This is quick, charming novella anchored by a tender childhood friendship that deepens into lasting love. Hattie and Cassian have been quietly in love for over a decade, and that shared history gives the story real tenderness.

Hattie’s fierce loyalty shines as she chases down her old friend in London, determined to save him from scandal (and himself). Cass, for all his brooding, is soft where she’s concerned, but his awful father’s legacy casts a long shadow. Their love story is inevitable, yes—but it’s also beautiful and so sweet.

You can read this one as a standalone, but if you’ve picked up other books in the Games Earls Play series, you’ll appreciate the returning characters and emphasis on found family. Either way, it’s a satisfying read that hits the sweet spot.

This book is a delight from start to finish. If I have one complaint, it is that the book is a short one. It would have benefited from a few more chapters.

I loved Hattie and Cass. The childhood scenes were just precious. Poor Cass was so miserable and Hattie soothed all his rough spots. Very endearing.
I also appreciate that once they were adults, they got together pretty quickly and not left languishing too long in miscommunications. Excellent book. I adore Anna Bradley's style and writing!!
Thank you to Oliver Heber for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Class was lonely and neglected as a child. He encountered Hattie while sitting on a tree branch when she left him a cake and a flower crown.
They became the best of friends, lying in the grass under the tree.
They corresponded for years even though they did not meet face to face.
Cass became a wicked Earl always in the gossip columns.
Hattie decided to come to London to try to save him even though he had stopped writing to her.
An emotional love story of a man trying to overcome his past and perceived destiny and a woman who will not give up on him.
Truly loved this story and the depth of the characters.

Bradley's writing is undeniably descriptive and rich with detail, painting a luxuriant tapestry of the period's settings and atmosphere. The prose is often evocative, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the era. However, this very strength occasionally becomes a slight impediment. The narrative, at times, feels somewhat bogged down by an overabundance of landscape and environmental descriptions or extensive world-building elements. This repetitive exposition can be particularly noticeable when the characters grapple with internal conflicts and work through their emotions, causing the story's pace to slacken.
While the central romance setup might follow a predictable trope—the childhood friends-to-lovers arc—Bradley's sheer richness and meticulous detail largely compensate for this familiarity. The depth of her prose makes the journey enjoyable, even if the destination is anticipated. Furthermore, the author's restraint with the physical aspects is refreshing, and there is plenty for romance fans to enjoy. It's a testament to Bradley's skill that she can craft such an engaging and heartwarming tale, proving that a well-told story, even with a familiar framework, can still captivate.

Cass is so loveable in the beginning of the story. Not so much later in. Unless you like a bad boy that doesn't care much for what people think. Hattie comes to his rescue. Whether he wants it or not. I had a hard time with this book. i liked some parts and skimmed through the rest.

Every single Regency romance I read for Netgalley has engraved itself on my heart. I love this just as much. So cute!

Hattie and Cass are childhood friends who haven't seen each other in many years. When they meet in London, they realize they have a mutual attraction which Cass denies because he feels he is unworthy of her. After coming to her rescue, they start to wonder if they can have a happily ever after all. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for my honest review,