Overall, I had a good time reading this book. It's a quick, engaging read that never drags, and one of its biggest strengths is the well-crafted characters. I really liked Marcus and Amelia—their dynamic and banter are genuinely enjoyable, and once again, Emma Orchard proves she has a real talent for writing chemistry between a hero and heroine.
As in the Author's previous novels, the world-building is a major plus. The attention to historical detail and the faithful recreation of the Regency era add depth and authenticity to the story.
That said, the plot was where the book lost me a bit. I understand that historical romances aren’t meant to be entirely realistic, but the setup for the fake engagement felt far too contrived—even by genre standards. The circumstances were so implausible that it was hard to believe either character would go along with it. Once they were pretending to be engaged (which, of course, turned into real feelings), the story picked up, and the banter carried it well. But ultimately, the foundation of the entire charade just felt too far-fetched to ignore.
One intriguing element was the character of Lavinia—Marcus's former love and the widow of his late brother—who is determined to win him back at any cost. At first, I thought her subplot might become one of the book’s highlights, but unfortunately, the final twist involving her felt overly convenient and not fully resolved.
In summary, the plot isn’t the book’s strongest point, but it’s still an enjoyable read thanks to the fast pace and the charm of the main characters. Fans of historical romance will likely have a good time with it. As for me, I’m definitely not giving up on Emma Orchard—on the contrary, I’m already looking forward to her next release.

I am giving it two stars because I DNF.I just was not drawn in to the characters. The MMC is still getting weird with his dead brother’s widow and the FMC was just kind of blah. Maybe it gets better, but I won’t be finding out about it. Sorry to this book.