Reviews

5 stars!

I am not really a fan of Historical Romance (HR). I am not against it in theory, it is just that it usually ends up pissing me off, which isn't the book's fault- it's the time period. But either I have changed or this author did a good job of placating me, because those things didn't bother me this time around. This story just had a wonderful mix of humor, drama, and steam, and on top of all that, the characters were very developed and likable & the storyline was historically accurate without being convoluted.

This is the story of Annabelle Archer & Sebastian Montgomery. Annabelle is a 25-year-old country girl that is very intelligent and well-educated. Sebastian is not only a Duke, but a very powerful one at that. They cross paths for a number of reasons, all boiling down to the fact that Annabelle is a suffragist, meaning she is fighting for the right for women to vote (and also, to not become property the day they get married). Sebastian is a Tory and thus doesn't believe in the cause, though ideologically I wouldn't say he is terribly opposed to it, either. He just has his own personal ambitions that sway where he places his support (which is normal in politics, let's be honest). I really liked Annabelle for the expected reasons: she is independent, intelligent, and rather sassy without being over the top, all of which are qualities I deeply admire in a woman. As for Sebastian, my love for him crept up on me. I found him stuffy at first, but once his layers were peeled back, I liked him more and more. Of course, yes, he is the "enemy", but at the same time... not really. The real enemy is the environment these women were forced to live in, and yes, he does benefit off of it, but it's not exactly like he exploited it, either. And considering his lot in life keeps him from what he wants most (Annabelle), it's hard not to sympathize with him at times. But like any good hero, sometimes you want to kick him in the balls, too. That's what makes the character development so important though, right?

But the best part? Even the supporting characters were amazing! Catriona, Hattie, Peregrine... even Ramsey... and Lucie and Ballentine??! I cannot WAIT for the forthcoming books. I already have the next one on hold at the library. This book told a great love story, but it set up even more exciting storylines, so I am positively tickled that I ended up liking this one as much as I did.