I don't read many Historicals which is why starting is always a sort of a struggle to get used to the archaic language. With this one it was no different and yet as the story progressed I realized I'm having a hard time mainly because I'm not interested enough in the MCs. After reading about a third I decided I'm not invested enough in the story and the difficult language was not making it any better..
Kate Morgan's life changed in a blink of an eye. She was wealthy, the daughter of a successful merchant. She and her father were a team, working together and having each other's backs since she was a little girl when her mother left them. She fell in love with Daniel O'Reilly who also worked for her father. They were already engaged to be married when all hell broke loose. Daniel was charged with murder of another worker, from there the business crumbled, her father's health deteriorated until he died and she was left with nothing except for her father's great coat and handgun. To take care of herself she needed to learn a trade - thieving. But she has made it work for the past three years since Daniel escaped from prison before his trial.
I always gets excited when there's a new release by Sarina. I love her writing and enjoy her realistically flawed characters. I truly enjoy the journey they take, on their own and together before they can find their HEA with one another. This was no different and yet it was. It was a romance story but it was also HEAVILY focused on raising a toddler which is NOT my cup of tea AT ALL. I know for a fact most women would totally swoon at everything little Nicole did. I found it to be tiresome. I guess she WAS cute but what she was for me was a distraction from the main issue as I see it - Zara and Dave's story.
I've very little to say about this book because I haven't read most of it. I'll start by saying something important - It's not the book, it's me. I just couldn't connect to the MC (and our sole POV) Terrell. His mind constantly tells him he is poor from the worst side of the side, with the worst background, not to mention he is black and also - gay. Though he won't allow himself to actually BE gay because that's more than not "allowed" where he comes from. I feel for him, truly. That's horrible to be "dismissed" or looked down upon because of things you have no control over and really shouldn't be put against you because they shouldn't even be an issue nowadays. But sadly - they are. That's not just the book, it's reality (even if things ARE changing).
OUTSTANDING. One of the best books I've read hands down. This book held me at the edge of my seat from the moment I opened my kindle until I closed it a few hours later realizing I'm HUNGRY! I've sat for about 6 hours almost without moving devouring this book unable to stop. I"ve waited for Lord Richard Vane's and David Cyprian story from the start. I KNEW it's going to be special but I didn't predict just HOW amazing it's going to be. This wasn't just about Richard and David realizing they are both in love with one another, it was mainly about what are the changes their relationship will have to undergo. It's what Richard has feared all along but for the entirely the wrong reasons.
Before I start my review - a "warning". This book shouldn't be read as a standalone because it isn't. The first and second book share mostly the same timeline with this book starting at the very conclusion of the second book. The characters and the interaction between them should NOT be left to this book. It would be a total shame to miss any of these details because some are explained, I would think it wouldn't be enough to get to the depth of them. Dominic Frey (the MC in the 2nd installment) have been Richard's best friend and long time lover and everything that happened between them is discussed not only in this one but also in the previous one in which Richard has to put his past beliefs aside to be there for his friend, but it also a sort of "warning" for him for everything that he has been feeling for his valet - inappropriate on so many levels and practically impossible. Yet when Dom and Richard talk throughout this book everything that happened between them since they were boys make the difference in Richard making the change he should have made a long time ago. For his sake, for Dom's and finally for him to be able to have David not only by his side, but also in his bed as an equal lover.
