Series: A Logical Man's Guide to Dangerous Women, #3
Traits & Tropes: class difference; working heroine; enemies to lovers; single dad; marriage of convenience; slow burn
Publication Date: 01.25.22
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England, 1815
Heat Level: 1.5
Rating: 4/5
The Earl of Marsden, Mars to those who know him, has spent the last ten years of his life rather at loose ends and bent on revenge. When a former mistress presents him with a baby girl she claims is his daughter, Mars is completely willing to accept this new responsibility, but he has no idea how to care for a baby.
Desperate, Mars turns to the matrons of his village for help, despite his general disdain for their meddling ways. What he gets is Clarissa Taylor, an orphaned spinster who has become the village’s special project and who has always been especially critical of him. But she knows her way around babies and Mars needs help, so he quickly installs her as nurse to his daughter.
Clarissa is sick of being an object of pity in the village and doesn’t want to be beholden to anyone anymore. If that means tolerating Mars to earn the generous wage he’s willing to pay, so be it. Everything seems to be going to plan until a potential scandal emerges and she finds herself set to marry the man she despises above all others. Of course, hate and love are two sides of the same coin and the chemistry between Clarissa and Mars means they’re both going to be learning that lesson very quickly.
I have been looking forward to this redemption story since Mars was first introduced as a character. For that reason, I was just a little bit disappointed that much of his actual behavioral changes occurred very quickly and/or off page. That said, he underwent so much growth of character in his emotionality and thought processes that it still felt like a strong redemption story. I struggled to like Clarissa much of the time just because she was so sanctimonious and judgmental, even if she was often right about Mars and his wrongheadedness, she had also grossly misjudged him on a lot of things and held a grudge against him for childhood behaviors. The hate to love sort of chemistry Mars and Clarissa had was undeniable, though I do wish we’d gotten a bit more steam between them after such a slow burn. Thankfully, Clarissa did also show a good amount of character development as she came to the realization that she wasn’t always right and that she had been quite judgmental and sought to improve that behavior. Once she abandoned her self-righteousness, stopped thinking that everyone was trying to play games with her, and recognized that Mars was actually a good man in need of some care and guidance, things improved. All in all, I appreciated the character development we got here and, though I would’ve liked to see Mars’ mother put in her place one good time, I enjoyed this redemption story and I think it may be the strongest of the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/725415524
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4386797418
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