So this book was an ARC (advanced readers copy) that Shadow Mountain Publishing sent me. I really enjoyed the book in general but there were some aspects to it that I didn't enjoy as much.
So Shadow Mountain Publishing has a genre category called Proper Romance, you might have heard me talk about it before with a different book from the same genre that I reviewed for them before, which means that it's romance but there's no sex scenes or smut, it's all proper and decent. It is a part of a series but it functions well as a stand alone book, so reading the first two books isn't necessary. The book is a historical fiction romance, with all the misogyny inherent in the time period, which is important to the plot because it directly impacts how our main character moves through her world. I loved Lady Sabrina, she has a great backstory that tugs at your heartstrings and was just generally the silent reality of many woman at that time. A slight trigger warning because Lady Sabrina comes from an abusive marriage that she is stuck in at first, until she becomes a widow and is set free. Sabrina decides to do good with her wealth and freedom and to secretly use the identity of a man to be the last chance for young men from good families who have fallen into immense debt and have no other hope in paying it off (which would be life-threatening). She'll offer to pay off their debt in cash if they'll sign a contract and agree to her rules (the whole time the men think that their savior is a man keep that in mind). Her rules are designed to help the young men get sober, find a job/learn responsibility, and get back on their feet. She takes them out of the situations that cause them to gamble and borrow money and sets them on a path to redemption and success if they'll put in the work. Then comes our love interest, Harry Stillman. Lady Sabrina owes him a favor from a long time ago, so when she sees him beaten up in an alley after her alter ego has offered him a chance and he signed it, she has him taken to her home to recover and rest so that he can fulfill his end of their bargain. Harry poses a unique threat to her heart so she keeps him at a distance, but he eventually begins to tear down the walls around her heart. It's a good, slow romance, I just didn't like Harry's actions or personality, and therein lies my problem with the book. Overall it was good, I just wish Harry was a more likeable character. I give this book a 3/5 stars. I definitely think it's worth reading if you like romance, especially if you want romance without the smut. The plot was good and clean, perfect for Christian readers (it has Christian undertones/themes) and is a good story of redemption. Goodreads link
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About the AuthorHi, I'm Rachel, and I'm here to share reviews of books with you so you can know what to read next! Archives
October 2021
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