After her two tumultuous years wed to the Duke of Whiston come to a fiery end, all Bianca wants is to lead a peaceful life and regain her reputation. But when she meets Alexander Fraser at a house party, she finds herself falling into both love and scandal once again.
This is the last book in the Brazen Burrells series, which follows the three penniless but beautiful Burrell sisters as they try to find their fortune in London. I enjoyed the first book, was somewhat disappointed in the second book, and wasn’t fully sure what to expect with this one – but I ended up absolutely loving it.
Bianca has had a tough few years, having been left widowed after her emotionally abusive husband died saving her sister from a fire. Her story has been so dramatic in the earlier books that I wasn’t sure if I would like her, but being in her head made me understand her much better. I enjoyed her romance with Alex, watching it develop from attraction to affinity to romance. They make a good team, and I found myself rooting for them from the start. We also meet an array of complex supporting characters who had further depth to the story.
What really elevated the story for me, though, was the historical backdrop. I’ve appreciated how the author has brought the era to life throughout this whole series – by believing in the setting more here, you believe in the peril that the heroines face more as well. In this book in particular, Connolly engages in themes of class and race, which added to the conflict of the story and really raised the stakes. I’m glad I stuck with the series.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
