Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is a wonderful Victorian romance set in London about two childhood friends whose romance always seems to be just out of step. This is book 3 in the Belles of London series, but can be read as a standalone. Lady Anne and Felix “Hart” Hartford are childhood friends. When Anne was only 16, Felix proposed and they had an understanding. Shortly thereafter Anne’s father died, plunging her mother into a 7 year spiral of grief, taking Anne with her. After their broken engagement, Felix never gives up hope they will get back together.

Anne and Hart clearly have feelings for each other but can’t get out of their own way which frustrated me. My least favorite trope is miscommunication, and this book is rife with it. Despite this, I did like the couple and the story, even if the will they/won’t they went on way too long. Anne is completely loyal to her mother and friends, to the detriment to everything else, even herself. The book features grief in all its stages. Anne’s mother doesn’t realize how much she is stifling Anne’s life and cheating her out of her youth and potential happiness with her grief. Anne’s selflessness allows it. Again, this is admirable, but I felt it went on a bit too long.

Hart is the perfect steady, loyal, besotted beau. He’s the perfect book boyfriend. His love for Anne never wavers, and he makes sure she knows it – even if Anne doesn’t want to. He left his bad boy behavior behind him but no one gives him credit for it. I was glad when they finally got their HEA.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Austenprose PR, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. All opinions are my own.