Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Romance
Length: 432 pages
Author: Mimi Matthews
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 16th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Fortune favors the bold—but is a confirmed spinster daring enough to loosen the reins and accept a favor from the wicked gentleman who haunts her dreams?

Lady Anne Deveril doesn’t spook easily. A woman of lofty social standing known for her glacial beauty and starchy opinions, she’s the unofficial leader of her small group of equestriennes. Since her mother’s devastating plunge into mourning six years ago, Anne voluntarily renounced any fanciful notions of love and marriage. And yet, when fate puts Anne back into the entirely too enticing path of Mr. Felix Hartford, she’s tempted to run…right into his arms.

No one understands why Lady Anne withdrew into the shadows of society, Hart least of all. The youthful torch he once held for her has long since cooled. Or so he keeps telling himself. But now Anne needs a favor to help a friend. Hart will play along with her little ruse—on the condition that Anne attend a holiday house party at his grandfather’s country estate. No more mourning clothes. No more barriers. Only the two of them, unrequited feelings at last laid bare.

Finally free to gallop out on her own, Anne makes the tantalizing discovery that beneath the roguish exterior of her not-so-white knight is a man with hidden depths, scorching passions—and a tender heart.

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy and PRHAudio for the gifted audiobook.

CHARMING SECOND CHANCE.

Audiobook notes: I love two narrators for a two POV romance. I thought both were amazing and I was swept away to historical England.

This was another good read for the series! It does lean a little away from romance and focuses a lot on grief and self growth and finally severing the ties that are holding you back. I absolutely adored Felix. He was carrying so much on his shoulders and worked hard to make things work the best he could.

Anne, I struggled with a little. I thought her Mom issues held her down for SO long and I was waiting for that freedom moment where Anne had the spotlight. Because when she showed up in that dress? I SWOONED. Felix has been pining for years and that man deserved a break. I actually loved that this didn’t have big flashback chapters and that we got to see more at present what was happening.

I loved seeing the other Belles and just being back in this world. Mimi Matthew’s books are always wonderful reads for me and this was no different.

Overall audience notes:

• Historical Romance
• Language: none-low
• Romance: kisses
• Violence: moderate
• Trigger/Content Warnings: toxic parent, mentions of child labor