I really, really love Joanna Shupe's strong, independent heroines. I think they're a - historically accurate, and b - just a real joy to read, and she really does succeed at writing a hero who's worthy of them. Where she doesn't always stick the landing for me is in writing an ending that I really find convincing.

I've realized lately that what I really love in a romance is at least the final 10% of the book (can you tell I read a lot on my Kindle?) to be the romantic interests together and happy and living their lives. It's really tough for me to see them get together for the final time at 94%, because my poor heart just needs a little more lovin' between them and a clear vision of their future together. And as much as I understand the promise of the premise, Nellie and Andrew were a pair where even I questioned whether or not they'd really end up happy together at the end.

I love Joanna's writing and the work she's doing for the genre, and boy this book was HOT. Nellie and Andrew's will-they-won't-they relationship was teased perfectly across the series, and this was really a great finish for them. As always, I cannot wait to see where Joanna ends up next: from Instagram it looks like Boston for at least a little bit, which I would LOVE. I love that she writes in a lesser-utilized time period: now let's go for new cities, too!

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!