Lady Anne Deveril doesn’t spook easily. A woman of lofty social standing known for her glacial beauty and starchy opinions, she’s the unofficial leader of her small group of equestriennes. Since her mother’s devastating plunge into mourning six years ago, Anne voluntarily renounced any fanciful notions of love and marriage. And yet, when fate puts Anne back into the entirely too enticing path of Mr. Felix Hartford, she’s tempted to run…right into his arms.
No one understands why Lady Anne withdrew into the shadows of society, Hart least of all. The youthful torch he once held for her has long since cooled. Or so he keeps telling himself. But now Anne needs a favor to help a friend. Hart will play along with her little ruse—on the condition that Anne attend a holiday house party at his grandfather’s country estate. No more mourning clothes. No more barriers. Only the two of them, unrequited feelings at last laid bare.
Finally free to gallop out on her own, Anne makes the tantalizing discovery that beneath the roguish exterior of her not-so-white knight is a man with hidden depths, scorching passions—and a tender heart.
Release Date: Jan 60, 2024
Series: Belles of London
Book: 3
Heat Level: Warm
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $10.99
The third novel in the Belles of London is another winner!
This is one book I’ve been waiting a while for, the finale and backstory to the infamous, always joking Hartford and Lady Anne Deveril. Matthews has been teasing this one since The Siren of Sussex and I was ready for every sordid detail. Matthews delivered in spades.
Hart and Anne have a tangled past filled with love, loss, and family hardships. Both characters have given up so much for their families, including romantic relationships with each other. For a second-chance romance this is the slow burn I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s also an opposites attract in so many ways because often Hart or Anne would say something to each other and they couldn’t understand one another. The book tackles tough personal loss, around parental grief and how fear of losing control or losing love can make people act a bit crazy.
Though for all Anne’s bluster and her blunt, cutting way of reacting around Hart there were too many times I wanted to yell, “the lady doth protest too much.” She would be railing at Hart only to be forlorn when she didn’t see him for days on end. Then there’s Hart, he’ll do anything to stir Anne’s reaction because anything is better than her ignoring him. Her arrival at his house at the beginning of the book is enough to give Hart hope he still has a chance. His tenacious, steadfast determination to be there when Anne calls is swoon worthy.
These two were so wonderful to read, the tug and pull, the never-ending wonder of if they could overcome the past or if the past won’t let their love grow. What stopped it from going to five, there were a couple of secondary plot threads that weren’t resolved, but nothing that overall impacts the romance. If you’re looking for a nice slow, sweet romance I can’t recommend this book or the series enough. It’s a fabulous escape. For readers who enjoy Evie Dunmore, but with less heat.
~ Landra
Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo | Google Play