Member Review

Daisy Hamilton’s new mission for King & Co. is to stop an heiress from eloping. When she sees their carriage besieged by highwaymen, she steps up to protect them. Except it's not the eloping couple, it's Lucien Vaughan, Duke of Cranford, and the man who broke her heart. Vaughan wants the heiress to marry his lovestruck nephew in order to get him out of his house, and he's perfectly willing to use every weapon in his arsenal to keep Daisy from reaching them in time to stop the wedding. It's all fun and games until Daisy's reputation is threatened and she's put in a dangerous situation, making Vaughan realize that it's more than just fun. Now he'll have a hell of a time convincing the cynical Daisy that marrying him is well worth the risk.

Sometimes, you just need some straight-up enemies-to-lovers romance with characters who banter like they really mean it and are obviously in love, but refusing to acknowledge it. Bateman is the queen of banter, and I love how that element in characters' relationships continues even after they've realized their true feelings. Pushing each other's buttons is how they show their love, and it's infinitely entertaining to see them do it.

The characters pull you in and keep you interested in a story that moves at a great pace while still giving the important moments room to breathe and develop. You can feel the tension between Daisy and Vaughan as soon as they share the page, and it only gets hotter the more they spend together and share their pasts. That Bateman takes the time to make sure that they're both fully developed within the story is a big part of why I love her writing. Daisy isn't just the headstrong lady and Vaughan is more than just tall, dark, and brooding; they're both people whose situations you can empathize with and cheer for.

Overall, another most excellent entry by Bateman and a story that's an example of why I keep reading historical romance.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for the deliciously romantic read!