I will absolutely always read anything Cat Sebastian writes, so when this slid into my radar, I instantly smushed the request button, unable to help myself.
So thanks very much to the author, as well as Avon via NetGalley for the review copy!
Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, just shot her husband. Of course, the evil, murderous man deserved what was coming to him, but now she must flee to the countryside. Unfortunately, the only person she can ask for help is the charismatic criminal who is blackmailing her–and who she may have left tied up a few hours before…
A highwayman, con artist, and all-around cheerful villain, Rob Brooks is no stranger to the wrong side of the law or the right side of anybody’s bed. He never meant to fall for the woman whose secrets he promised to keep for the low price of five hundred pounds, but how could he resist someone who led him on a merry chase all over London, left him tied up in a seedy inn, and then arrived covered in her husband’s blood and in desperate need of his help?
As they flee across the country–stopping to pick pockets, drink to excess, and rescue invalid cats–they discover more true joy and peace than either has felt in ages. But when the truth of Rob’s past catches up to him, they must decide if they are willing to reshape their lives in order to forge a future together.
This is the story of Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, and Rob Brooks, the man who blackmailed her a little bit, maybe. ^_^;
It takes place almost immediately after the events of The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, and while I wouldn’t consider it strictly necessary to have read the first book to find enjoyment in the second, I’m sure that it would be a fantastic help in understanding the nuance of some situations.
Marian has just shot her husband, the Duke of Clare, and as such is a bit on the run. She asks the man who is blackmailing her for help, because he’s the only one she can turn to, and together they run off into the countryside.
As with most other Cat Sebastian books, I loved this one from start to finish. It wasn’t my favorite of her titles, and I did like the first book in the series a bit more, but I couldn’t help cheering for Marian and Rob to live happily ever after. I see myself in Marian a lot, and so it was quite easy to want the very best for her, and Rob, despite being a thief and a blackmailer, is kindness itself. They were adorable together.
All told, it was easy to sit down with this book and get really immersed in it. I’d recommend this one to fans of historical romance, and to anyone who thinks that watching two disaster-bis go on adventures together. 4/5 stars!~
superstardrifter 
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