This book picks up many years after the end of The Governess Affair, the novella that is essentially a prequel to this entire series. It focuses on Robert, the Duke of Clermont, who is the son of the villain in The Governess Affair (and the half-brother of Oliver, Hugo and Serena's son). Robert is a duke who wishes to use his power and privilege to right the wrongs his father had committed while drawing as little attention to himself as he can. This brings him to Leicester, where he meets Minnie, a young woman who also wishes to blend in after a childhood that was anything but average. She discovers one of his secrets, and continues to outwit him while he falls more and more in love with her.
Honestly, a simple description of the main characters and the plot doesn't do the story justice at all, not least because I don't actually want to mention too many of the secrets because my god was I not expecting any of those twists. As Robert says when Minnie reveals the first of multiple secrets about her scandalous past, "I was...definitely not going to guess that." Minnie and Robert are both wonderful, the obstacles to their relationship are genuine problems and the route they take to overcome those obstacles feels plausible and right, and they're surrounded by fantastic supporting characters. They are both Good People in ways that make them exceptional to their time but not anachronistic, a character type which Milan writes extremely well. And the sexual tension and subsequent sex scenes are incredible.
What a delightful book. I am so charmed by everything about it! SO CHARMED. Milan is writing the gold standard of historical romances these days.
Grade: A
Honestly, a simple description of the main characters and the plot doesn't do the story justice at all, not least because I don't actually want to mention too many of the secrets because my god was I not expecting any of those twists. As Robert says when Minnie reveals the first of multiple secrets about her scandalous past, "I was...definitely not going to guess that." Minnie and Robert are both wonderful, the obstacles to their relationship are genuine problems and the route they take to overcome those obstacles feels plausible and right, and they're surrounded by fantastic supporting characters. They are both Good People in ways that make them exceptional to their time but not anachronistic, a character type which Milan writes extremely well. And the sexual tension and subsequent sex scenes are incredible.
What a delightful book. I am so charmed by everything about it! SO CHARMED. Milan is writing the gold standard of historical romances these days.
Grade: A
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