“Don’t worry,” Georgiana said. “Everyone else is invisible to Strathrannoch when Lydia is in the room. One becomes accustomed to it.”
No one has to convince Arthur Baird, Earl of Strathrannoch, that Lydia Hope-Wallace is worthy of his love and admiration. He is heart-eyes over her not long after she proposes marriage and then faints on his doorstep. As he carts her to his dusty chaise lounge (titled, but poor), he notices the lushness of Lydia’s figure and the color of her eyelashes. In historical romance, that means he’s already 3/4 in love with her. The biggest obstacle is the inferiority complex his father drummed into him and Lydia’s certainty that she is too awkward to be loved. Fortunately for us, they are both wrong.
Lydia is a writer of radical political pamphlets on subjects such as legal rights for women and the evils of the Clearances. It turns out that Arthur’s brother, Davis, borrowed his identity and was the one corresponding with Lydia. Davis has also made off with one of Arthur’s inventions and Arthur is concerned about his intentions. Lydia and Arthur, with occasional assists from her friend Georgiana (look for her sapphic rom-com, Ladies in Hating, in September), and his estate managers, Huw and Bertie, travel through Scotland and England trying to find his brother. There is a zebra stampede, a multitude of shenanigans, acts of bravery, and sexy times in places that seem uncomfortable.
Arthur is such a sweetheart and I really enjoyed the way he was in constant awe of Lydia and the way he helped her see her strength and bravery. The sexual tension and aforementioned sexy times are very good. As much as I enjoyed Arthur as a besotted fool in love, I do wish there had been a bit more of Arthur as the confounded grump. He was very good at it. Lydia has a nice balance between anxious and brave, as befits a woman with a clandestine career in radical politics. She starts the book rushing into a somewhat inadvisable situation and keeps on that path. But she always has good reasons, whether they be based in emotion or logic.
I’m looking forward to Vasti’s next few books. In addition to Ladies in Hating, Vasti has been contracted for three more romcoms. I’m excited to see where she goes over the next few years.
I received this as an advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.