Series: Ladies of the Order, #5
Traits & Tropes: marriage of convenience; mystery/suspense; illegitimate hero; wealthy hero
Publication Date: 06.20.22
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London/Kent, England
Heat Level: 3
Rating: 5 stars!
Olivia Trimble has enjoyed making friends while serving as chaperone to Mr. Daventry’s female agents for the past year, but with them all married she knows she’ll need to find a new position soon. When he calls her to his office late at night, she assumes he intends to give her marching orders. Instead, Daventry had discovered her real name and her most guarded secret, leaving her no choice but to confront her demons, and giving her a partner to work with, his latest client, an earl’s illegitimate son.
Alexander Grayson has just started to suspect his brother’s death was no accident and he has his suspicions as to who is responsible. He only needs proof now, but that means he needs a valid reason to enter a private home. Olivia is the perfect solution, but she’s surprised to find that Alexander has something else in mind for her rather than hiring her as his enquiry agent, if she can overcome her distrust of men and hear him out.
I’ve always known there was more to the unprepossessing Miss Trimble than met the eye and I was so excited to learn she was getting her own story. I love it when a couple is married early on in a story and must work on their relationship from there. This story ticked all the boxes of marriage of convenience done right and I loved that they fell for one another quickly and yet nothing ever felt rushed or forced. Their connection was as recognizable to the reader as it was to the characters themselves. Even with her learned tendency to distrust men, Olivia knew from early on that Alexander would never hurt her and it didn’t take these two long to begin to lean on one another. My favorite element here was the fact that, although both Alexander and Olivia were frightened of love and how vulnerable it could make them, neither shied away from their feelings nor tried to deny them once they recognized them. That kept the angst limited only to the mystery aspects of the story and kept the romance dialed up. That balance is one of the reasons Adele’s stories are almost always a hit for me and she remains one of my favorite authors. Alexander and Olivia didn’t hesitate to lean on one another when they needed to and that instant loyalty between them was just catnip to me.
I have absolutely adored this series and Lucius Daventry, himself one of my favorite heroes, is the best matchmaker I’ve ever read. The fact that this matchmaker is a man just makes this series even more delicious to me. Lucius didn’t really have any family, so he created his own with his friends and men who consider him a brother, just as he does them. This particular story was perfect to end this series on, as Alexander was a special friend for Lucius, one he’d grown up with at boarding school and who had been similarly alone in the world. To see those two create this wonderful found family together was extra satisfying and the perfect way to leave things, for now anyway. I couldn't put this book down, while at the same time trying to savor that and I think that's the mark of a new favorite for me. This has been one of my favorite series ever, one of those rare occasions when I have loved every single installment, and it’ll be one of those few I seek out physical copies for my keeper shelf. I can’t wait to see where Adele is taking us next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4774468348
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