This series has me losing my damn mind. ELIZABETH HOYT, never before have I nearly CRIED during a sex scene. How very dare you! (In the best way!)

Silence’s story culminates here after growing through the last two books, which works so gorgeously. (I’m very glad I never read these out of order!) The relationship between her and Mickey O’Connor (a walking red flag of an MMC if I’ve ever read one) starts in a very low place, but manages to redeem itself beautifully. I love how Hoyt writes these characters also, none of them are without flaws and there’s a lot of era-appropriate ideals and misconceptions (Silence’s insistence on the healthful benefits of boiled beef here was a great example). The Makepeace siblings (with the notable exception of Asa) are very pious, but that isn’t painted as a virtue, and finding a happy medium between their morality and their partners’ darker lifestyles is always the endgame.

I’ve got a few other things to read before I dive back into Winter’s story, but it’s hard to take a break, I’m so invested!!