What a fun novel! The joining of Piers from the Castles Ever After series with Charlotte from Spindle Cove made for an irresistible pairing. The book was full of heart-warming and laugh-out-loud moments, and it's a great read for when you want to settle into a good romance.

When you first hear that Piers and Charlotte are going to pair off, you would be forgiven for wondering what could possibly draw them together, to begin with. Piers is an uptight secret agent who prides himself on his attention to detail and his honor. He's also much older than Charlotte, thought it's unclear how much older he is. For her part, Charlotte is inquisitive, honest, and extremely friendly. At first, I was nervous because I don't typically like klutzy heroines who just say whatever they want. Not only are they not realistic, they don't feel very historical either. However, Charlotte navigates this well, as she really only shares her true thoughts with a select few. As the story progresses, she grows on the reader, and I couldn't help but like her.

What really sets this story apart is the mystery threaded through the story. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! However, without giving away any spoilers, the mystery is a complete dud. It's why I deducted a whole star. For as mysterious and thrilling as everything was, the denouement was uncharacteristically dull. All that build-up for nothing.

That said, this is still a fun and steamy read that'll make even the coldest heart smile. ( )

Opposites attract

I have loved the Castles Ever After series. Each one stands on its own, and despite feeling all through this one that I'd read it before (I hadn't), I loved it again. ( )

A fun romp, with a little more rumpy-pumpy than usual. I especially enjoyed the spying and the detective work - lots of nice little twists. ( )

I wasn’t planning on reading another Regency romance so soon after reading Say Yes to the Marquess, but I couldn’t resist when I found out this one had Piers in it, the jilted fiancé and Rafe’s brother. I was glad enough that his character wasn’t just a prop or villain in Say Yes, but to discover that he had his own romance in a crossover with another series was just too delicious. Rafe’s guest star appearance was a sweet scene—I always love the scenes when the family members can tell someone is in love before the actual person in love knows.
This is easily my favorite Tessa Dare novel so far, and now I’ll have to read the Spindle Cove series, drat her. Charlotte was a wonderful heroine, her innocent, forthright character depicted marvelously by the audiobook reader Carmen Rose. Rose’s depiction of young, suspicious, murder-accusing Edmund was perfection. I rarely listen to audiobooks when I’m not in my car, but I had the headphones on for this one because I wanted to blow through to the ending, and the reader was just too good to go without.
I laughed so much as I listened. The banter between Charlotte and Piers was great, and the scene when her mother was explaining the birds and the bees with an eggplant and a peach was priceless. Her mother is very much a Mrs. Bennet type, except a bit more self-aware and sympathetic than Pride and Prejudice’s embarrassing mother. I loved when she stood up for Charlotte toward the end, when horrible Frances was being such a B.
The solution to the mystery of the secret lovers/“tuppers” in the library was adorable and so much fun. And of course, since it’s Tessa Dare, there were many swoony, sexy scenes. Besides all the funny lines, Piers and Charlotte both had some very romantic ones too.
This is one of my favorites since I started reading Regencies again.

2021 reread: Still my favorite Tessa Dare and just the reread I needed right now. Love love love Piers and Charlotte! ( )

4.5 stars - always love a Tessa Dare book that involves one of the Highwoods. Thought this was clever and enjoyed the chemistry between Charlotte and Piers. ( )