He is known to be stone cold and like a Gargoyle but he might have just met his match in a sharp and beautiful ballerina who would sooner rip him apart than give him the time or day. Lord Lysander Blackstone, the duke of Montcroix is known for his stone cold demeanor that is reminiscent of a gargoyle to the point where his nickname is Stone. The only thing he is interested in is increasing his fortune and legacy after a series of betrayals and a harsh childhood he has learned to keep his emotions buried deep and to maintain a cool demeanor. When a potential business deal is put into jeopardy based on his reputation he finds himself asking for help from the most unusual person. After getting lost he ends up at the end of the gun of up-and-coming ballerina Miss Geneviève Valery, also known as Neve. Neve dreams about making it big as a ballerina, she loves dancing, but after a jealous suitor injures her sister and destroy’s her sister’s dancing career and her parents death Neve is left as the only bread winner and she has to find a way to get a job on the stage... preferably without having to be propositioned in order to get the role every single time. Neve doesn’t want to sacrifice her body or soul, so when she runs into Lysander and he offers her a job, she think’s its the perfect way to help pay off her rent, take care of her sister, and have spare money to hold her off until she can find a job. Lysander needs a fake fiancee, someone to hold off the vying mothers and daughters, and something to prove to his prospective business client that he isn’t heartless and can be trusted to buy the land. It was a simple offer: dress up, play companion for one ball, and get paid 100 pounds and she can keep the dress... except what starts off simple starts to heat up as the undeniable chemistry between the two lights up. Lysander and Neve are opposites, he’s cold she’s hot, he only sees the black and white and she see’s in shades... and yet for all their bickering comes passion and the undeniable urge to kiss each other. Lysander wants more and he offers a new arrangement: she stays and continues to be his companion until the season is over and he will pay her 5000 pounds and if she wants more he is willing to give it to her. Yet for all their brewing romance, they both have their own demons and struggles to get through. Lysander is struggling to deal with the childhood trauma his father put him through, the betrayals of his ex-fiancee, and just learning to let down his walls and let himself feel emotions while Neve is struggling to deal with if she can trust Lysander, if she can open herself up to someone like him, and if she is willing to risk her heart. They’re both so amazing, I loved reading this book so much and CANNOT WAIT TO READ THE REST OF THE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES!!! AHHH the romance was just perfection, their bickering and bantering, and their chemistry was off the walls. I swoon for them seriously. If you’re looking for a wonderful historical romance with lots of witty banter and seriously steamy romance, THIS IS FOR YOU. The pining, the light angst, the emotion... its so good.

*Thanks Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*