*sigh* so loving the Anna Bradley books. Her writing just totally pulls me in. Gives me butterflies. Makes me feel feels. Makes me tear up. I love it.

This book is the second of the Sutherland Scandals series. It can be read as a stand-alone. Of course I recommend you read the first book, A Wicked Way to Win an Earl, because it’s my favorite book ever 😍 and you’ll get some history on Robyn, as well as Delia and Alec’s story, who are occasionally secondary characters in this story.

Robyn’s family has invited Lily to London with them to experience the season. Robyn has no interest in Lily, and knows she’s perfectly off limits to him. He’s content to continue drinking, partying, and flirting his way through London. No one holds him responsible for his actions, and when they try to, he jokes and charms until he’s forgiven and can continue his routine. I don’t think Robyn even really understands or admits the full path he’s on. His behavior started when he was young as a direct result of his fathers parenting style and being a constant disappointment to him.

Lily likes her life controlled and proper. She lost her loving parents in a carriage accident fairly recently. She doesn’t like risk, preferring the safety of missing an experience versus taking a chance. Unfortunately for her, she walks into the wrong room at a house party in chapter one. And from there, everything changes for both of them.

Robyn throws Lily completely off balance. She becomes someone she doesn’t recognize. He can’t help but continue to poke and prod her until she shows some of the passion that lies beneath.

I didn’t like this book as much as the previous in the series (A Wicked Way to Win an Earl). I found Robyn to be quite a bit more immature and it took him forever to come around. But at the same time, it felt very real. He felt like a real man, with real flaws and struggles. And as the time goes by in this book (perhaps 1-2 months?) he just keeps getting in deeper and deeper. He’s totally falling in love and he can’t stop it no matter what he does. He doesn’t understand half of what he’s feeling and he’s reacting and confused. So much of this book felt like it was from his perspective which is something I love love love love in a book. Absolutely loved falling through that process with him.

I also loved the side storyline with Lady Chase 😍 That part made me so happy, especially after reading the previous book.

As far as steam, you get a few kiss scenes, a few more in depth fun, and one full scene at the end. I was slightly irritated with the one full scene as Robyn had just suffered a serious head wound and a broken rib. I mean, I felt like I couldn’t fully enjoy it because I’m thinking, isn’t he bleeding on her? He was literally just bleeding...lol.