Series: Clandestine Affairs, #3
Traits & Tropes: hidden identity; secrets
Publication Date: 03.29.22
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England, 1817
Heat Level: 4.5
Rating: 3.5/5
Rose Fleming is the most well-respected mapmaker in London. Only, no one knows this since she’s a woman and would not be able to command such high prices for her maps if this were known. She’s the brains behind her family business but they’d be ruined if the truth got out, so she has to conform to her husband’s desires more often than she’d like to. Her secret-keeping abilities are sorely tested by the arrival of a new footman who is entirely too forward for a servant. Rose battles her attraction to a man who works for her, but keeping her distance is challenging when the temptation is in such close proximity.
Alexander Worthington, the Marquess of Brandon, is perhaps best known for being enigmatic and unknown to many. Half-Arab, Alex contends with much prejudice from those who insist on maintaining supposedly pure bloodlines among the nobility. It doesn’t help that his mother also came from a merchant class family and so he is viewed as being soiled by common blood. Alex has no issue ignoring the outrageous rumors that abound about him, but he draws the line when his neighbor attempts to cheat Brandon out of his land. Furious, Alex disguises himself as a footman and infiltrates the home of London’s most prominent mapmaker to find proof of the plans to draw faulty property lines. Alex is determined to retain what is his, but his attraction for the secretive lady of the house is an unwelcome distraction. With both Alex and Rose keeping a multitude of secrets, they’re about to test the bounds of the bond that has developed between them.
I have so many mixed feelings about this one. Overall, I enjoyed the story and its originality, but the lying was a bit of an issue for me, mostly because of how long it carries on, how many lies there are, and how many missed opportunities there were for the truth to come out. With new lies being added after some truths were revealed, I just got a bit frustrated with this story, most especially with the heroine. At least Alex’s reasons for his lies were in the name of protecting his tenants, and later, Rose herself, while her lies were basically just self-serving, so I didn’t exactly find this endearing. I don’t want to say much more on the subject and risk spoilers, but I definitely wanted Rose’s erstwhile husband to face more consequences for his actions. Beyond that I think a big annoyance for me was Rose’s tendency to take to her bed for days on end after receiving disturbing news. I completely understand her upset, but as much as she had fought for her family business, her just lying down and being so defeated seemed rather out of character. I was equally frustrated by her hypocritical refusal to forgive Alex for lying to her about his title, when she had lied to him way more frequently and about way more important things, and she continued to do so after he had been honest. I just couldn’t get behind her on that one and that made it hard for me to root for her, especially after everything Alex did for her, even when she wasn’t treating him very well. I think the attraction between Rose and Alex was told more than shown so that made it a bit hard to root for them as a couple as well, especially when Rose was just being willfully obtuse. I actually found her to be incredibly snobby and that didn’t quite jive with her merchant class station. I also found it odd that Rose withheld her forgiveness from Alex for so long and then gave it so abruptly; it was just a bit jarring for me.
Other than these issues I had, there were aspects of this story that I loved, most especially the closeness and loyalty displayed among Alex’s extended family. I definitely appreciated the originality of this plot too. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it, and I look forward to seeing what Quincy pulls out next, hopefully for one of Alex’s extended family.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3242011422
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4520672821
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