Thanks to BookSprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the third book in the series, but is not directly about the Sedley's but rather a person that has been a side character and in the background more in the previous two books. The MMC here is Joseph Palgrave, also known as Yusef Ghali, the accepted, but natural born son of an English Duke, and an Egyptian mother. He was born in Egypt and raised there, until he was brought to England and raised by his father, with his legitimate half sisters. Despite having the advantages of his father's acceptance, and wealth, because of his birth and his mixed race parentage, Yusef can not inherit the title and entail, and was treated either as neither fish nor fowl, or with contempt by members of his family, and society in general. As an adult, he left Britain to make his own way and build his own wealth, in the opium trade, taking back his own identity as Yusef. This was how he met Thomas Rickard (book 1), and eventually returned to Britain and became an acquaintance of the Sedleys.

He is at a bit of crossroads in his life, returning to the country he had despised, and losing his business as the world turns away from the opium trade. He is not sure what to do himself and this seems to cause him to have a bit of self reflection. During this time, MP Marcus Hartley, one of the Sedley cousins, has been inveigling Yusef to speak to and convince his father to use his ducal influence to support some of Hartley's politics. While visiting with Hartley, Yusef runs into his past in the form of artist Rose Verdier.

Rose is a poor artist trying to make her own way in London. Because of an affair gone wrong, she lost her steady job painting draperies, and was at Hartley's trying to win a commission to paint his mother's dog. She is at a very low point in her life when her past heartbreak is thrown back in her face, in the form of Yusef.

This story goes back and forth between the past and present as it lays out how Rose initially met Joseph, and the parallels in their lives and relationships. They initially meet at teenagers, and again a few years down the road as young adults. Joseph, at the time living with his father, was very attracted to Rose and they formed an attachment, but then he revealed things that betrayed her trust and destroyed her world as she knew it, breaking her heart, and causing her to make prideful choices that ultimately cut her off from her family, choosing to make her own way, despite barely being able to eke out a living.

Yusef, who had fallen in love with Rose many years ago, never seems to have forgotten her and seeing her again, decides that he will pursue her and makes that his new purpose and passion in life. Rose, however, is hostile to him, remembering and not wanting to suffer the heartbreak and loss of self and faith again. But Yusef is overwhelming in his passion for her, and determined to make up for the past and win her over again.

This is a second chance at love story, and we gain a lot more insight into a character that was previously characterized as rather aloof, disdainful, cold, taciturn, heartless, ruthless, and mysterious. Joseph/Yusef is shown to be much more human, deeply passionate, at times almost child-, and wanting to connect to another person - namely Rose. Feeling disconnected between his two families and his two heritages, he seems desperate to form a connection with Rose when he sees how much a they are as youths. But he is clumsy and indelicate, and perhaps overly impatient, and ends up revealing things she was unaware of and not ready to hear, causing a nearly irreparable break in their relationship. Then, in the present day, he is overwhelming and ruthless in his pursuit of her, almost ruining things again by not seeing her perspective, or respecting her autonomy and choices. He has to learn to learn to respect boundaries and how to communicate, and earn her trust again to gain her love.

A story about a couple of characters I found fascinating.

4.25 stars out of 5
3 s Winnifred D.695 23

Tropes: opposites attract; second chance romance; MC is a fish out of water

Steam level: 2-3

Part of a series; best if not read as a standalone

3.5 stars rounded up. I was on the fence about this book and almost didn't round up. Yusuf starts off as an interestingly morally grey character, and I thought his Egyptian background was fascinating, but I was looking for more of an arc. Rose simply wasn't my cup of tea. I found her to be stubbornly self-righteous and self-piyting, while also oblivious. I really wasn't sure how she'd survived on her own as long as she had.

For the "second chance" trope to work for me I need to feel invested in both MC's and the reasons for them getting back together. There is a dual timeline through the first half of the book, which fleshes out early scenes in Yusuf's and Rose's relationship effectively. There is a beautifully written scene right before their fist kiss. But after so much foreshadowing, the key flashback scene just comes across as OTT. And if you've read many HR's, you know what's going to happen here to cause the 3rd act drama; I really wanted a twist instead of angst.

The writing style and world building are good, as in all of this author's books. But I would to see her future books focus more on uniquely engaging storylines, as even likable characters can only drive plot so far. Keep in mind that if you're newer to HR's or the second-chance romance trope is one of your favorites, you may this book more than I did.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own.3 s Deborah Durand296 5

A portrait of Yusef Ghali

The author’s delivery of two illegitimate teenagers who find each other during the Regency era is nothing short of magnificent. Falk’s prose is elegant, her lexicon is extensive, her attention to details regarding art is precise and her construction of the novel with these elements is magical. This is not a novel for readers to rush through. It is meant to be savored…only if this genre and trope appeals to you. It is written with 2 POV’s and readers must pay attention to the year to which the chapter corresponds. Rose Verdier, a pale freckled face redheaded young woman, has been invited to a Christmas party at the request of the Earl of Ispley. She is invited to demonstrate her sketching talent for the guests. For a subject, she chooses the teenager who was arrogantly questioning her before they joined the party. Olive skinned Joseph Palgrave begrudgingly acquiesces, but not before she addresses him as “my lord” and his sniggering sisters said “he’s a mister”. Rose was enlightened when she was told by Joseph’s father to sign the back “the son of the Duke of Marbury”.

4 years later, Joseph seeks Rose out at the coaching inn that her parents own. They enjoy each other’s company until Joseph reveals a personal secret to Rose. She is so angry with him, that she tells him not to write. She leaves her parents to make a living on her own as an artist. Another 10 years later, Joseph visits a friend whose mother is having a portrait of her dog done. The artist is no other than Rose. He is intent on marrying her; his passion has not dimmed since their first meeting 14 years ago.

Readers will enjoy this push and pull dance between the couple, who find themselves obstructed by a judgmental society, yet nevertheless obsessed with each other. Your heart goes out to Rose and Joseph as her current living circumstances are revealed and the details of his parentage are shared with her. How will these two proud individuals, intent on finding their own way into this world, finally reach an understanding. One of the most romantic and poignant moments of the novel is when Joseph asks Rose to call him by his given name …
Yusef. There are several other characters that are richly described and add to the depth of the novel. Read this beautiful novel. I will reread it and that equals an automatic 5 star
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