Rating: 3 out of 5.

This was a fun and flirty Historical Fiction Romance.

Brina Feld is a young widow who has settled into her life devoting her time to helping others. She has no time for romance and has vowed to never get married again. Zane is the rakish younger son of an Earl who is used to having no responsibilities and leading a carefree, reckless life. When his father and eldest brother is killed in an accident, he must return home to become the Earl of Blacknight – a task he is dreading. His uncles chastise him and urge him to settle down, get married and become respectable so he can care for their family. In one last act of rebellion, Zane makes a bet that he will win the hand of widow Brina before the season ends. She vows to make his life hell before turning him down.

This was a cute, quick read. The basic storyline is one we’ve seen a hundred times, but I liked Brina. Zane’s character was a bit inconsistent – he’s supposed to be a notorious rake and scoundrel, but he trots after Brina like a love-sick puppy dog and acts nobly throughout the book. This was a disconnect that I found hard to ignore. The book is an entertaining read, but I probably won’t go back and read the previous books in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.