Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 3/8/2023 + 2617 more book reviews

Excellent second installment in the series. Eliza and her sisters are enjoying the success of their business, Elegant Occasions. While Diana (A Duke for Diana) is still involved, she will give much of her input to her sister-in-law, Rosy. Her marriage to the duke and the impending birth of her child makes her participation more difficult.

Meanwhile, Eliza enjoys the freedom of being a widow and part of their successful business. Her marriage wasn't a happy one. Sam courted the naïve young Eliza and convinced her to elope with him, hoping to get his hands on her dowry. When her father refused to release the funds, Sam's charm disappeared. He later left to play soldier in the war and died there, leaving nothing but debts behind. As a result, Eliza has no interest in marrying again, preferring to live life on her own terms.

Nathaniel was Sam's best friend. They went to war together, though they served in different units. Nathaniel was called back home after his father's death about the same time Sam died. Their commanding general, who was also Nathaniel's mentor, died shortly before Nathaniel left and named Nathaniel as his daughter Jocelin's guardian as she is a widow with a young child. He takes Jocelin to Elegant Occasions and asks them to introduce her to society and help her find a new husband. Eliza is suspicious of the connection between Nathaniel and Jocelin. She remembers him as a rake with a reputation as a womanizer. Could he be trying to palm off his mistress and love child on an unsuspecting suitor? Why does she get the feeling he is hiding something?

I liked Nathaniel and Eliza. Eliza has come into her own after Sam's death. After being belittled by him and dealing with the fallout of his debts after his death, she has found new strength in her work. I loved her confidence in dealing with everyone, from tradesmen to noblemen. She is talented at seeing both sides of a situation and its effects. I liked seeing the progress of her attitude toward her time with Sam, from grief to anger to acceptance. She never expected to be attracted to Nathaniel, and he disturbs her equilibrium.

War has changed Nathaniel from the reckless rake he used to be. The things he has seen had a profound impact on him. Though he is now the earl, his family situation has made him reluctant to marry. When he first knew her, he was attracted to Eliza, but she was his friend's wife and off-limits. He is still attracted to her and wonders if he can get her into his bed.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Eliza and Nathaniel. The sparks between them are impossible to deny. Nathaniel is quite the flirt and his conversations with Eliza are frequently full of innuendo. Their interchanges are fun to see as she counters his flirtations with snarky comebacks. With her attraction toward him, Eliza is often distracted when near him. It doesn't take long for her to consider enjoying a physical relationship with him while protecting her heart.

But Nathaniel is keeping several secrets, one of which could destroy her business if it gets out. He knows he needs to come clean but keeps putting it off. I quickly guessed one of Nathaniel's secrets that involved Jocelin, but his other secret was an unexpected twist. When he finally does confess, he does so in pieces, leading Eliza to believe he doesn't trust her. Her hurt and anger are understandable and justified. I loved that she called him out and refused to make things easy on him. I liked his "aha" moment and seeing him finally tell her everything. The ending was great, and the epilogue was fun.

I enjoyed young Jocelin and her story. Her little boy was adorable, and I could see why he won the hearts of those who knew him - and why he exhausted them. I felt sorry for her and her discomfort at being presented in society. The change in her when she was around military men was remarkable but understandable, given that her soldier father raised her.

I love the relationship between Eliza and her sisters. They are very close, and it shows in their support for each other and in the way they quibble and tease. Each has strengths that they bring to their business, and I loved watching them carry off triumph after triumph. I am looking forward to the next book, which is Verity's story. I am intrigued by the appearances of the man they call "Phantom Fellow." I suspect he has some connection to Verity, and I can't wait to find out what it is.

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