Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is a fun and flirty historical romance set in Victorian London. This is the third book in the series. I haven’t read the first two, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book.

Viscount Glendarril Coll MacTaggert is a Scottish Highlander whose estranged English mother is requiring her three sons to marry an English woman before their youngest sister weds, or she will cut off funds to run their Scottish manor. With his two youngest brothers wed and/or betrothed to English ladies, and his sister’s wedding only 4 weeks away, Coll has run out of options in stalling his mother’s demands. But he’s determined that he will find his own wife, thank you very much.

Enter Persephone Jones, a smart, beautiful, independent and mysterious actress that catches Coll’s attention. Even if her occupation wasn’t a big enough hindrance to their courtship, the fact that she has no interest in marrying Coll, or anyone, is a huge obstacle he must overcome. When someone tries to kill Persephone, Coll appoints himself her protector and vows to save her from harm, and discover who is trying to kill her. Of course, with all this time spent together, sparks are going to fly.

This is a quick read that provides plenty of escapism. I like that Persephone is smart and independent, not a weak and wishy-washy woman. There are far too many of those tropes in books as it is, so it’s refreshing to see a character that isn’t. Coll is also much more enlightened and non-judgmental than most leading men in romance novels. He actually listens to Persephone and is a partner to her, rather than domineering and overbearing.

Overall, this is a great Victorian romance with contemporary themes. It’s a fun bit of escapism, and we can all use that these days.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary copy of the book. All opinions in this review are my own.