Yaaasss! I was so happy to be able to read an historical romance again. It had been far too long.

Now, this is the third in a series and I had not read the others. I don’t feel like that hindered me at all. And I will definitely go back and read those soon. I also now feel I am dying for Ran’s book. I love a recluse.

Lady Elspeth has been reared and educated in a private commune in Scotland with a group of women called “Wise Women.”Their goal for centuries has been to secretly help women in need. Her worldview is aberrant for a typical duke’s daughter.

She meets Julian Greycourt in his vile uncle’s library as she’s searching for a diary that will help the Wise Women get back on course. He’s icy and beautiful and just wants to get her out of his uncle’s potential clutches and away from him.

And then she’s everywhere. With her wild rose scent and tempting curves and sunshine smile. And her compassion.

Julian is dealing with the A LOT: his wicked uncle, his siblings, his sexual proclivities. But guess who understands everything about him? Our sunshine girl, Elspeth. She’s not going to let him walk this path alone.

There’s a mystery running through regarding Julian’s sister, Aurelia, who was killed. Maybe by Elspeth’s brother, Ranulf?

Of course, there’s a lot of sexual tension as Julian tries to resist his baser urges. But Elspeth has a mind -and needs -of her own.

This was a really good story and I loved the characters. I’ve not read Hoyt before, but I’ve always heard amazing things about her Maiden Lane series. I’m definitely going to check those out this winter.

I was given this eARC via #netgalley and @readforeverpub. All thoughts are mine alone.

#romance #romancebooks #historicalromance #noordinaryduchess #elizabethhoyt #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram