My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Agents of the Home Office #1
Publication Date: 7/18/19
Number of Pages: 98
** Maybe 3.5 Stars **

This debut novella is a fast-paced, fun read and I can see her developing into a go-to author.

Harold Greenfield, Earl of Thornston had a history with Lady Elise Brownstone, sister to the Duke of Fairmont. Ten years ago, when she was six and ten and he was twenty, they were in love – but then he disappeared from ton life amid a scandal.

Elise has spent those ten years pining for Harold and wondering why he hasn’t made a reappearance now that her father has died. She has also spent her time investigating and rescuing debutants from unscrupulous suitors.

Harold is back and is anxious to see how Elise is doing – he has never stopped loving her. When she is in danger, he rides to her rescue like the true knight in shining armor he is.

I was happy to see these two get their second chance at a HEA. They were both steadfast in their love for each other and Elise never believed all of the gossip about Harold.

I’ll keep an eye on this author for future reads. There are a few things that bothered me and/or made it a bit hard to read, but I’ll look forward to seeing how she progresses. What are those things?

• The CONSTANT use of ‘Lord’ – At some point, it should just change from “Lord Whatever’ to just ‘Whatever’. That constant use just made things seem a bit stilted. I don’t think I’ve ever read another historical romance where I saw ‘Lord’ used as often. ** Same goes for ‘Lady’.
• Class distinction was a huge, huge, huge thing in this book and I don’t believe it really would have been an issue – at least not as described in this novella. From everything I have read and learned over the years, the people in that upper echelon of society weren’t hung up on it as we are today. There would have been no issues with an Earl marrying a Duke’s daughter. There MIGHT have been an issue with a Duke’s daughter marrying the untitled third son of an Earl, but not in marrying an Earl. I liken it to our billionaires of today – One might have 40 billion dollars and another only 20 billion, but a marriage between the two would be perfectly acceptable.
• There was a scene that just totally turned me off. Was it a ‘natural’ reaction – maybe, but in the context of a romance novel, I didn’t want to see it. When Harold breaks up with his mistress, she tries to tempt him back and his body responds – he has to fight himself to keep from taking her up on her offer. Didn’t want to see that, think that, or read that. Just sayin’ – one person’s opinion.
• There were some things that I thought could be better explained or more fully expounded upon. What I’m saying is that it could have been just a tad longer and better explained what exactly her father did to Harold, how he threatened him, etc. as well as a fuller explanation of Harold’s involvement with the Agents of the Home Office. It said what he did – but I would just have liked a tad more information.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.