Lewis Stapleton, eighth Earl of Lethbridge is a man hovering on the edge of breaking. Between his mother pestering him about finding a bride of high social standing, maintaining his estates and title without enough funding, and worrying over his two brothers, he requires an outlet, so he works through those emotions while in the boxing ring. Miss Cecilia Dawson is tired of being an object of ridicule or allegedly not good enough for anything beyond a quick tryst. With an affinity for numbers, she keeps the books for her father’s shipping company, but is desperate for a way to defend herself against the coarse and crude men she encounters in the office near the docks. The day she steps into the Stapleton Boxing Salon while disguised as a boy rapidly becomes both the best and worst day of her life.
The start of a new series about the three Stapleton brothers, it also involves boxing. I loved Lewis & Cecilia. Both had their problems he’s trying to save the earldom from ruin & she’s being harassed. I loved the chemistry between them which sizzled even from their first meeting when she was dressed in her brother’s clothes, not fooling Lewis at all. It was an easy to read romance & was different, a woman learning to box. I thoroughly enjoyed their journey to a HEA which did have a few obstacles & that made for an engrossing read
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own