Series: Goode Girls, #3
Traits & Tropes: tortured hero; bluestocking heroine; antihero
Publication Date: 02.09.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; London, England, 1881
Heat Level: 2
Rating: 4 stars!
Mercy Goode strides boldly through life and is no stranger to the occasional tight scrape but getting herself arrested at a murder scene with notorious gangster Raphael Sauvageau is a bit much even for her. She’s initially suspicious of the ruthless smuggler but there is clear evidence he’s not responsible for this particular murder at least.
Raphael is in the middle of putting in motion an elaborate plan to extract himself and his brother from the dangerous life they lead, though it is likely to result in his own death. He can’t afford a distraction, but Mercy continues to pop up in his path, infuriatingly playing the role of would-be detective. The more galling she is, the more charmed he is, and the chemistry between them is so strong they can barely keep their hands off each other any time they’re together. Raphael knows he has no future and yet Mercy makes him feel alive for the first time in his recent memory and she may just be the key to his redemption.
This was a lovely, fast-paced story with an antihero I could really get behind. Raphael just wanted out of a life of darkness he never chose for himself, but he was willing to lose all for his brother. I found that so endearing and revelatory, especially paired with his protectiveness of Mercy, that Raphael had to be a hit for me as a hero. Mercy had to grow on me more, mostly due to her rather caustic personality and tendency to be argumentative just for the sake of contrariness, rather than with any real goal in mind. Her modern feminist views were a bit heavy-handed and overly repeated, but they did fit in with the Victorian age’s leaps toward progress. Her fire was perfect for Raphael and their chemistry and sexual tension was sizzling, yet their steamy scenes managed to be very sweet (the hand holding especially.) I loved that Raphael wasn’t really a bad guy, but just trying to survive the only way he knew how in a position he’d been forced into. I also loved that he accepted Mercy for who she was and in fact loved her for the traits that others found off-putting.
I do wish we’d had time for a little more relationship development and communication between Mercy and Raphael, but this was a short book and their instant connection, especially the way it changed everything for Raphael, was still lovely and worked here with the drama and gravity of the book’s events. I really enjoyed the scene with Carlton Morley late in the book and would’ve loved to see more of his interactions with Raphael just as a tie into them both finding redemption after dark pasts. More affection and affirmation from Mercy during this scene would’ve also been welcome given how Raphael laid his soul bare for her. Either way, I still loved that scene.
I’m excited for how this series is shaping up and I’m hoping for more coverage of Morley’s handling of these gang wars and loving the gritty Victorian setting. Gabriel was a heart-wrenching character and I’m looking forward to getting his full story and super excited for Byrne to write another inexperienced hero.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3399304012
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2134393159
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