Viscount Penvale is a young man living his life but hoping for more. He desperately wants to regain his childhood home from his uncle. When his uncle finally approaches him to sell the manor, he has one stipulation, that Penvale marry his young ward, Jane. Penvale agrees out of desperation but expects little from the match.
Jane is an introvert and is uninterested with London society. She just wants to live in the quiet manor and read her books. So she plans to push Penvale out of the house the way she did his uncle. By scaring him out. She and the staff plan all sorts of nightly terrors to put her new husband on edge. As her hijinx progress, she learns Penvale is not scared easily but also that he is not the overbearing lord that his uncle was. The two spend more and more time together, slowly realizing they might be able to make this marriage one a happy one after all.
I have enjoyed the last few Waters Regency novels, but this one was my favorite by far. Jane was great introvert rep. She embodied all the nerves and IDGAF energy that I identify with. Penvale was also the perfect man to help her slowly realize new boundaries while building trust while also allowing her to say no and mean it. Their banter was great. It’s definitely a slow burn but it felt more realistic to me that way. You get some spice, so if that’s your thing, you’ll have to wait for it but it’s there.
Thanks to Atria Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.
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