The Secrets of Lord Grayson Child by Stephanie Laurens
Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Cynster Next Generation #10, Cynster #30
Publication Date: 7/15/21
Period: Victorian London (1852)
Number of Pages: 337

OMGoodness! Yet another wonderful addition to the Cynster series. While the two lead characters in this book aren’t technically Cynster’s, they are friends of Cynsters and have been featured in other books; they cried out for their own HEA. Of course, we have visits from the current batch of Cynster’s. Toby, Martin, and Wilchelsea are featured, but not strongly. While this is part of a wonderful series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Our two lead characters have a history – a wonderful, romantic, loving history – and a terrible, heartbreaking history. Our soulmates were separated by that constant evil – misunderstanding. They didn’t even have a face-to-face misunderstanding – just misunderstanding and misconceptions from something overheard. Rather than confront the issue, one of our characters just disappears – and leaves the other wondering what happened for ten long years.

Lady Isadora (Izzy) Descartes was madly, totally, head-over-heels in love and she was sure he felt the same way. She was sure he’d offer for her sooner rather than later and she constantly dreamed of the life, the family, the love they would share. That he came along at just the right time, when her family was on the brink of ruin, didn’t have anything to do with how much she loved him. Her family didn’t understand that though. When he just disappeared from the face of the earth, no word, no messages, nothing, she was in deep despair. What had she done? Did he really care for her so little?

Lord Grayson Child was madly, totally, head-over-heels in love and he was sure she felt the same way. He had every intention of spending the rest of his life with her – creating the family and home he knew they both wanted. Then – when he found out – when he found out – his heart was torn from his chest and smashed on the floor. His Izzy – he couldn’t imagine … So, lost, lonely, heartbroken, and forlorn, he abandons London, he abandons England, he abandons his family, he just leaves.

Ten years later, he returns to London as rich as Croesus – but he doesn’t want people to know that. He doesn’t want to be on every match-making mama’s project list and he doesn’t want business negotiations to start out with him at a disadvantage because they know he has deep pockets. So, he is incensed when he reads articles in The London Crier hinting about how rich he is. Well, he’ll just go to the offices of Molyneaux Printing Works, which produced the popular gossip rag, and have a nice little chat with I. Molyneaux, the owner.

Grey is in shock to discover Izzy at the publishing office – and Izzy is equally surprised to see Grey. She hadn’t seen or heard a thing of him in ten years. Those had been ten very long and painful years for her – and now – here he is. Uh-Oh!

They both feel the same attraction they had ten years ago – but neither will acknowledge it nor comment on it. When he demands she discontinue printing the teaser articles about him, she just looks puzzled. After a lengthy discussion about the article, etc. they head out of the now-closed office. But – instead of leaving, they discover a dead body.

When Izzy immediately becomes the focus of the police, Grey knows he has to help her find the murderer and he also has to protect her from becoming the next victim.

This was a beautiful romance with an intense, fast-paced, suspenseful mystery. The writing was lovely and the characters were so very likable. I can definitely recommend this book.

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

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