⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Oh, yes. An absolutely delightful romance about letting go of the past and embracing the good in life right now.

Emory (Rory) Lumley, younger son of the Duke of Tralee, was cursed at the age of thirteen by a Scottish witch. On his thirtieth birthday, tragedy strikes, claiming the lives of his wife and infant son and leaving Rory consumed with guilt. He flees to the Continent, abandoning his young daughter. A half year later, he returns to find his once-docile daughter is now a willful, spoiled child prone to tantrums. She’s sent numerous governesses packing and attempts to do the same with Rory. But Rory isn’t going anywhere. Frances is his only family now, and he needs a governess who can take Frances in hand while he attempts to rebuild his life.

At thirty, Genevieve Brooking has been a governess almost half her life. Frances is a challenge, but Genevieve knows how to manage wayward, grieving children. What she isn’t prepared for is the wayward, grieving master of the house. Rory is cold and distant at first then grudgingly appreciative, and when she marries him out of convenience, she sees a side of him she could love.

But Rory’s past interferes with their budding romance when he is given a counter-spell. With his family and friends, Rory returns to the scene of the crime, where the witch’s sister appears again. She tells Rory what he’s always feared, he can reverse the curse but only by offering a sacrifice.

MY THOUGHTS

Rory was inherently a good man, just buried under so much sadness and confusion on how to handle all the bad things that had happened to him. And it was this trait that turned him from a taciturn grump to an invested father. Genevieve and Rory were perfect for each other. Their electric chemistry was evident throughout and I eagerly anticipated every charged intimate moment. The interactions between Rory, Frances, and Genevieve were emotional and heartwarming.

Later on it became apparent that this curse-breaking could play out in different ways and it was excruciating to watch the three men try to figure it out. The pacing was spot on, and I loved how it all unfolded. By the end, I was feeling so much hope for these three couples and their futures.

I can highly recommend this entire series if you like steamy historical romance with a marriage of convenience. It’s not strictly necessary to read them in order, but I think it will make more sense that way, especially for the progression of the curse.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Historical Romance
Published: July 18, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Misfortunes Favorites