It was so tense when Judith had to navigate such unsafe living arrangements all the time. But I loved other aspects of this intense love story. And in, what I am coming to understand as full Bedwyn style, the family came to the rescue at last. Always with style, funny Interactions, station and the extra mile.

This series is just as amazing as I remember. Often when you binge a series, by the 3rd or 4th book, you begin to notice certain patterns that are repetitive and that can make things a little boring. Between the 2 prequel books and the 2 Bedwyn series books I’ve read, each one has been uniquely interesting and explored really meaningful themes that are as relevant today as they are in the context of the historical romance.

The premise of this book is that Rannulf meet Judith when he rescues her from an overturned coach and due to the weather, they spend a cosy couple of evenings together, thinking never to meet again, and for that reason giving each other false identities. Sparks fly but they separate once the weather gets better only to reunite unexpectedly when they separately reach their destinations and discover an unexpected connection that makes any potential relationship impossible, especially when scandal brews around Judith.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are written with such heart and compassion, especially Judith. The emotional abuse she went through with her parents and then her coming into her own with accepting her appearance. Yes it smacks a bit of the annoying “she so gorgeous but she doesn’t know it” trope but it’s done in a way that it is not oppressive and it is not about her lack of consciousness of her looks being one of her attractions. Like a lot of Mary Balogh’s books, class and classism are major themes, but equally important are themes of family, responsibility, the vulnerable position of women in society, gender equality and misogyny. I loved both characters but perhaps I would have changed the order of the resolution a bit so that the heroine’s acceptance doesn’t seem so… potentially bought, especially since to the reader she’s already admitted her feelings. I loved this and couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend.