Enjoyable historical romance with interesting but complicated characters and an intriguing storyline.

Life for George Pemberton is orderly, but he hides a secret. It is this secret that will send him over the edge, causing him to pummel anyone up for a fight. Sophie is the daughter of a pirate and has been seconded to Cornwall to keep her away from prying eyes and wagging tongues. As her future is not her own, she is determined to make the most of life. When her father’s hired man, Duncan allows her out to the tavern at night, she finds solace in people she meets and the occasional game of dice or cards. When George encounters Sophie milling about with women of ill repute and working men in a Cornish tavern, he is intrigued by her. Yet, he can see a kindred spirit in that she also has secrets that pain her. One night, Sophie encounters Mr. Pemberton stripped to the waist and covered in blood after a fight, and she finds herself thrilled by what she sees.
This is a story that finds two unlikely people meeting and finding love despite their past. Sophie has experienced an assault in her past, and this is handled with care by the author. What was so lovely about this book is the care and love that they have for each other and how their relationship grows as they begin to trust each other. Their past hurts also diminish in intensity as their relationship thrives. I must admit that Duncan was a delightful character that added just something more to this story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars.
“A Baron’s Son is Undone”, by Olivia Elliott is a lovely, well-written historical romance, with a guarded, tortured hero and an unconventional heroine, who meet and fall in love in unexpected circumstances.
The leads are likeable, relatable and well developed. I loved the hero, George, who apparently has been living with something dreadful weighing him down, but neverthless is a caring, empathetic person.
The characterization as a person loving order, tidiness, efficiency, suggests a specific condition, but it was not explored as I was expecting.
I liked how his mild sadness/depression? is so constant and how Duncan smartly notices it. But George is also very responsible and aware of his duties.
With a heroine full of grit, the atypical romance is also interesting.
Besides the love story, I enjoyed the other human interactions and meeting again characters from “A Soldier and his Rules”.

Such a great read from Olivia Elliot! As with her first two books, it's thoughtful and a little bit melancholy - but so satisfying.

Set in Cornwall during the Regency, Sophie has been sent there by her (mysterious) father. We gradually find out she is a survivor of an intimate assault and this is handled sensitively by author Olivia – I don’t remember another romance where this done so beautifully. George Pemberton is also visiting Cornwall. He's a beta hero, traumatised by an event from his childhood and he manages his feelings by brawling, witnessed by Olivia. George and Sophie meet in the local tavern and this space is the backdrop for them falling in love.

By half way, George and Sophie are married and the rest of the novel focuses on them navigating their families and finding intimacy - especially for Sophie. George's family are not impressed by his sudden marriage and Sophie's father is a big problem, so there's plenty going on.

Their love is not in doubt, more that they need to learn how to give of themselves and what intimacy and trust mean for each of them. Olivia writes such delicious small moments - the fight scenes, Sophie swimming in the ocean, the glass shop, the slugs (hilarious Aunt Evelyn 😄), Sophie’s red dress, the nastiness of Sophie's father. Shoutout to Duncan, Sophie's minder! All these little scenes bring everything together and I was cheering for them by the end.

Also lovely to see Patience and Richard from 'A Soldier and His Rules' - although this is a standalone.

Thank you Olivia Elliot, Books Go Social and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.