The beginning of this book was rather slow. I really liked book one of this series so I decided to give it some time. I'm glad that I did. By the end I was worried how Harriet and Brody were going to get their happily ever after. Just goes to show you that the heart knows what it wants.

This book—second in a series but my first—is a fast but not particularly fulfilling read, in spite of its utterly novel premise. I've read maybe one other book where the hero has a moment of attraction to the heroine when she's disguised as a male, but none that take it as far down the road as this one. And up until Brody learns that Harry is really Harriet, I was really intrigued. But all the work that went into the first part of the story just dissipates once Harriet's cross-dressing jig is up. It's like the author had a good thing going but then either ran out of time or inspiration, turning to the ol' duke meets pretty but impoverished gentlewoman trope.

Given that same-sex relationships were extremely taboo in the early 19th century, Brody adjusts to his unexpected attraction to Harry without too much fanfare. There was almost no drama or tension that there should have been with regard to fear of discovery. And when Harriet makes her debut as a female, it's like her days as a male never really existed. I won't say much more to avoid spoilers, though really the story is unexciting and way too easy once the big reveal occurs.

I've read a lot by this author, and while the results have been more hit than miss, this novel has been the most disappointing.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

Great book that is set in a printing press shop. The premise was a bit unusual but nevertheless capturing.

Hariett, aka Harry, is working as a compositor, to support herself and her sister. She is posing as a man to keep her job in the mans world.

She bumps into Brody, a duke, working in the same shop as an editor, in the hope of getting his book published as a way to generate income for his poor dukedom.

Brodys beliefs are challenged when he is starts having physical and emotional feelings towards Harry.

A lot of different things lead to Harry being outed as a girl and Brody heing outed as a duke.

But the feelings still remain leading to a hea.

When a Duke befriends a co-worker at a printing shop, he doesn't understand his feelings. Meanwhile, the Duke's brother is causing enough problems of his own.

Orphaned Harriet (Harry) passes herself off as a male in order to get a better paying job as a type setter so she can support herself and sister. Having written a romance book with two other dukes, Brody, masquerading as a commoner, gets a job as an editor so he can read new manuscripts and offer his as well. He can not explain his attraction to Harry. Harry meanwhile tries to avoid and deny any attraction she has to Brody so he does not give up her secret. Secrets are revealed and they both must reconcile with the truth. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the author for my honest review.