Great read, fun characters and banter!
This is my first book by this author although she's been on my "want to read" list for a long time. Initially, I wasn't sure if it was going to work for me as the hero and heroine do not meet until after the first third of the book. The start was a bit slow in the romance department due to that but I still enjoyed what was happening with each of these characters leading up to that moment.
I liked the bit of intrigue that surrounded Hawkes. It wasn't as much a mystery as it was the method he was going about to even the score with his adversary. He was a strong hero that had an immediate reaction to Aurelie the moment he saw her. The steam wasn't prevalent, but I could definitely feel the chemistry between this couple.
There isn't a lot of time with them together from the moment they met until the end but it was layered with drama and uncertainty as well as a host of humor from the residents at the Grand Palace on the Thames. Oh my gosh, I loved everyone there! They were perfect in every way and made the best of friends to Aurelie who felt so alone.
Overall, I found this to be a great read and the writing to have that historical feel to it that is sometimes lacking these days.
