Goddd I am loving this author! This outshines almost all HR I've read, the tensions and build up is unreal and the complexities of their woven webs of deceit and honour are so beautifully laced. I wished only for this book to be longer - our FMC and MMC deserved just a few more pages of HEA. Gideon is probably one of my favourite, if not my all time favourite, MMC's due to his, well, everything. And the FMC is interesting and has quality characteristics that are valued. This isn't a lust match - this is a LOVE match and they take their sweet time. He falls first and he falls HARD. 

*this story has a darker tone and isn't the pick for a feel good heartwarmer, but the ending is sugar sweet* 

While I found some of this book problematic for me, I couldn’t get over how much the MMC adored the FMC. Some HRs with “ugly ducking” or “plain” FMCs take the path of her being undesirable and the FMC finds her beauty first in her personality and then in little features of her looks (if that makes sense). In this book he’s literally convinced that she’s a diamond of the first water despite what everybody else says and cannot perceive how anybody could think otherwise. Also, truly this is one of the only books I’ve read where the dialogue makes me laugh out loud. His banter is unmatched. 

I really hated the first like... 20% or so of this book-- I almost DNF'd it.
I'm glad I didn't because the rest of the book is quite delightful! I love a man who becomes a simp and a female protagonist who finds her power