This Regency romance was unexpected, charming, creative, filled with characters you can root for the entire way through. I particularly enjoyed the hero, who was gentle and adoring the entire way through — and yet the second chance love story made complete sense. In fact, the reader can see why the ending the they secured for themselves is better than what they would have fallen into if the first chance worked out.

The characters were so well developed, which is always the most important thing to me as a reader. Chronic pain was woven into the FMC's experience and character, but never allowed to define her. I loved watching her growing bravery as she dares to push beyond the boundaries that have so carefully hemmed her in. The side characters and found family were dynamic, colorful, and essential to the plot. Details like bare feet and gilt wallpaper kept us grounded in the story world.

The interactions between the love story were consistently sweet, supportive, and heart-warming — this is the book for you if you're feeling exhausted by constant arguments and third-act breakups. However, both the external plot and the characters' internal journeys provided enough external momentum that the pace never felt slow and the answers were never obvious. 

I absolutely love a romance with just enough external plot to let us sink into the characters, their conversations, their hopes, and their love story. This hit all the magic moments for me, and I highly recommend. One of my top reads of the year!