Eliza, innkeeper's daughter, suffers all kinds of violence by her stepfather. Finally, she manages to escape and gentleman Henry rescues her.

And Eliza knows that such kindness needs a payment; reasonable assumption in these days was - woman's body, no matter where she was born - in a mansion or in roadside inn.

In the novel we find violence, sex, suspence and the victim is always the woman. Man is prince on a white horse or brute beyond measures. Eliza is not convincing character, sometimes she is confident and sometimes just young, immature being.

I have mixed feelings about the book.

I wasn’t sure if there was a way to NOT review a book because you don’t really want to leave a negative review? It’s not a bad book but far more sexual than I anticipated. While I’m not a complete prude, what i really didn’t appreciate was the perpetuation of rescued-female stereotypes. The spy element of the storyline was interesting and I felt like I would have maybe (big maybe) have even enjoyed the romance too if the sexual content hadn’t been so explicit and graphic about S&M and deviancy with children. It’s too bad because the characters were well developed but overall the book left a horrible taste in my mouth. I would have absolutely stopped reading if I hadn’t have promised a review for an ARC. Won’t pick up this author ever again.

On the first two pages, I was met with foul language and description that has no place in a romance novel. I recognize the historical period and the very real truth of such a situation, but I have no need to read about in such a disgusting fashion. There are better ways of telling a story.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the characters in this story. Henry is a dear man and Eliza is a strong woman.

The storyline is excellent and sad...but no spoiler here. I couldn't put this book down! Only disappointment was the ending!

I would certainly not consider this novel "Well-researched, gritty and terribly romantic", nor "darkly entertaining". The sexualised violence and rape within it is obscene, and whilst I appreciate that the book condemns these acts as they are perpetrated by the villain, the way that they are depicted is much too sensationalist. It's excessive and degrading; rather than shedding light on historical abuse of women, this abuse appears to be reappropriated just to shock and thrill. These types of events should be uncomfortable to read, absolutely. But they should also be written with much more sensitivity and care. The narrative voice seems almost sheepishly aware of this at points - as when Daisie is confessing her trauma to Henry, and it is mentioned that it seems particularly uncomfortable for a woman to have to unfold all of this to a man who she does not know on a deep, personal level, and furthermore is her employer. The fact that he touches her and pulls her into an embrace without invitation makes the scene even more problematic.

The dynamic of power between male and female characters is really troubling throughout the book. The narrator states that Henry had no respect for "any of the women he had bedded in the past", and it's difficult to believe such a man could learn to respect this new love interest. It is clear how much Eliza feels obliged to Henry for all that he does, and although this is coupled with genuine affection, it hardly sets up a healthy and vigorous romance. In addition to Eliza depending on Henry for her safety and her financial security, she's only 18 and he is at least 31 (as he had his daughter at 19, and she is now 12). The balance of power is just so unhealthy. The connection between them is much too much like "insta-love", and deeply unsatisfactory in its conclusion. Although Henry does make it clear from the offset that he can't marry Eliza, the idea that she'll stay his mistress until he decides it's time to find a wife leaves a very unsavoury taste. It also lacks the sense of escapism and idealism which readers will expect from a novel labelled as "terribly romantic". The way that Henry treats Eliza is belittling, even when it's done under the pretext of needing to present a lascivious front to society; the scene where the dressmaker has her naked in front of him and her four assistants is a particularly uncomfortable instance of this.

The book is also riddled with classism, from the dialect-inflected dialogue through to assumptions about "peasant superstitions". On their first meeting, Henry is pleased to find that Eliza doesn't have a pronounced accent, suggesting it makes her more acceptable and palatable - when surely the emphasis should be on the fact that she's almost been beaten to death.

There is a ridiculous amount of slut-shaming for a book whose main character is a mistress, and which contains other female characters who are seriously sexually abused. Female sexuality is presented firmly in the bounds of the virgin/whore binary, and women who practise prostitution as a living are completely degraded, whilst the two kept mistresses are accepted and even lauded.

The pacing is poor, with sex scenes that are longer than the majority of the key plot scenes until the final third of the book. The story feels improperly brought to a close by the completely last minute delivery of a bundle of letters (although I know there will be a sequel, this particular narrative would benefit from being more structured).

All of the characters feel underdeveloped and two dimensional. Eliza is incredibly dichotomous. She was raised in an increasingly bawdy inn, spent plenty of her time in the company of a barmaid who sold sex to her patrons, and was sexually assaulted by her stepfather, who uses completely obscene language to insult and degrade her. And yet we're supposed to believe that her innocence is so undamaged by this experience that she doesn't know what oral sex is - whether to give or to receive.

In certain scenes, the writing is of decent quality - the best parts of the novel are the highly descriptive ones, such as the account of the fairy-themed ball. But overall, most scenes feel hollow, and the dialogue varies wildly in quality. Sometimes it's of a decent quality, but it's often badly timed and clunky. The historical knowledge is decent, the references to contemporary writers are enjoyable. The knowledge of period costume is excellent, and one of the best parts of the book. The writer certainly has potential, but this book fails to impress on many levels.

Wow! This book was such an interesting and fun read. It was so different than most books I have read recently. The way this book was set up with the setting, the characters and the entire background, it captured my attention real quick and which i enjoyed too. The plot was so rich and consisted of a very compelling storytelling. I loved the way how Eliza and Henry’s relationship developed throughout the entire book especially them starting off as friends first and building that trust between them especially because of Eliza had gone through in the past. The book is not only entertaining but has alot of mysterious elements which makes the book so much more interesting to read because you want to know everything, but the author keeps the suspense in such a wonderful way that you want to continue reading it and not stop.

I received this arc from NetGalley. This is perfect for fans of Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. It involves a beautiful girl in danger, a flawed charismatic spy, and an evil hell-fire club. I adored this book and it comes out on January 12th, 2021. I highly recommend picking this one up!

The story of Eliza is probably the story of many women though history. She is beaten, abused and forced to marry a terrible man by her stepfather. Fate intervenes and she makes her escape.
The story has good character development as we bear witness to Eliza overcoming any obstacles she endures.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me this book.

I enjoyed this book and the overall story. I did find areas that dragged but overall I enjoyed the read.

This is a real page turner, I was really frustrated whenever my kindle ran out of charge, but I managed to finish it in the end. I couldn't put it down. The romance is between Eliza and Henry, after he saves her life, when she has been beaten. And he does so a second time, when he rescues her from probable death at the hands of a pimp. And that is just for starters. I would recommend the book, even though I found it sexually explicit, and not every reader would like it.

This book was so good! It’s definitely not a light, fluffy read but if you like thought provoking historical fiction, read this book! Eliza was an absolutely fantastic character whose growth in this book is incredible. Henry is a worthy love interest who helps Eliza fight her battles. This also turns into an espionage storyline, and anything that involves believable spies in the historical setting is a bonus for me.

Read this book, it’s amazing!

Full review to come on my blog closer to publication date.

Welcome to the world of espionage, dark sadistic world of sex traffickers,pimps,traitors at early 19th century of London.

Historical fiction- mystery- espionage-suspense and romance genres adroitly blended. The characters are strong, layered, well-built. The action parts are breathtaking. It started like a abuse/ romance story but a few chapters later you realize there are so intense and complex plot lines harmonized in the book and you enjoy each of them with lots of well-balanced, meticulously crafted supporting characters.

It starts with Eliza’s heartbreaking story. The young woman has been sold to a vicious man named Wilkins by her stepfather. She fights back but is beaten to death, finding a way to escape. Thankfully her passed out, traumatized body is spotted in the middle of the street by Sir Henry, powerful, wealthy, sophisticated man who urgently takes her to his home and gives her security to heal properly with the help of loyal caretaker Mrs. Tibit.

Throughout her healing process, Eliza and Henry’s friendship slowly blossoms and we start to become witness the changing of Eliza who was a naive, abused, neglected girl who hasn’t read anything instead of bible. She slowly gathers her courage and power, learning more about books, art, broadening her vision.

But her dirty scumbag stepfather, Wilkins who has paid for her and the pimp who wants to enslave her are adamant to drag her back to the disgusted dark sex trafficking system.

Thankfully Henry is not only wealthy and charming man who attracts attention of lovely elite ladies. He has also secret identity, working as an agent to the crown which also give him enough authority to defeat those scumbags coming after Eliza.

As their friendship turns into a devoted love, Eliza’s unearthing a crucial secret drag them into sex trafficking world one time and they find the identity of a dangerous traitor who sold the kingdom’s secrets to France. From now on Eliza and Henry not only friends and lovers, they are also partners to bring the justice together.

It was entertaining, heart pounding, well written, remarkable novel with great characters, rich plot line and satisfying conclusion.

I’m giving my four shiny, mysterious, clever, romantic, enjoyable stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for sharing this incredible Arc with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

Well, this was a lot darker than I anticipated, though was well-written. However, I felt like when the point of view shifted that the transitions could have been better because sometimes it took me a minute to realize it was now Henry's view instead of Eliza's, etc.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.