Series: Disreputable Debutantes, #4
Traits & Tropes: I've loved you for years; titled hero; fake engagement; brother's best friend; tortured hero; friends to lovers
Publication Date: 02.11.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England, 1819
Heat Level: 4/5
Rating: 5 stars!
Lady Charlotte Hastings has been written off by polite society as a hoyden already and now her soiled reputation is at further risk as she’s being blackmailed by a notoriously disreputable baron. She has to keep her name from appearing in the gossip pages yet again, so she makes a daring and rather desperate move to remove the baron’s blackmail ammunition. Even this doesn’t turn out as she expected when her brother’s friend, Max, a notorious rake whom she’s secretly loved for years, insists on helping her.
Maximilian Deveraux, the Duke of Exmoor, feels he must help Charlie, if only because he owes her brother a debt of honor, but he soon realizes his error when he can no longer fight his long dormant attraction to her. Inconvenient timing as his meddlesome mother is trying her best to force his betrothal to a sparkling debutante with a pristine reputation, but Max has no intention of marrying anyone anytime soon.
When scandal unexpectedly erupts despite their best efforts to quell it, Max makes a proposition to Charlie: an engagement, temporary and in name only, to restore her reputation and buy him some respite from his mother and the ruthless pursuit of other debutantes. As the connection between them solidifies and it becomes clear their attraction is mutual, their engagement starts to feel real. But there are still unknown villains intent on ruining Charlie permanently and a happy ending for her and Max seems increasingly unlikely.
I loved this book. Charlie was determined not to give up on Max and her faith in him and his feelings for her showed her strength. Even more, she was unwilling to settle for less than the love match she deserved and no matter how much she adored Max, she wasn’t about to compromise for pieces of him. With that kind of steadfastness and her utterly relatable body image insecurities, even with her impulsive tendencies, it was impossible not to love Charlie. So of course, Max felt the same way, he just had a lot of emotional baggage and scarring to deal with first. The reckoning between them was one of the best, most romantic, emotional, and relatable scenes I’ve read. I adored it and made lots of highlights and it left me feeling warm and fuzzy for some time after I finished. I also loved how Max and Charlie came to each other’s defense and were utterly devoted to one another, even before he was willing to even admit his feelings to himself. This was an excellent read, a satisfying conclusion to the series, and I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3440468948
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3705777502
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