By Julie Anne Long

The most impressive feats of romance novelists are when they write a gorgeous book in which not much happens. Julie Anne Long is an expert at keeping you captivated by character development. Long takes you on an archaeological dig, excavating layer after layer of rock, to uncover the characters’ beating core.  The emotional journey here is sophisticated. There is such nuance in the characters’ self discovery. It’s not trite. Not too on the nose. Yes, the FMC is an innocent girl from the country, but Long makes her entirely unique and fully-realized. She has wit and wisdom and courage that transcends her identity as an innocent country bumpkin. 

Dominic, the male main character, was a win for me. His trajectory from withholding yet charming man who lets no one really know him, to a man in love, crying at the teet of his beloved, is a gorgeous transformation to watch. 

The spice is moderate. It’s not ALOT but it’s also def present and didn’t leave me really jonesing for a dopamine hit elsewhere. Open door. The angst is moderate. Regency England. Age gap (11 years?). Innocent but wise and witty girl from the country brings hardened Welsh legislator to his knees (in one scene, literally).

This book is part of Long’s Palace of Rogues series, which is basically a world that Long has built. You really do not have to have much familiarity with prior characters, but I DO think it would be hard to jump into this without having read at least one other book in the series. There is a lot of world building (another way historical romance is a lot like fantasy… put a pin in that thought) and I think you may be confused if you have no background to understand the Palace of Rogues. 

Also, kudos to Long for a nice cover photo. I like it :)