Author: Lisa Kleypas
Publisher: 27th July 2021 by Little, Brown Book Group UK Piatkus
Pages: 384 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: historical fiction, romance, regency
My Rating: 3 cups
Synopsis:
An enthralling and steaming romance between a widowed lady and a Scot on the run—who may have connections to one of London's most noble families.
Lady Merritt Sterling, a strong-willed young widow who’s running her late husband’s shipping company, knows London society is dying to catch her in a scandal. So far, she’s been too smart to provide them with one. But then she meets Keir MacRae, a rough-and-rugged Scottish whisky distiller, and all her sensible plans vanish like smoke. They couldn’t be more different, but their attraction is powerful, raw and irresistible.
From the moment Keir MacRae arrives in London, he has two goals. One: don’t fall in love with the dazzling Lady Merritt Sterling. Two: avoid being killed.
So far, neither of those is going well.
Keir doesn’t know why someone wants him dead until fate reveals his secret connection to one of England’s most powerful families. His world is thrown into upheaval, and the only one he trusts is Merritt. Their passion blazes with an intensity Merritt has never known before, making her long for the one thing she can’t have from Keir MacRae: forever. As danger draws closer, she’ll do whatever it takes to save the man she loves . . . even knowing he might be the devil in disguise.
My Thoughts
‘Just a reminder. The devil never tries to make people do the wrong thing by scaring them. He tempts them.” Merritt’s forced laugh came out as brittle as overcooked toffee. “Dear, are you claiming Mr. MacRae is the devil in disguise?”
Lisa Kleypas is an author synonymous with Historical Romance and she has a huge following. This book is part of a series (The Ravenels #7) but apart from a few cameo appearances from previous books, this can be read as a standalone. One goes into these Regency reads knowing full well what to expect, yet somehow, this one was not really hitting the mark for me.
My biggest problem was the insta-love and lack of solid plot. The main romance between Merritt and Keir was too much too soon, no build up and just lots of sex. When that is all you get … you kinda wish for some story outside of the bedroom. The story that was there was weak and predictable with the ending of the mystery rather anticlimactic.
‘A life could change course in a few days. In an hour. A single moment. People could gain and lose the world.’
It is a light and easy read for that necessary brief, in between book one often seeks. I really quite liked Merritt and Keir and only wish that everything wasn’t so fast tracked. I like how they were both a bit older and Merritt is this strong, independent woman. Their chemistry was obviously great … I just wanted more.
“Let me go with you,” she said earnestly. A faint smile tugged at one corner of her lips. “I’ll be the extra rib that protects your heart.” Keir pulled back abruptly. The motion sent a stab of pain through his ribs, and he swore. Rising to his feet, he sent her a glance of mingled torment and frustration. “You can’t, Merry.” The hint of a smile had vanished. “Because you doubt my abilities,” she said rather than asked. Keir shook his head. “Because you are my heart.”
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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