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ipomoea's review
5.0
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review by Edelweiss.
Leigh's historical romances consistently feature women making their own ways in a society that wants to limit them, and this is no exception. Alex, Duke of Greyland, spent a single night with a widow years ago, and his "Lost Queen" has haunted him since. When he finds her in a gaming hell, those inconvenient feelings rise up all over again.
Cassandra has been raised to survive, whether by theft as a child or by the con as an adult, and Alex was the mark she never forgot. When they come face to face in her greatest con yet, she's stunned. And when her secret is revealed to him, his disgust hurts more than anything. But when she's conned by her partner and mentor, she must turn to Alex for protection while she navigates London's underground, and Alex must learn to navigate his feelings for Cassandra.
The relationship between the two characters was multidimensional, and even if I wanted to smack Alex, Leigh also clearly showed how he was a product of his upbringing, and that once he got over himself, he was a good human being with a sense of honor and justice outside of his own title. Yet another title of hers I'll happily recommend to any patron who's looking for a good historical romance.
Leigh's historical romances consistently feature women making their own ways in a society that wants to limit them, and this is no exception. Alex, Duke of Greyland, spent a single night with a widow years ago, and his "Lost Queen" has haunted him since. When he finds her in a gaming hell, those inconvenient feelings rise up all over again.
Cassandra has been raised to survive, whether by theft as a child or by the con as an adult, and Alex was the mark she never forgot. When they come face to face in her greatest con yet, she's stunned. And when her secret is revealed to him, his disgust hurts more than anything. But when she's conned by her partner and mentor, she must turn to Alex for protection while she navigates London's underground, and Alex must learn to navigate his feelings for Cassandra.
The relationship between the two characters was multidimensional, and even if I wanted to smack Alex, Leigh also clearly showed how he was a product of his upbringing, and that once he got over himself, he was a good human being with a sense of honor and justice outside of his own title. Yet another title of hers I'll happily recommend to any patron who's looking for a good historical romance.
balletbookworm's review
4.0
What a wild ride! This is a cross-class romance that gets rather adventurous (in more ways than one). I really liked the problem presented by making the heroine a grifter who had made the hero a previous mark - it turns the meet-cute on its head and presents a real problem rather than just those pesky "feelings". Ellingsworth and Langdon were a hoot as the comic relief - can't wait to see what Leigh has in store for them.
winterreader40's review against another edition
4.0
Cassandra is a swindler and 2 years ago she swindled Alex the duke of Grayland then they spent the night together and she disappeared before he woke up. Alex has constantly wondered what happened to the beautiful widow he helped out 2 years ago, then he runs into her one night at a new gaming hell.
She falls back into her widow act and he falls back into her, until he returns the next night and overhears a conversation that shows him who she really is.
Cassandra's pride doesn't allow her to apologize to Alex and he leaves threatening revenge, but the next morning her partner has stolen all the money and she's being threatened with death/dismemberment/etc if she doesn't get it back and pay the investors off, the only person she can turn to for help is Alex.
This story has a bit of everything, betrayal, groveling, kidnapping, fighting, sex clubs etc.
This was a fun read and I'm excited to read more from this author.
She falls back into her widow act and he falls back into her, until he returns the next night and overhears a conversation that shows him who she really is.
Cassandra's pride doesn't allow her to apologize to Alex and he leaves threatening revenge, but the next morning her partner has stolen all the money and she's being threatened with death/dismemberment/etc if she doesn't get it back and pay the investors off, the only person she can turn to for help is Alex.
This story has a bit of everything, betrayal, groveling, kidnapping, fighting, sex clubs etc.
This was a fun read and I'm excited to read more from this author.
nellesnightstand's review
4.0
I was determined not to like Cassandra. She fleeced the Grayson and broke his heart! She's a swindler but only out of necessity!. She's not willing to be a victim of her circumstances.
He was such a stick in the mud, a product of Society but you could see his emotions waiting to break free. I really enjoyed these characters and am looking forward to the others!
Arc was provided by the publisher for honest review
He was such a stick in the mud, a product of Society but you could see his emotions waiting to break free. I really enjoyed these characters and am looking forward to the others!
Arc was provided by the publisher for honest review
mdalida's review
4.0
I really did end up liking this book, though I am sad to say that I was a little disappointed at parts of it 😔 When you've been anticipating a book for months and feel giddy at reading the synopsis picturing how the plot line will go, then to see it on your library list waiting to move from 6th in line to finally getting your copy?? And then to be kinda underwhelmed as you start to read it?? It's disappointing to say the least.
I loved Eva Leigh's other series, so I was excited to hear that this was the first in a new series!
Second chance romance, class differences, and steamy sex scenes. Bam - catnip galore!
The heroine was the typical poor girl grown up in poor town with no one to care for her until some benevolent swindler teaches her the ropes to survive on her wits and the witless fools she can trick. I ended up not feeling much empathy for her.. I thought that she kept saying how she wanted out of this kind of life, so I would've thought that she'd have a plan to get out? But no, she sorta lived from one scheme to the next, so no savings, no plan, no feeling that she so very desperately wanted out enough to seek other ways.
The hero pulled me in - something of why I like the stereotype of England; the stuff-upper-lip aristos who yearn to break free from their golden cage is a characterization that I always fall for. And then, the dirty talk is thrilling to me:-) He had all the privilege in the world and still advocated for bettering the lives of the disadvantaged, still was naive enough to believe in the sweet honorable widow, and still open hearted enough to forgive her and fall in love.
I like Eva Leigh because she's definitely a feminist:-) she writes about women's plights in each of her books, and her heroes are also feminists. I love it. Also, her sex scenes are definitely steamy! I think that's the first time I've read an exhibitionist scene in a historical romance! I like that the characters were older: his 38 to her 31 y/o.
The plot was odd at times and so so so contrived at others. Did the hero happen to be in the perfect place to overhear how the heroine had duped him or was it set up? Why would someone who stole gobs of money NOT flee quickly? How contrived was it to have the story take them to a sex den and then sit there for 5 hours holding hands (also, is this Orchid place with masks real? Because it's the same thing Elizabeth Hoyt mentions in the Raven Prince......)?
Overall, I liked the story premise, even if the execution seemed wobbly. I liked the characters together, even if their characterization seemed a bit rote.
I loved Eva Leigh's other series, so I was excited to hear that this was the first in a new series!
Second chance romance, class differences, and steamy sex scenes. Bam - catnip galore!
The heroine was the typical poor girl grown up in poor town with no one to care for her until some benevolent swindler teaches her the ropes to survive on her wits and the witless fools she can trick. I ended up not feeling much empathy for her.. I thought that she kept saying how she wanted out of this kind of life, so I would've thought that she'd have a plan to get out? But no, she sorta lived from one scheme to the next, so no savings, no plan, no feeling that she so very desperately wanted out enough to seek other ways.
The hero pulled me in - something of why I like the stereotype of England; the stuff-upper-lip aristos who yearn to break free from their golden cage is a characterization that I always fall for. And then, the dirty talk is thrilling to me:-) He had all the privilege in the world and still advocated for bettering the lives of the disadvantaged, still was naive enough to believe in the sweet honorable widow, and still open hearted enough to forgive her and fall in love.
I like Eva Leigh because she's definitely a feminist:-) she writes about women's plights in each of her books, and her heroes are also feminists. I love it. Also, her sex scenes are definitely steamy! I think that's the first time I've read an exhibitionist scene in a historical romance! I like that the characters were older: his 38 to her 31 y/o.
The plot was odd at times and so so so contrived at others. Did the hero happen to be in the perfect place to overhear how the heroine had duped him or was it set up? Why would someone who stole gobs of money NOT flee quickly? How contrived was it to have the story take them to a sex den and then sit there for 5 hours holding hands (also, is this Orchid place with masks real? Because it's the same thing Elizabeth Hoyt mentions in the Raven Prince......)?
Overall, I liked the story premise, even if the execution seemed wobbly. I liked the characters together, even if their characterization seemed a bit rote.
desiree_mcl's review
DNF'd not going to rate.
Ok, so I tried to read a different book by this author about a month ago, I only read a chapter and set it aside, the 1st chapter just didn't grip me. Then I tried to read this one, listened to about an hour and a half of the audio and I wasn't a fan of the writing style.
Ok, so I tried to read a different book by this author about a month ago, I only read a chapter and set it aside, the 1st chapter just didn't grip me. Then I tried to read this one, listened to about an hour and a half of the audio and I wasn't a fan of the writing style.
allymarciewrites's review
5.0
THIS IS WHAT I CAME FOR, PEOPLE.
I loved this. Top to bottom loved this. A heroine in her thirties! A man awakening to the nuances of life! A critique of survival as a man vs as a woman! Angst! HOT HOT HOT SEX! This book, in the words of Stefon, has everything.
I loved this. Top to bottom loved this. A heroine in her thirties! A man awakening to the nuances of life! A critique of survival as a man vs as a woman! Angst! HOT HOT HOT SEX! This book, in the words of Stefon, has everything.