sheltered life in the countryside since the death of her parents (who were also spies) while in service to the crown and in pursuit of a dangerous criminal. She longs for adventure and to be surrounded by the excitement of London. Mina believes the only way she is going to achieve that goal is to marry one very specific sophisticated man who knows about the lifestyle of her parents and is willing to give Mina her independence. Then she meets that man’s brother and can’t stop thinking of him.
Andrew, Duke of Thorndon, is called to London by an anonymous letter threatening his sister. If he doesn’t get his debauched, wastrel brother Rafe in hand and under control, she will be kidnapped. He hates London and can’t wait to get back to his estate in the countryside. The memories of his time spent in the bowels of ship, held for ransom by a man angry at his father haunts him still and he will do what he must to protect his sister from the same fate. Then he meets a bold, gorgeous young woman who challenges and entices him at every turn.
I ADORED this couple. ADORED. Andrew at first comes across as stuffy and set in his ways, but he just shines the instant he meets Mina. From the moment Mina stepped on the page she was warm, and spirited and everything I love in a heroine. She knew exactly who she was and what she wanted, and even though the person who she thought she wanted that future with changed, she never wavered on being her true, independent self. This couple had that kind of sizzle and snap chemistry right from their very first dance and their back and forth banter let me know I was in for a good time.
I read Andrew and Mina’s story so fast that I was kind of upset with myself with I finished in such a short time. There was some mild internal conflict in their relationship, mostly just the drama of a woman who wants adventure and a life in London and a Duke who hates the hustle and bustle of town and prefers his country estate falling desperately in love and lust. There is a mystery and the search for a bad guy who was responsible for Mina’s parents death. All in all a fantastic and well written story that I highly recommend.
This has been an interesting and entertaining series. From Dukes building steam powered engines, to ladies more interested in antiquities than drawing rooms and dance floors to spies and spy masters. I can’t wait to see what comes next. (It’s Rafe’s book right? Please say Rafe’s book is next.)
Final Grade- A
Favorite Quote:
“You want danger. You want excitement and adventure,” he whispered. “I’ll be your adventure. Explore me, Mina.”
What’s on my Kindle this week:
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