One Step Behind

by Brianna Labuskes

[Lindsey Gray]

4.5 Stars!

I, for one, love a little intrigue mixed in with my romance fix. When I read the summary for One Step Behind, I knew I would be in for a treat. I got so much more than I ever imagined.

This debut from author Brianna Labuskes hits all the best elements of a romantic mystery. We have the dashing Earl of Winchester, Lucas Stone. He has a huge heart and a smile that would melt wax in two seconds flat. Of course we have his match, Miss Gemma Lancaster. She’s beauty and brains behind her dull facade. Together, they take on an enemy only they are looking for, a blackmailer and a murderer.

I am one of those pesky readers who seems to figure out the who-done-it early on in a novel. Sometimes, I’m just too good at reading the small clues. In this case, I was stumped until almost the very end. The way the duo goes about solving the case with the help of Winchester’s man of affairs, Mr. Harrington, and Winchester’s sister, Beatrice, was a surprise to me. At first, I thought Labuskes was just setting Harrington and Beatrice up to fall for each other. In the end, they were actually vital to the investigation. Each member of the team brought their own experience and made the investigation work. If one had been left out, the case }\very well might not’ve been solved.

As for the romantic aspects of the novel, Labuskes does not spare us one ounce of heat. From the moment Lucas and Gemma are pressed up together, hiding in a darkened library, the sexual tension is thick. Throw in a ruse of an engagement and the heat goes volcanic! The story flows fast, yet every aspect is well developed from the first touch to the last kiss.

For a fantastic journey into mystery and romance set in 1812 London, One Step Behind should be the next ride in your reading adventures.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.