This romance burned so slowly that I truly feared the smouldering wick would go out. Nevertheless, it is a lovely, heartwarming story that evoked my sympathies for both the main characters as they tested the waters of their friendship during a seaside holiday. Understanding Anne's fears, for he has his own load of burdens to carry, Victor gently and silently woos her in secret, putting out lures to entice her. It is only when Anne's family is in jeopardy that events begin to escalate, bringing about a surprising and somewhat unwanted outcome. Despite misunderstandings and the fears that hindered them, the novel comes to a lovely conclusion, cementing the lives of the McNab brothers. I received a copy of this tender romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Victor and Anne have been friends for years. Her marriage was horrible and now as a widow, she is free to enjoy more of life without the control of a man. Victor, on the other hand has never married and absolutely loves the freedom he has in life. That is until, he finds that he's going to become a duke. He reached out to his friend, Anne, who begins to help him enter society while at the beach. Can true friends risk their friendship for more? Can they both move past their own needs, pains and expectations for the future? A must read story with depth and a well defined plot.

One of my favourite tropes – a virgin MMC, who at around 40 years old is on the older side for this trope. The first quarter of the book left me unsure if either Victor or Anne were truly interested in each other romantically – their feelings developed slowly and subtly, but I wasn’t convinced it would happen.

Victor is an interesting character – quite repressed due to his difficult upbringing, which sometimes made him hard to connect with. Anne, recently widowed and wary after a disastrous first marriage, is closed off and determined to avoid romance. Both are stubborn and immovable in their ways, making their slow thaw believable but occasionally frustrating. I enjoyed how Victor softened over time and how genuinely sweet he was with Anne’s children – his care for them was a highlight.

Some Americanisms in spelling and phrases jarred a little in this Victorian English setting. I appreciated the frank, open discussion about not wanting more children – a refreshing honesty.

Overall, I had mixed feelings – the slow-burning friends-to-lovers with pining and forced proximity worked well, but the initial lack of romantic spark and the characters’ stubbornness made the story uneven for me. And, perhaps I missed something but I didn't understand the relevance of the selkie story at all?! Still, the quiet moments and their growing romantic connection were very touching.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblad Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

I was patiently waiting for Anne and Victor's story... After years of being each other's best friend, will true love shine through? This was a great story about Anne and Victor and their friendship to love story. Definitely worth a read. <3. Free ARC from NetGalley for a honest reivew.

A charming and heartwarming story with a well-paced plot that holds your attention from start to finish. A truly enjoyable read.

Anne’s marriage was unhappy and she was relieved when her husband died and has no intention of remarrying. Victor too has no desire to marry and is quite happy with his friendship with Lady Anne. However all their friends and family believe the pair are in love and Victor is persuaded to travel to Brighton with his brothers families and Lady Anne and her two children, to clarify his feelings. Will seeing Anne on a daily basis bring them closer? How is he to get Anne to see him in a different light when all she wants is a summer flirtation with a stranger that she will never see again?
It is easy to see Anne’s point of view when married women had very little rights and divorce was scandalous and almost unheard of.
Note: Compulsory civil registration was introduced in Scotland on 1 Jan 1855. Gretna Green blacksmith (and other ‘irregular’) marriages, were only legal after this date if they were registered. By showing proofs of their marriage the parties could obtain a warrant of a sheriff or sheriff substitute to have the marriage registered by the local registrar.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a strong third entry in the Harp & Thistle series, it had that feel that I was looking for in a historical romance novel and as a third book in this series. I was invested in the time-period and how the characters were used during this story. I enjoyed getting into the romance and how it was realistic for the period. Arden Conroy wrote this so well and was glad I read this.

A beach romance set in the Regency era?
A beautiful cover that matches the lovely story?
Characters who belong together?
Yes please!