So instead of drunk shopping a few nights ago, I did a little buzzed borrowing from the Libby app and Julie Anne Long’s The Perils of Pleasure showed up on my Kindle.

This novel is a great mix of mystery/adventure and love story, set in Regency England.

Colin Eversea is mysteriously rescued from the gallows (where he is supposed to hang for murder) and promptly meets the heroine, Madeline Greenway. Madeline is supremely confident, funny and competent, and she quickly won me over. She is just the type of FMC I like to read about. When she is nearly killed, Colin and Madeline begin a tense yet madcap adventure during which they attempt to unveil who was behind Colin’s rescue and Madeline’s attempted murder. Since this is a romance novel, of course Colin and Madeline fall in love along the way.

This book is a very slow burn, but I enjoyed the relationship between Madeline and Colin immensely. Unlike some Hissy RoNos, they both felt like fully fleshed out people and the attraction between them is about way more than marriage prospects and creating heirs. Madeline has been purposefully alone for a long time and takes very good care of herself, so watching her soften and fall for Colin is very sweet, while watching them volley and work as a team is super fun.

👍🏻Recommended for readers who love beautiful prose as well as a huge helping of adventure with their romance novels.