by Diana Quincy. Pub Date 03/29/2022.
5 stars. Best enjoyed when you want a story full of intrigue and passion.
The Marquess of Brandon, Alex Whittaker, is out for revenge after a certain mapmaker conspired with his neighbor to cheat him out of his and his tenants’ water rights at his country estate and properties. The ton has looked down him and his mixed race heritage his entire life, but no one will not get away with cheating him. Especially not Roger Fleming, the mapmaker himself.
Unbeknownst to Brandon, Rose Fleming is the actual artist and mastermind behind the R Fleming signature. Having grown up under the tutelage of her uncle, Rose learned all the tips and tricks of a master mapmaker. After the death of her uncle, she married Roger Fleming, his apprentice, as a way to keep the business going and to also have the ability to continue to charge fair prices for her masterful maps. What Rose was not expecting was how she would not only be thrust into the shadows, but that Roger would also lay waste to her hopes and dreams of a family.
When Brandon poses as a footman for the Flemings, Rose is taken with him and he with her. They quickly become friends and feelings begin to develop between them. Alex sees how sweet and smart Rose is and it infuriates him how little regard her cheat of a husband has for her. Rose sees Alex as more than just a footman; she sees him as the companion she so requires. However, when their secrets come to the surface, will need for vengeance outweigh the heavy longing in their hearts?
This book was absolutely lovely! It is a little slow at first, but it drastically picks up pace. Honestly, this is one of those rare HRs where the plot and the content overshadow the sexy parts and you just want to get through them to see where Rose and Alex end up! The characters throughout the book are excellently thought out, with Alex’s hot, broody nature on full display and Rose’s own emotional turmoil is pulpable. The charactersthat are written to be abysmal truly meet the mark as well. I had a lot of fun reading this one. It was an easy and adventurous novel full of action, romance, intrigue, and a few laugh out loud moments.
I can only assume that the rest of the Clandestine Affairs trilogy is as good as this one was. Keep an eye out on the AlwaysLostInWords.blog for more!
Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for this fair and honest review.
You can preorder this novel here: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
Always Lost in Words 