Mia Vincy routinely decimates me emotionally, and this was no exception. What begins as an absolutely bananas premise - the FMC is pretending to be her sister but WOOPS ends up fake married to a mysterious earl who OH DEAR already knows she's not who she says she is and just needs a wedding-on-paper for a spot of cash - serves up an emotional gut punch when both characters fall slowly and earnestly in love. Thea's societal ruination and the familial fall-out feels familiar (in that we encounter it frequently in historical romance) and altogether original (because only Thea would stage a pamphleteering campaign to expose the truth). Likewise, our widower "Beast" feels more fleshed out here, as we see his emotional journey caring for - and then grieving - a loved one with mental illness. Vincy's strength is in plotting conflict resolution, and once again, she nails each beat, as both characters need to find individual closure on their pasts before they can be truly vulnerable and open to commitment with one another. The final scenes are absolutely delightful (I ugly cried) and the overlap with A Scandalous Lady is UNREAL. Mia Vincy is an underrated talent in historical romance, and I'm begging romance readers to read her backlist!