I enjoyed the first one in this series, All’s Fair in Love and War, and was excited to get the next protegee’s story! So when the publisher reached out with a link to an e-galley of this, I went ahead and grabbed it.

I did enjoy this story. I liked Lottie a lot. She was fun and knew what she liked and didn’t like, and knew who she was. Sure there was the problem of Guy being a Lord and she was just a farmer’s daughter and former governess/companion to his aunt now. It was obvious it was a grumpy sunshine romance, and while it was understandable that Guy was a little bit gun-shy of falling in love after his humiliation as a young man in love years before, I did like that he kind of came around to the idea of the two of them before she did.

Guy was a nice guy, the things he did for his family, the people who lived around his lands and how he wanted to make sure to help them get fair profit from their crops. His mother was such a meddler though, and it was easy to see why he was so frustrated and tended to stay away to save himself from her matchmaking. When Guy and Lottie did give in, it was just one somewhat open door scene in the story, other than a few kisses and a little making out before that. I was also a bit shocked when his mother and especially his aunt sent Lottie away because of the other prospects catching the two of them from a distance together kissing or him leaving her room. Especially with the way both of them had earlier acted about things they’d heard. However in the end, I was glad that was the drama that came between them instead of a misunderstanding for drama’s sake. And I loved the letter Lottie got right when Guy showed up for that big grand gesture to get her back.

Another fun addition to the series, and I look forward to seeing which protegee will get her HEA next!