I know, I think I'm one of the last people on earth to start this series.

Nicholas. Oh Nicholas. Such an unrepentant rake. We start the story with him bored with life, bored with his mistress. Just bored. And through a rather funny mistake, he ends up meeting Regina. I adored Regina. She is the niece of the Malory uncles and well protected by her family. She has thought she's fallen in love many times but one of her uncles always disapproves. She's ready to move on with the societal whirl of the husband hunting season and start her life, if only she could find someone her family would allow her to marry.

The very beginning of this book was quite annoying to me. There were so many characters. So. Many. Characters. I was so lost. I spent an extra 10 minutes looking up on goodreads other story lines and family trees. It was overwhelming trying to keep everyone straight. I finally gave up and hoped that after I read a few books from the series I would figure it out. Also, the head hopping. It was bad. We jumped from the main characters to cousins to brothers to maids. Everyone had to have a paragraph it seemed, even though it didn't provide any needed information about the story. So I didn't like that either, but it was pretty restricted to the very beginning of the book.

Reggie was so fun. I adored her happy spunky personality. With the things she went through, she could have turned into a crying lump. A bitter shrew. But she just has this love for life and her family and she can get through anything! And boy, does Nick put her through it.

Nick. I could have loved you. I didn't want to like you, but I found myself liking you anyway. But then. Well, I'll get into details about that under a spoiler heading below. Let's just say I found his pride and ego too much. He was a big bratty man child that didn't grow up enough for me by the end of the book. With a bit of groveling/repentance I would have like it more. For me, he turned in a 1.5 star hero. And that really brought down the rating.

I give 3 stars.

Spoiler warning!!!!! Specific dislikes below!!!!!
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Spoiler

So halfway through, I wasn't in love with Nick, but I was trying to understand his behaviors. I get his issues. Did he take it too far? Yes. I didn't even 100% hate him when he left Reggie on their wedding night. I was pissed yes. But the fact that he leaves the country and doesn't say anything for 6 months? And her family had to bring him back? Yeah he was 'going' to come back. Maybe if I had more time in his head to feel his turmoil about being away from Reggie. BUT. BUT!!!! When he comes back and he acts like he does. Oh I hated him. So much. His pride was more important than anything here. No apology made. No groveling. I know he's a Lindsey hero and they are unapologetic alpha males that love yet make no excuses for their behavior. But it just wasn't enough for me. The way he treats her like the baby wasn't even his and she cheated on him while she HAD TO GIVE BIRTH ALONE. Grr. Just grr. And then the fact that is hoard of mistresses ascend on the house and he doesn't even kick them out! But he's so controlling over Reggie seeing someone from her past. He was just SO unpleasant. I can't love him. No.

I also hated that they had sex on a splintery bench outside a ball for Reggie losing her virginity. I assumed there would be a kiss. Maybe some fondling. But then she was naked and I was like...aren't they right by a ball where people could come across them? Then he was naked and I was like ummmmm. Then they did it. On a bench. So disappointed in that.