Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Byronic Book Club #3
Publication Date: 8/8/23
Period: Victorian London – 1859
Number of Pages: 408
I have enjoyed this series of books and I’m sorry to say that I believe this is the last book of the series. This book has a lovely story and a great epilogue – set 4 years in the future – that very nicely wraps up all of the characters and their HEAs. We have, of course, met the heroine in the previous book, so we already know her pretty well. The hero, on the other hand, is unknown to us and it was lovely to get to know him, his fears, his affliction, and to see the solution to the mystery around him. From the meet-cute to the HEA, this was a fun read.
Miss Jane Delaney is a lovely, intelligent young woman who believes, with good reason, that she will never marry because of the large scar on her face. Besides, she doesn’t trust men – because of what caused that large scar on her face. Since marriage isn’t an option, she’ll continue to help her beloved grandfather in his bookshop, Delaney’s, and she’ll work toward her goal of publishing a pamphlet on women’s health and well-being. Her life was progressing quite tranquilly – until she received the first blackmail demand. What, you ask, could anyone have to blackmail such a lovely lady? Well, it appears the pamphlet she wants to publish is quite explicit – quite scandalous – and her journal containing her notes (and her name) has been stolen. She has no money and she cannot (read that – will not) ask her friends or family for the money – so, where will she get it?
Christopher Marsden, the Duke of Roxby, displays a false front to the ton to cover up an affliction that would cause them to think he is mad. He’s not, but they would think anyone who couldn’t recognize friends, staff, or family, was mad. It all started when he was attacked and hit his head – now, even when he looks in the mirror, he sees a stranger. He throws debauched parties, acts vain and standoffish, and appears inebriated most of the time – all of which tends to keep polite society away – and if they do speak to him, they assign his lack of recognition to inebriation. He’s so tired of all of that – and – he needs to get on with discovering who is trying to murder him. What he needs is someone – someone he can truly trust – to be his eyes and let him know to whom he is speaking. ** Then, like magic, she quietly walks into his library one evening – totally intent upon stealing a very old, very valuable book – while he is sitting there in the dark watching her.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Christopher and Jane come to trust each other and believe in each other. Each had serious past hurts to overcome and they each had to learn to trust again. Both were truly likable characters and I was happy they found their HEA.
There were a couple of things that kept me from rating it higher. One was Jane’s inability to tell Christopher the whole truth. I understand the author needed a device to cause conflict, but it just annoyed me. Another thing was Christopher’s over-the-top reaction to Jane asking Jack O’Connor to help her catch the blackmailer. I get his insecurity; I just think it went much too far. Both of those felt a bit contrived to me rather than a natural flow.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and certainly recommend it. Their initial meeting in his library was one of my favorite things about the book and another was the entire epilogue. I love that it was set well out into the future with the families from all three books attending a gathering. The scenes were heartwarming and fed the romantic in me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
