⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. The stoic duke and his whimsical ballerina formed an unlikely liaison that was almost painful at times, brimming with emotion and unrealized dreams.

Helene de Beaumont, a French émigrée in Regency London, is poised to become the star of Sir Walter Scott’s new ballet, La Sylphide. With flawless technique and a self-taught mastery of dancing en pointe, her dreams of ballet glory are finally within reach. But when she captures the attention of William Harcourt, the powerful and enigmatic Duke of Albemarle—known in political circles as the Silent Sovereign—everything changes. He’s spent years haunted by the image of a sprite glimpsed only in restless dreams—graceful, untouchable, and maddeningly out of reach. Now she stands before him on stage: Helene. And the moment he sees her, he knows one thing with certainty—he must have her. As fascination turns to obsession, Helene is swept into a dangerous waltz of power, passion, and surrender. In a season glittering with promise and peril, she must choose between the life she’s fought for… or the man who could unravel it all with a single touch.

MY THOUGHTS

Every page was a sensual foray into passion, complex desires, and plain old lust. All this felt a bit empty initially, but it completely made sense in the context of the story and the nature of their budding relationship. As the duke and Helene came to know each other more intimately, with more than just their bodies, their relationship deepened and exposed their hidden vulnerabilities.

Helene made me think of a fragile hothouse flower. Delicate, with complicated needs, and she’s always had someone take care of her in some way. William really just wanted to have his cake and eat it too. The third act break-up was absolutely necessary for them to gain clarity about themselves and each other.

The writing was captivating and somewhat unpredictable. William and Helene didn’t always behave in expected ways. The details surrounding Helene’s training and her mindset were interesting and thorough. I can recommend this book if you like a super steamy historical romance with class differences. See what other readers are saying on Goodreads.

Thank you to the author 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: May 28, 2025
Sensuality Rating: Hot
Tropes: Regency Romance, Class Differences, He Falls First, Serious Pining