This is book 2 of the latest Lost Lords series and is totally fine read as a stand alone novel.

Lila has a tragedy in her past that has kept her from society. She is content to just stay home, even though her family around her and some of her friends are moving on. After 8 years, she thinks she is ready to venture out again because she's found a way to keep herself safe. She only needs the cooperation of The Savage Gentleman.

Hugh Savage is considered a legend in the underworld of London. He has never – ever – lost a fight in all of his bare knuckle matches. He is wrapped up in the ring even though he wants to leave. While not an owner, he owes debts to others that keep him chained. The newspapers have dubbed him The Savage Gentleman and he soon finds himself cornered by Lila, who wants lessons.

I think you should give this book a try if you are interested in
-an bit of an anti-hero – he mostly grew up on the streets and is a legendary fighter in the London underworld
-a slow burn
-an ex-soldier hero
-a scarred heroine
-a bit of real history mixed in – this book touches on the massacre at Peterloo

So, I have really been struggling with writing this review. There were things I liked about this book. There were things I didn't like about this book. But it didn't leave me overall with any strong feelings about, well, anything, so perhaps that's why. This story has a lot to love in it. Two broken characters that are perfect for each other. I'm sure the story will be an emotionally gripping read for many. For me, I think the beginning just irritated me so bad it couldn't recover. The beginning is SO SLOW. I had to force myself to read that first 30%. It tries to establish a bit of what's going on with each character, their pain and past, their demons they face. And it was better done with Hugh I think. I was able to get a bit of connection with him and character depth regarding his life. But something with Lila, there was just, I don't know this “mystery” created around her that started to drive me nuts. I get I'm not supposed to know all the secrets until the end of the book (most likely) but this was just circles and circles and circles of her not being able to do anything but she must. Why must she? Who knows. It's so important. Why is it so important? Well she just must. She can't go on like this. It's been so long. But if she dares....Dare she? I mean I know that makes NO SENSE but that's basically what I felt like I was reading page after page in the beginning. It would almost give you a hint about her past then it would go in another circle about why she couldn't. Basically it took her 30% of the book to ask Hugh to teach her to fight. I thought it was absurd and I was beyond ready for anything else to happen.

At that point, the book does pick up. I think this is one of the only books I can say I enjoyed the second half way more than the first. Once they are together I enjoyed their banter and interactions together. But some things still didn't connect with me. I thought some of Lila's actions just didn't make sense. And her big plan that forms later in the book just seemed totally out of the blue to me. Perhaps if instead during that first 30% my head was twirling in circles reading the same thing over and over it would have said something about the possibility of this plan forming I would have been more accepting of it. And because it creates a large rift between the characters it was a big deal to me that it was out of the blue and a bit out of character for her. There were a few things about Hugh's past too that were confusing and I kept waiting to get cleared up but they never did. I'm unsure if a later book in the series will end up addressing some of these questions regarding the lost lords? I also felt like the ending didn't really pull it together enough. I don't want to get into spoilers about specifics. But I was just left feeling lackluster about it all.

I will say kudos to the author for touching on the massacre at Peterloo. I had no idea that ever happened and it sent me down a bit of historical research that was fascinating and heartbreaking.

I did read the first book in this series and liked it a lot more. This is my second Christi Caldwell. I will definitely try her again even though this one wasn't my favorite.

I give 2.5 rounded to 3

Thanks netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions regarding this novel are my own.