I've loved all of the books I've read by her but this one really lagged. In all honesty, I didn't finish it, I just wanted to get it off my currently reading shelf. ( )

In the first novel of this new series, Courtney Milan takes readers on a journey. At first, the novel boasts some hallmark tropes that makes readers feel like they're going to be reading something light and fluffy. There's a marquess coming to swoop in and save the woman he's always loved as she's fallen on hard times. There's a big, quirky family with plenty of shenanigans, and finally the hero and heroine rekindle their love after he has "wronged" her years ago. Except, as with all Milan books, it's not as straightforward as that, and that's why this book is worth your while.

One of the things I love about Milan is that her leading couple are always so rational. There's none of this nonsense where they don't talk to each other, and so all of the drama is driven from their lack of communication skills. It's not aspirational. It's annoying and lazy. As a result, Milan is continually keeping her readers guessing as they figure out how to take their relationship to the next level. It's fresh and interesting.

Judith is shown muscling through poverty and family tragedy in an effort to help the last of her siblings have the life she never had. She's definitely the serious one in the relationship while Christian is the goofy one bouncing off of her. He's driven by guilt for having turned her father and oldest brother in for treason. Any other romance novel would not have dealt with such a serious subject, but if they did, it would be handled as a "misunderstanding". However, in this case, Milan deftly shows the different ways of viewing right and wrong while miraculously keeping all of her characters as lovable good guys.

Judith spends the majority of the book wanting to and striving to get back to the way things were, but Christian comes in and helps show her that she doesn't need to attain the status quo to be happy. The Worths can make their own happiness their own way. It's a story that actually takes into account what the Victorians would've cared about as a society, but when Milan rewards her resourceful heroine with a marriage to a marquess, it still feels genuine. It doesn't feel overly sugary or out of place. You feel relieved that finally Judith can breathe, and the readers breathe with her.

This story is definitely a romance, but it's also a story about healing and facing reality. The family dynamics are realistic, especially considering the fact that Judith's younger siblings are teenagers. Overall, it's very sweet, even if the ending is quite abrupt. Personally, I would've preferred a bigger, more dramatic declaration of love, but it's still nice as it is. If you want a story with heart and drama, I highly recommend this book.
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So good! ( )

Courtney Milan does it again! Utterly unique and compelling characters, fascinating plots; THIS is what historical romance should be! No pathetic waifs with torn bodices or heroes who illustrate their "strength" by being asses - complex, multidimensional, imperfect heroes and heroines that are completely relateable. And the dialog had me laughing out loud! Yay for a new series!(4.5 stars) ( )

Read in preparation for a new book out. Loved the characters per usual and gripped by the steady reveal of all the consequences upon consequences of the vital past (especially for Camilla, which sounded like a plot summary of some Samuel Richardson saga, and I mean this in a good, I-want-to-read-more, way; cue next book). The only thing was the ending came quicker than I expected. Perhaps I'm still adjusting to romance pacing? or perhaps I was expecting the resolution of the Camilla subplot (which in fact is deferred to an epilogue/book 2). I'd just expected more something between the last time she pushed him away and the last time he came back. But this was the only thing that glitched an otherwise smoothly pleasant reading experience. ( )