Series: The Duchess Society, #3
Traits & Tropes: brother's best friend; tortured hero; self-made hero; class difference; illegitimate hero; reformed rake
Publication Date: 04.21.22
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England, 1826
Heat Level: 5
Rating: 5/5
Lady Philippa Darlington has embraced the position her family has been elevated to thanks to her brother’s title, but she chafes at societal restrictions. She puts up the façade of empty-headed wallflower to dissuade suitors while secretly vetting gentlemen for the Duchess Society, unbeknownst to her two mentors. She’s determined never to marry so her misadventures hardly matter, until her latest scheme brings her into real danger.
Xander Macauley has raised himself up from a life on the streets to being the undisputed king of Limehouse. He has his own secrets to keep, the most inconvenient of them being his utter infatuation with his best friend’s baby sister. Xander knows they can never be together, but when circumstances force their proximity, he sees the real Pippa beneath her societal façade and soon his efforts at resisting her are all for naught.
Now this was a couple I could really root for. I adore the strong, silent, slightly tortured hero with a heart of gold, who actually feels things very deeply, and Xander ticked all these boxes in spades. Pippa was indeed reckless and impulsive, but not enough to make her an annoying harpy of a heroine. Rather, her tendency toward rashness was exactly what was needed to give Xander the nudge he needed to see them together since he kept trying to be a good friend by not becoming involved with his dear friend’s sister. I actually really adored the scene in which he confesses his feelings to Roan and Tobias, his dear friends. Yes, a few punches are thrown, but we don’t get the over-the-top overprotective brother as we so often do in best friend’s brother tropes. Instead, we get to see the closeness and solidity of the bond between Roan and Xander as well and once they calmed down and talked to each other, it was just perfect, and I think that scene was a really nice touch. Overall, I loved Pippa and Xander together and Xander’s eventual openness about his feelings just melted my heart. I’m even surprised at myself for how much I’m looking forward to the next books 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/3310295708
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4726249293
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