It was a good story. Very engaging, however the tone of the heroine was a little odd to me. I didn't feel the emotion behind her actions or inactions. That may have been my experience alone though. ( )

Beautiful inside and out! Both Nathaniel & Grace are gracious, principled & conscientious individuals. She has frustratingly found herself at the mercy of her guardians since the early death of her parents. No matter who they are, her life has not been her own. Finding herself in a situation that goes against all of her inner morals, it is no surprise that she cannot bring herself to follow through - without confiding in Mr Nathanial Barton to some degree.

A man of gentleman standing, and heading up a newer faster way of railway building - Nate is heavily focused on attracting investments for his business. He has no time nor the inclination to become involved in the marriage scene, that London is so famed for. A chance meeting on a train station with a beautiful young lady will turn his carefully orchestrated world upside down.

I loved everything about this story. Fresh & original plot line mixed with a carefully detailed story. There is none of the skipping and jumping around, and it keeps you engaged as the reader.

Esther Hatch has yet again, captured the imagination perfectly and beautifully.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book & then proceeded to purchase my own paperback copy. I love the matt texture and the cover artwork. This is my honest review. ( )

I was immediately captivated by this charming novel by Esther Hatch. The setting in England, the cast of memorable, vividly-drawn characters, and the creative, complex plot of this book drew me right in. Grace and Nathaniel’s story reminded me a little of a comedy of errors. It seems like they were at cross purposes much of the time and victims of misunderstandings. Nathaniel, reluctantly and unwittingly, was drawn into Grace’s necessary scheme of finding a husband quickly. Grace, with little experience at dealing with attractive young men, finds herself in the middle of several misadventures. The relationship between Nate and Grace was delightful and funny. I loved the banter and the humorous ways that Grace tried to capture his interest.

The premise of this story is very creative, and it was refreshing to have the hero be a builder of railroads, instead of a titled nobleman. I loved the imaginative story line and Hatch’s clear, well-crafted writing. This novel has a bit of everything—intrigue, history, suspense, romance, and a dash of humor to round things out. I’ll definitely be looking forward to more books by this writer.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ( )