I appreciate this series so much for just having a different setting and not adhering to some of the more standard rules of Regency historical romance. This is about women who run a gaming hell for women in Regency era London. (I’m not certain of the exact date, but we are post Napoleon because English people are traveling to Paris.)

The main character, Della, is taking on more responsibilities at the club because the main character from the first book in the series has just had a baby with Eli, her husband and the MMC from that book at the same time, Della is trying to write a lady’s guide to London. Lord Ashton is her writing mentor because he has written similar books. As you can expect, the two grow close. Ashton‘s background is extremely messy and is a significant barrier to them being together.

This book explores arranged marriages, separation, and divorce in the Regency era, but also gambling addiction and the expected role of women at the time. This is done in a very neat package, but in a way that is still insightful.

It’s also interesting that the conclusion of the story is unusual. It’s not exactly a happily ever after. So perhaps a bit closer to a “happy for now” with the promise of more. I expect that we will hear about Della and Ashton in future box as they communicate with secondary characters who will move into lead roles. Della sister, Annabelle, definitely seems poised to be a main character in a book to come.

Sparkling with wit and undeniable charm, this book is pure delight. Their push-and-pull crackles with energy, wrapped in a story that is both lighthearted and emotionally rich. The writing is crisp, the humor perfectly timed, and the romance slow-burning in the most delicious way. Overall, it’s swoon-worthy and simply irresistible.

This story was so charming and fun! It’s got such a unique concept I haven’t seen before, especially in historical stories. Della was so fun and sweet and determined and I really connected with her character. Seeing her and Lyman connect and then fell in love was stressful but lovely at the same time. I adored this one!

Until I got to the end of the book, I didn’t realize this was book two in a series. That being said, it certainly can be read as a stand alone, but this story causes me to want to read book one to get to know the characters more.
The female protagonist is a breath of fresh air with her adventurous spirit and her joyful outlook on life.
I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the romance, I enjoyed the storyline and I enjoyed reading about the process of writing a guidebook from that period.

this was absolute perfection!!! i am not a connoisseur of historical romances but i feel that this was objectively a solid romance!!! the setting was so immersive and threw me in without a hitch (i also need to get more into delacour’s wriitng is what this experience has taught me).