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This is the third book in the series Debutante Diaries.

Sophie’s family have placed all their hopes on her shoulders. She is on the brink of getting engaged to Lord Singleton, who will rescue them from their financial woes. But Sophie has dreams of her own, and one of those is the Debutante Underground Society. The Society has outgrown their current meeting place and Sophie went on the lookout for a bigger location. She walked into an empty building that was unlocked and ran into Reece, the Earl of Warshire. Reece is an ex-soldier and has taken over the title after his older brother’s death. He suffers from PTSD, and has trouble sleeping and integrating into normal society. On that fateful night, in Sophie’s presence, he had his first good night’s sleep in a very long time. Reece makes a proposition to Sophie – she can use his building for her Society’s meetings, and in return she will spend one night a week with him to help him sleep.

The whole situation is probably a bit far-fetched, but it does seem to fit in with Sophie’s character. Sophie and Reece spend a lot of time together, and fell in love, even as Sophie’s impending betrothal looms ever closer. Both characters had to make hard choices and make decisions about where they want to go.

I have to admit that I thought this was a very dangerous situation for Sophie to put herself in. She agreed to spend time alone with a stranger, who is extremely anti-social, and has no friends or family who can vouch for him. She also kept the entire arrangement a secret from everyone. If something had happened to her, nobody would have known.

The way Sophie got out of the engagement was also maybe a bit too convenient.

I liked Sophie and Reece, and the writing is excellent. The story is very well told and kept my interest. And that’s why I’m still giving it a 4.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was I hooked by this book? Yes.

Genre: Historical Romance