- First date: We meet Miss Minerva Dodger who after six-seasons has come to terms with being a spinster. Despite her large dowry or because of it, Minerva is determined to remain single unless she meets a man who meets her qualifications. 1. He must not be in it for the money. 2. He must respect her opinions and treat her as an equal. 3. He must LOVE her. I adored Minerva she is confident, strong and sharp. She is more concerned with current events that the social gossip of the ton. She knows what she wants and when she announces she will go to the Nightingale Club to enjoy one night of pleasure I am not at all surprised. At this point, I am all in, because you just know mischief and romance will ensue.
- Second date: All the ladies at Nightingale wear masks to hide their identity; the men do not. Ashe, The Duke of Ashebury, one of the notorious Hellion of Havisham is intrigued by the masked Minerva, and invites her to a night of pleasure. Their first encounter is interesting and Ashe soon wants more. He is determined to discover who she is. This added a little Cinderella mystery. The two of them have encounters during social events and I enjoyed their engaging discussions, and banter. She of course knows who he is and he is quite confident that the masked lady and the spinster Dodger are one and the same. The dance these two begin is delicious to watch.
- Third date: Things are heating up between the masked lady and Ashe as their dance continues. The budding romance between Minerva and Ashe is sure to curl your toes. Heath adds some complications that may throw the identity reveal into a wicked spin. All of which had me flipping the pages and curious about the outcome. Ashe has a secret and I loved that Heath weaved in this disorder. She showed the impact it has on a strong, intelligent man. Passion and emotions from the characters had me swooning, smiling and crossing my fingers. Seeing the growth in Minerva as Ashe tries to woo the Lady Dodger was delicious. Minerva’s parents were positively delightful and a breath of fresh air for Regency London. We see growth and acceptance as we move towards the end of this date. Heath provided a eulogy that will delight and satisfy readers.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer