Series: Misfits of Mayfair, #2
Traits & Tropes: hidden identity; friends to lovers; cinnamon roll hero; heroine in danger; titled hero
Publication Date: 06.29.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England, 1820
Heat Level: 5
Rating: 5 stars!
A far cry from other young ladies her age, Ophelia Hardwick has spent the last ten years pretending to be a man. She’s found a position as steward to the Earl of Carlyle which provides her a good income and safety from her uncle who wants to kill her and collect the life insurance. The only glitch is the fierce attraction she struggles to hide from her employer.
Calvin, Earl of Carlyle, is busy cleaning up his profligate father’s messes and trying to see his younger sister safely through the London season and settled into marriage. That goal at least seems attainable with help from his right-hand man, Adam. Only, when Cal learns that man is in fact a woman under serious threat, his priorities shift dramatically. Now that his eyes have been opened to the truth, the passion between Cal and Ophelia becomes an all-consuming inferno that could destroy them both.
This book was such a rollercoaster of masterful plotting and I’ve really never read anything like it. It had me laughing, tearing up, getting frustrated, and feeling satisfied by the end. The plot was so original; I’ve never read anything quite like it and I think it really worked. I adored the friendship Cal and Adam had before he learned she was really Ophelia, and that foundation was such a strong basis for their deeper relationship with a longer time of acquaintanceship than we’re usually able to get in a historical romance without it being a second chance trope. The relationship development between these two as a couple as well as in their individual characters was well done and it really felt genuine and believable. Phee had never had a true friend and had to learn how to trust Cal. After being seen as mostly just a pretty face and a convenient problem solver, Cal finally got someone who valued him for who he was, not what he could do for them. Cal was so well-meaning and sweet, even when he was bumbling and messing up, it was impossible to stay annoyed with him, especially given his ability to readily admit his mistakes and work to correct them.
I loved seeing Phee and Cal tackle the challenges thrown at them and these two had some of the best banter I’ve ever read. I do wish we’d seen more communication from them, rather than having misunderstanding playing a role here, and yet it really did work nonetheless, and my frustration was fairly short-lived. I also wish we’d gotten more detailed information and explanation regarding Phee’s uncle’s motivations and such, but these are essentially the only issues I had. This story had some unexpected plot twists I’ve never seen before, but I don’t want to say any more and risk spoilers. Suffice it to say, I couldn’t put this book down. Even when Cal and Phee were frustrating me and I wanted to shake them both, I still had to keep reading to find out how Bethany was going to work it all out. I also loved seeing Lottie and Ethan again and the strong relationship they both had with Cal.
I was skeptical about the next book’s heroine being Emma because she’s really not likable for at least the first half of this book, but she improves a lot and now I’m interested to see where we’re going with her story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3081378732
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3582182124
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