This is my first Kaitlin O'Riley. This book is third in the series, but fine as a stand alone read. The characters from the prior two books in the series make appearances as side characters but nothing that spoils the previous stories for you (I think we all know they end in a happily ever after!) and nothing that would be confusing jumping into this story. I love series like this because there's no long and confusing recap needed. Just enjoy!

Meredith has just lost her father and uncle in a tragic accident. With her mother already gone, her aunt decides to bring her to London so they can both find husbands. They plan on posing as obscenely rich oil heiresses, which would be true if they haven't just lost their entire fortune and are now penniless. Meredith isn't in love with this plan, as she would rather support herself by writing intriguing mystery stories. Time in London is made more bearable when she finds the most wonderful book store to spend her time in. This is where she meets...

Philip Sinclair. Earl of Waverly. Son of book store owner? Yes, his father, a marquess, married a working class woman and they have continued running the book shop after marriage. Philip only cares about not being bored right now, and he's having a fabulous time with his mistress and torturing his poor parents. Yet, when he comes across Meredith he starts acting in ways that are unlike him because he suddenly doesn't care about all the gambling and drinking, only the next time he'll see her.

Give this story a try if you want
-Victorian era London
-no murders, mysteries, crimes to solve. It is focused on the romance, with a few held secrets and family/mistress drama
-a story line with the OW (other woman). She's here, and she doesn't leave until almost the end of the book. Technically there's OM (other man) as well, so this relationship has its challenges!
-Working heroine/secret writer – we have an author heroine! Not published in London yet as the story takes place, but not exactly secret either ;)
-Lower steam. You get open door sex scenes (2) and a few kisses but these scenes are filled with poetry and feeling and not much explicitness. They are fairly short too. I think people that like closed door usually wouldn't mind this story. Of course this made me sad. Hahahaha.
-American heroine and British hero
-some diversity included in side characters – there is a gay relationship of a family member

Specifics on the kissing/sex! Possible spoilers of percentage of book they take place in.

Spoiler

First kiss – 44%
Second kiss – 52%
First sex scene (open door but brief) – 60%
Second sex scene (open door but brief) – 92%

I am so sad I didn't love this book. It has a lot of to love for other people I'm sure. I usually adore books that have no mystery/murder going on. But as soon as I met Philip, I hated him. Then I got to know him a bit more and I hated him even more. Then the story continued and I found myself more and more annoyed with everything he did. Everything. Philip is a spoiled man-child. I foresee not a marriage for poor Meredith but a never ending babysitting job trying to manage his immaturity, irrational mood swings, and overblown ego. I am usually not harsh on my heroes, but. Well. Philip is not my cup of tea. Or coffee. Or anything else. Just go away, Philip. Go. Away.

I really liked Meredith. I also really love that the author titled each chapter. I've always loved when authors do that and I don't see it very often. So I give 2 stars because of those things.

I'm going to get into heavier specifics about why I didn't enjoy this book. Please avoid for spoilers if you plan on reading the story.

Spoiler

Philip is introduced as a lazy, gambling, drinking loser. He has a mistress that he is still with sexually until at least chapter 6. He kisses his mistress after he kisses the heroine. He is still WITH his mistress in some form of a relationship until 57% of the book. Way. Too. Long. I will say the mistress was refreshing in that she's not super catty and rude and just out for her own selfish ends. The author does give page time in her head, which is another thing I really dislike, but I'm assuming she's going to have her own book at some point. I'd hope anyway. She deserves it. And I wouldn't want my page time wasted. Hahaha.

Philip disappoints everyone in his family repeatedly. He makes his mother cry. Everyone's expectations for him are an inch off the ground and he can't even meet them. He flirts with the shopkeepers. He doesn't want to get married until his mother begs him not to marry his mistress then he thinks about marrying her. Philip is child that does whatever he can to test boundaries. He needs reverse psychology used on him to get him to behave appropriately because he wants to do the opposite of what everyone tells him. He cannot seem to think for himself or make up his own mind about anything without external interference, which I'll go about in more detail later.

The beginning of this book, and by beginning I mean like 1/3 of the book, the hero and heroine are barely together. They meet in the book store and he looks at her and she leaves. Another scene they waltz together and it's basically an 'enemies' feeling clash. They nitpick at each other. Scene done. Then they have another dance at another ball and talk for a few moments. Then after 30% they finally start to talk to each other and actually spend some time together. But, not too much time. Because there's plenty of side characters talking through the middle of the book and even a side story about a family member's relationship. If I wasn't wanting so much more from the MC relationship I probably would have been okay with this. As it was, to me it was made into too big of a deal and filled the already lacking story.

Philip runs hot and cold. He is rude to Meredith. Then he's charming. Charming enough to make Meredith feel like they are friends. He brings her gifts. He kisses her. He demands to be written in as her next character in her book because he's THAT annoying. Then he brings his mistress to a ball and is cold and aloof towards her. After hurting her he hunts her down and apologizes. Then things are on the upswing again. In fact, they now love each other. How, I have no idea. I think Meredith loves him because he bought her presents. Philip loves her because she's a shiny new toy.

Insert other man. Other woman wasn't enough so we need other man too. I was fine with this plot, except the author also gave page time in his head. It was totally unneeded. And as I get the feeling he DEFINITELY won't be getting his own book, there really wasn't a reason for it. His actions were totally explainable in the circumstances and learning about his past and feelings was pointless. As I was wanting more interaction between Meredith and Philip *shudder,* as they were barely together in the beginning and then the middle is filled with side characters and plenty of scenes that didn't have either Philip OR Meredith in them, in the other man's head was the last place I wanted to be. Anyways, other man causes some drama. And Philip, who KNOWS this man is competition and wants Meredith, decides he should believe everything he says and not even give Meredith a chance to defend herself. But he loves her so much, so it hurts that he has to do this. Give me a break. The scene should have been angsty and heartbreaking, but it was such a joke after everything Philip had already done to her. I would have tolerated it better if he didn't love her yet. You don't treat someone you love like that and not even give them a chance to speak.

Then he doesn't even do what he has to do to mend the relationship. He needs his brother, who has become a friend to Meredith, to go over and have circle time with him and tell him what to do to fix it. In fact, he doesn't even believe the relationship is worth fixing with this woman he loves until his brother says, yes it is worth fixing, then he realizes he should fix it. I couldn't stand this. What kind of man has no idea what he wants or how to go about it? Not a man I want around.

Ok I will stop complaining now. Sorry anyone that suffered through this. Not the book for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.