This is an enjoyable if a bit convoluted read. I did read the previous book in the series and I definitely think having that background helped while reading this book. This book begins with one of the main events of the previous book - the sister of Dare, the Duke of Dareford, and the brother of Laurel, Dare's housekeeper are kidnapped. Dare sets off to London to find them, bringing Laurel with him as he understands her to have some contacts that might prove helpful.

Laurel of course has her own reasons for accompanying Dare to London, none of which relate to finding her brother whom Laurel is convinced is in Scotland, not London. Shenanigans ensue, during the course of which Laurel and Dare recognize an attraction and then love.

I liked this book, but there is a lot going on. We have the kidnapping, missing parents, a hidden (the book never describes how Laurel kept them hidden) ward, a secret past alter ego, a king of the underground, a masquerading earl....like I said, a lot. Ms. Edgewood does do a decent job of tying all of these threads together, even if it is somewhat obvious to the reader how things will play out fairly early on. I like the unconventional Blakeley family and would love to see Cassie get her own book someday.

The epilogue, however, contains a rather jarring continuity issue. Dare's sister shows up for Dare and Laurel's wedding having just had a baby. Having read the prior book, I know the sister was not pregnant until after she was kidnapped. Yet neither book implies or states that the search lasted more than a few weeks, maybe two months at most. The timeline is completely off, and it left me with a less favorable impression of this book than I would have otherwise had. I will still look for the next book in the series, however.

4 stars. Would have been 5 but for the completely messed up timeline.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was a little disappointed in this book. There was way too much going on that it felt disconnected and I feel like there was no enough between Dare and Laurel.
This book happens concurrent with the last book in the series. In book 1, Dare's and Laurel's brother are kidnapped. This book focuses on Dare trying to find his sister with the help of his housekeeper Laurel.
Laurel had taken the daughter of her friend when she died in childbirth and move with her family to work for the Blakeley family. The child keeps running off to London by herself, to roam the streets dresses as a boy and visit her uncle as an 8 year old.
Laurel doesn't really help find her brother and Dare is led around the dangerous parts on London by an 8 year girl who has connections. Which is just weird to me.
Laurel also used to perform as a singer for this girl's uncle.
I feel like their wasn't any focus on Dare and Laurel together so the relationship seemed weird. The parts about Dare's mother were random.
I am not sure that I will bother with book 3.