This is Janna MacGregor’s second book and I loved it as much as the first one. It can be read without reading the first book in this series though some of the characters from The Bad Luck Bride appear in this one. Lady Emma Cavensham loves to read and covets rare books. While sneaking off to buy a rare book, she is stopped by reclusive Nick St. Mauer, Earl of Somerton. Her cousin Claire has sent Nick to find her and prevent a scandal. (Nick’s best friend is Claire’s husband Alex.) As punishment, her parents are sending her to their country estate, but before she leaves Nick gives her his copy of the book she was trying to obtain and her first kiss.

Nick is the Duke of Renton’s son and heir, but they have been estranged since Nick was sent to school as a child. Nick’s goal is to amass more money than his father and never let anyone into his heart.

Three years later, Emma is grieving the death of her best friend, Lena, who fell down the stairs while pregnant. Emma believes Lena’s husband killed her and is determined to find proof as Lena’s brother is off fighting Napoleon. Emma wants justice for Lena. She sneaks off to Portsmouth to find Lena’s maid and while dining at an inn, Lena’s husband threatens her. Nick has discovered where she went and follows her. Found by her brothers in her room at the inn, they inform her she’ll have to marry Nick. Lena has her own ideas of what she’d like to do but Nick convinces her to wed.

There is a lot more going on in this book and I hope I’ve said enough to entice you to read it without ruining the story. I highly recommend this book. Best line: “Books could take you on the grandest adventures.”
Thanks to Janna and her publisher for giving me this ARC. No one asked me to write a review.