Quick Synopsis –In this dazzling historical romance, a Duke with a complicated romantic history and a bookseller with a family business to protect find themselves drawn to each other—even if their hidden secrets should keep them apart.

Song This Reminds Me Of – Can’t Help Falling in Love – Lake Street Drive feat. Monica Martin

Publication Date – Aug. 20, 2024

Content Notes – This is an adult novel with explicit sexual scenes. There is also off page mention of sexual assault and women dying in childbirth.

Spicy Rating – 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Overall Rating – ⭐⭐⭐out of 5

Review – Dearest Reader, if you’re looking for a fun quick regency era romance with a spitfire female lead and stoic male lead, then look no further. This is a fun read and its romance with a little mystery thrown in as the main characters unravel a plot to fleece lonely women. I did think at times this book had too much plot. The duke, Dorian, and Caroline, the female main character, come from two different social circles. On top of that she is an established erotic romance author who writes under the nom de plume Blanche Clementine. That was enough for me to be interesting and create friction. But there’s a whole third element where Dorian and Clementine are trying to track down Dorian’s dead wife’s “lover.” It just muddied the waters, and I would have rather the side characters fleshed out a bit more than this unnecessary plot.

There are a few sex scenes in this book, and they are fairly graphic, but not what I would consider clutch your pearls graphic. Keep in mind I also read a lot of fanfiction, so maybe my barometer is a little skewed. I also hated the title of this book, I felt like it doesn’t really inform what the story is. It’s a much more tame love story and the title makes it seems like he’s ripping her bodice in the streets. Now, of course there is scandal because of their different social circles, but still he isn’t like flaunting her and being risky.

I really liked the side characters, Hattie and Constance. I would read their books any day. They fleshed out Caroline and made her a fuller character. Their friendship as cousins was just lovely.

Overall, this is a fun read and if you like regency romance, you’ll definitely enjoy this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.