Jonathon Hawthorne notices an altercation in the street, a young woman is being assaulted by the Bromsgrove Constabulary and he steps in to help. Charlotte Bausand is an apprentice nailer, she works for Mr. Higgs and he accuses her of theft. Charlotte has had a hard life, her parents and younger sister were sent to the workhouse and she was forced to work. Ten years later, she’s tired of the way Mr. Higgs has been treating her, since his wife passed away he’s been making unwanted advances towards her and she didn’t steal anything from him.

Jonathon rescues a severely beaten Charlotte, she’s taken to Worcester Goal, and unfortunately his father is the town magistrate. He’s furious with his youngest son, he does everything in his power to stop Jonathon from seeing Charlotte, when he continues to defy him and he's forced to take drastic action. England in the 18th century is clearly divided into social classes, they don’t associate with each other and certainly don't fall in love!

In Darkest Days May Blossom by Leila Snow, Jonathon falls madly in love with Charlotte, despite his father’s interference, his brother manages to save her from the hangman’s noose and she flees. The couple spend months trying to find each other, Jonathon gets rather despondent and Charlotte has to change her name to stay one step ahead of the law and try to find work when she doesn’t have a reference. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, a story about forbidden love and not set in the most romantic of places, a quick read and three stars from me.

If you like stories where one bad thing happens after the next, everyone is unhappy for most of the story and misery is the theme, then this is the book for you.

People falling in love for no reason at all, lots of abuse against women, loves being separated and then a nice happy ending is what you'll get with this book.

I really had to focus to get through this one. It was not my favorite but I could see how others may like this type of story.

Thank you #NetGalley for offering this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book has grabbed me from the beginning. The story of a total opposites and sad journey of a main character. I would say the book itself is a good read and leaves you totally at peace at the end.

I wanted to love this story, but had a hard time with it. The premise is good, aristo falling for a street girl, but for me, it just didn't work.

What an incredibly beautiful love story in a tumultuous time! This is a dark history with class injustices and a strong romance. Set in 1796 where there isn’t much justice when you were a young poor woman, its a sad situation., This is not your typical love story, these two are complete opposites. I enjoyed this book even though romance is not my typical genre, it was truly an enjoyable story to read.

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I still think about it even weeks later and I’m buying this as soon as I can. I recommend everyone else do the same.

In late 18th century England there was not much justice when you were a poor woman and that brings the author to light very well. It is a sad situation. She also shows the class differences and the struggle people have to live through. Being a Scotsman makes you frowned upon, being rich but heaven forbids had merchant parents keeps you out of the top circles, being poor have you committed to a workhouse and when employers are cruel there is no one to turn to.
The knight in shining armour is a the son of the magistrate who sees his father's constables about to beat a girl to death and steps in to save her.
There was two things I had doubts over: in those days and age you would not contemplate marrying someone so far below your social station. Maybe the idea that he really loved her and she him and the possibility to marry could have come up at the end.
The other thing is that I had the feeling the book ended a bit too soon. I think the writer wants to continue from the viewpoint of the other protagonists but I always think it is better to write a tome including the whole story. Hence the 1 star deduction.
Do not think you buy a sweet romance book this is more Dickens doom and gloom. But it had me spellbound (lawyer so I was interested in the whole misconduct of justice)

PS the vows are silly! No one would mention orgasms in that day and ages let alone in church!!!!

I enjoyed this book While the story took many twists and turns ,some which were implausible but made the story more interesting so who cares, the characters were engaging and the ending quite satisfying

Thanks to NetGalley and Leila Snow for a digital galley for an exchange of an honest review.

Not only was this book incredibly written, the characters and plot of the story were greatly developed throughout the novel. Although I found the injustices done to Charlotte by everyone around her (except Jonathan), a bit frustrating due to how beautiful and innocent her spirit was; in the end it seems her character was brought to light, and she finally received what she deserved.

The character Johnathan reminded me a lot of the character Mr. Darcy, from Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice". Although the class difference would have prevented the kind of love written in this novel, there is nothing quite like reading about forbidden love; the persistence in seeking and fighting for a love destined for a dangerous outcome. Yet, this is the kind of thrill most of us readers seek in historical romances.

This novel got me hooked and I can't wait for the release of the sequel. This is the first time I was introduced to Leila Snow's writing and I look forward to reading more of her books.

I wanted to like this, but it doesn't have a clear genre. The premise is great, the highborn guy falling for a guttersnipe, wrongly accused! But too much happens to characters that aren't the main characters. Milicient is half the story, when she really shouldn't be. and Jonathan and the MC are separated for 75% of the book. There's nothing there for me. The Insta love is fine, but the fact that they don't keep building on that with trials and insecuries, this was like reading a courtly love romance. Which would've been fine also, if the other elements weren't so dark. This book was all over the place. It's got great elements, but not great altogether.

This is dark history with class injustices and a strong romance.

Charlotte is a young girl who has struggled among the poor in a small English town in 1796. She was orphaned early and sold off to a family who houses her while she works and turns over her work and income. The mistress of the house has died, and the master now feels he can get more ‘duties’ from Charlotte. When she resists, he accuses her of theft. The local constable gives chase and is prepared to physically (and sexually) abuse the girl.

Jonathan is the youngest son of the wealthiest man in the community. Although they are not titled, their excessive wealth allows them to rub shoulders with the nobles. He has observed the division of the classes in London and the usual disregard and disdain for the lower classes by the uppers. He has no business interfering in a local street arrest, but his gaze is captured by the desperate spirit in the eyes of the ragged girl.

Jonathan steps in and requires the constable to help him get the girl to a holding room and to send for the doctor. In only a few days Jonathan and Charlotte develop a bond that results in trouble at home. Jonathan is fortunate to have income of his own since he doesn’t have a lot of respect for his father and is willing to rebel against his father’s demand to stay away from the girl.

Jonathan has no idea how far his father will go to control the situation. Jonathan goes to London to secure a solicitor to help Charlotte. While he is gone his father steps in to assure that that Charlotte will be eliminated. Jonathan’s mother and brothers are sympathetic but don’t agree on how to help resolve the situation.

There is quick depth of attraction and love between Charlotte and Jonathan even though the class differences raise large obstacles. Their level of physical contact was a little surprising although fairly understandable. Charlotte makes a friend in goal (jail) who first helps her. Later the frail girl accuses Charlotte of abandoning her and blames Charlotte for her own problems. I really had difficulty with this girl’s immaturity and the co-dependent relationship she abuses.

The story is well written and moves along well. The historical details, especially the level of poverty and injustice, is hard to read. Even housekeepers look down on lower servants and won’t give them a chance if they have no references.

There are several scenes of suspense: can Charlotte escape hanging? Can Jonathan turn his life around when he falls into depression thinking that Charlotte is lost to him? This isn’t an easy, happy read, but it is interesting. I recommend it to fans of historical romance.

Source: NetGalley.

What a haunting, beautiful story this was! The author managed to capture the injustices of the era but also the love between Charlotte and Jonathan. She managed to bring hope to light.
I experienced so many emotions while reading this story, and when that happens, it is a fantastic book!
Many thanks to Independent Book Publishers Association and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Charlotte is almost killed, but if she survives she faces the hangman. Life has little to offer. Jonathan sees her for the first time when she is caught and almost killed, but saves her life. Will she face the noose?

I enjoyed this story, different from what I usually read. I was never sure what next would happen.

Some may find it cumbersome, but trigger warnings are very important, in my opinion. The blurb definitely drew me in into what seemed to be possibly the most touching and wonderful kind of romance, but it didn't include details that could otherwise affect readers deeply.

Let me admit this: I am not strong enough to finish this book. I stopped reading at 27%.

Certainly, the skills of the author are fantastic for her readers to feel such strong emotions. That I cannot deny. Everything written seems so very real, and it is very easy for readers to sympathise with the dismal situations the characters had to go through. But, really, for a romance, the growth of it seems... too fast. There isn't much time dedicated for it to develop properly, and not even 30% in, the feelings they have for one another is already moulded to completion. That fact, accompanied with, surely, a continual onslaught of situations that are both realistic and absolutely horrifying, I couldn't bring myself to read this to the end.

Oh, the poor, poor girl... The image conjured through the author's vivid descriptions is going to stay in my mind for days.

When I saw the blurb for this book I thought I would enjoy reading it...I thought the beginning was strong but then..lost interest as the male lead's family became involved and other things happened. This book si dark and soul destroying and this night I just could not read through to the end. I wanted something happier to read so...chose not to finish it.

No idea how to rate this book so will go with a 3, I guess?

Maybe life back then was as dark as this but if so, I don't want to read about it tonight.

England in the 18th Century was a nightmare for women. In fact all the centuries before that and a long while after that, were dreadful times for women and reading this book that focuses on an orphan girl, Charlotte, and the struggles she has to live through broke my heart.
One thing is certain, there were certain scenes where I was hopeful that the world would be kind to Charlotte, but overall this was a bitter one to swallow. Reading this without feeling downcast and heartbroken is inevitable.

Thanks for the eARC Netgalley.

There were elements of the book that were good- the style of writing, the pacing of the plot, the character development. However, all of that gets lost because all this book seems to focus on is rape. It’s awful. I counted four separate instances of rape or attempted rape. No woman is strong enough to escape its consequences. It’s there, always threatening any bad decisions. I simply have no stomach for it.
I don’t recommend this book

Charlotte lives in England at the end of the 18th Century. She has had nothing but trouble and hardship her whole life. Charlotte was orphaned at a young age and had to fend for herself. Jonathan is a Gentleman and has come from a life of love and privilege but seeing Charlotte for the first time standing in the mud he knew she was special. When Charlotte is accused of a crime she did not commit Jonathan comes to her aid trying to save her from the hangman.
This book really gripped me and held me with it from start to finish with many twists and turns. The cruelty was unbelievable with Police beating young girls almost to death in the street. This story was so emotional and I really enjoyed my time with it
While this is about Charlotte and Jonathan it also portrays the determination of human survival against such extreme odds.
I would highly recommend it.

This is a heartbreakingly honest novel of a poor orphaned girl, Charlotte, who is unjust accused and in turn, beaten in the street by the constables. Jonathan, the son of the town magistrate, is at first mesmerised by the strength and defiance displayed by Charlotte, and then horrified when she nearly dies from her injuries. He comes to her aid, nursing her back to health and despite being opposites, they soon fall in love.
This was an intense story, that vividly portrays the hardship of many in the late 1700s in England. Charlotte’s determination to survive is fascinating to read about, yet the cruelty and hardship shown to her, is difficult to tolerate. The both Jonathan and Charlotte's stories were intense and well written. The intensity of their feelings was hard to deny, and I felt drawn in from the very beginning. A powerful love story, that is worth reading!
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.