I loved this debut from Faye Delacour and cannot wait to read what she writes next. I knew from the first lines that this would be wry and absurdly charming, and I was not disappointed. At the outset, our male main character returns from the (presumed) dead after being (allegedly) drowned at sea two years prior, and our female main character is hell-bent on starting a reputable gaming club for women as a means of financial security and independence outside the marriage mart. I always enjoy the delicious angst of my-love-proposed-to-my-sister/cousin/friend, and the pseudo competition with the vapid (but ultimately still not unlikeable) Cecily adds steady humor throughout and a reliably tense backstory for our childhood-friends-turned-enemies-turned-lovers. Add in the doting-but-determined Uncle Bertie frantically trying to set up his charges for their future happiness so he can pursue happiness of his own, and you have a cast of family and friends that consistently strikes the right balance between funny and sincere. 

For romance lovers, there are familiar beats executed with delicious twists - a stolen kiss in a downpour, a woman facing ruination - and the added intrigue of pirates and scandal and sexy talk at Ascot. This is a lighthearted and sexy and delightfully feminist historical romance for readers who love sunshine MMCs who desperately want to do the right thing and will sacrifice everything to see their women thrive. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy!