Series: Lords of the Armory, #3
Traits & Tropes: soldier hero; damaged hero & heroine; class difference; enemies to lovers
Publication Date: 06.29.21
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England
Heat Level: 3
Rating: 5 stars!
Since the war against Napoleon has finally come to an end, Lord Merritt Rivers has returned to his life as a barrister dedicated to the law. A war hero made a baron for his service to the Prince Regent upon his return, Merritt spends his evenings roaming the streets trying to prevent crimes in real time. His vigilante efforts have earned him notice but he’s not the only one hunting criminals. One night’s hunt turns up a woman also seeking would-be thieves and Merritt is instantly attracted to her, until he realizes she’s the criminal he’s been trying to find. The woman is clever, beautiful, everything that draws Merritt in, but he knows she can’t be trusted.
Veronica Chase is the illegitimate daughter of a Portuguese nobleman, but that no longer matters since she and her adopted brother were forced to flee to England in the wake of Napoleon’s invasion. She’s spent time in Newgate, but not for her own crimes, rather she confessed to crimes she did not commit in order to ensure her brother remained free. Now Veronica is trapped between worlds, living in one of London’s poorest neighborhoods, but having nowhere she truly belongs.
When he promises to secure her pardon in exchange for her help, Veronica and Merritt work as tentative partners to keep innocents safe and learn who’s behind the violent riots wreaking havoc in London. They move between the dangerous rookeries and the glittering Carlton House, growing closer to each other as they draw closer to revealing the dangerous group behind the riots. The tentative trust between them is tested when each must confront the demons of their past and align their priorities for the future.
I really loved this one. The action and romance were so well placed, and I never felt like too much time was spent on either. The relationship between Veronica and Merritt developed quickly but very believably given how intense the situations they faced were. I really loved these two as a couple and I loved that it was Veronica who pursued Merritt and took risks for what she wanted, without compromising herself either. I loved that Merritt was on the alpha hero side while still having so much depth and layers to unpack in his character’s backstory. I thought it was so nice and refreshing to have a strong heroine who didn’t need the hero to survive but wasn’t a brat about her independence and never demurred about how much she wanted him. I think Merritt and Veronica brought out the best in each other and helped each other grow and overcome their pasts to begin again as a team. I also really loved the fact that both Merritt and Veronica were willing to take risks for each other and trust in each other's capabilities and competence. They each had painful pasts to work through, but were open and honest with each other and I am always a fan of that sort of communication. This book really sucked me into the story and is my favorite of the series thus far.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/65119039
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3601865581
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