It's been a age since I finished a novel and The Soldier's Scoundrel was the perfect antidote to a painful reading slump. In it we fallow Jack Turner the titular scoundrel who uses his wits and knowledge from a childhood in the underbelly of London to help people with problems that can't call the police to solve. Through that he meets (former Captain) Oliver Rivington a high strung gentleman and exactly the kind of man Jack avoids. The two become entangled and work together to solve a mystery falling in love along the way. 

What I loved most about The Soldier's Scoundrel was Jack and Rivington's push and pull relationship. Oliver is the classical starchy hero who balks at the unsavoury nature of Jack's profession. Jack on the other hand deeply resents Oliver's social position and especially his claims to a higher morality as someone raised in abject poverty. But the two despite themselves are inexorably pulled to each other. Seeing two people slowly learn how to be vulnerable with each other and shed the misconceptions they have for each other is so beautiful. From Oliver learning to accept help after being disabled by war to Jack allowing himself to let someone in after building up walls to protect himself. Cat Sebastian threads that tension throughout the story masterfully. 

Sebastian is also great at weaving in a mystery plot with the romance. While I think the seasoned mystery reader may find this one slower paced I was thoroughly engaged by the subplot and appreciated how well mystery itself laid out set pieces for the romance to develop.

The Soldier's Scoundrel is a perfect iteration of this type of story and if Cat Sebastian other books are as good as the two I've read she'll easily become a favourite romance author.