The Scoundrel and the Siren

Princes of London #2

by Christy Carlyle

In the next installment of the swoon-worthy Princes of London series, Christy Carlyle takes readers on a heart-pounding hunt through Norfolk where a legendary treasure hunter and a fierce local woman battle over a Viking hoard, each determined to claim it for their own—and neither willing to lose their heart in the process…

Dominic Prince is passionate, tenacious, and determined to carve out a legendary name for himself—just like his famous treasure-hunting father. When an American tycoon funds his expedition to uncover a Viking hoard in Norfolk and ship it across the Atlantic, Dominic sees his chance to claim glory. If he can unearth a treasure trove so magnificent it lands him on the front pages of newspapers in both England and America, his success will finally be undeniable.

Tess Hawthorne doesn’t quite know what to make of the entirely too handsome scoundrel who shows up in her village seeking the very treasure she's been hoping to find all her life. When he asks to employ her knowledge and familiarity with the locals to assist on the dig, she accepts.

But she doesn't want whatever treasure they find to leave England, and she certainly doesn't want to lose her heart to the man determined to claim it…

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction, Adult, Historical

304 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 31, 2026

About the author

Fueled by Pacific Northwest coffee and inspired by multiple viewings of every British costume drama she can get her hands on, USA Today bestselling author Christy Carlyle writes sensual historical romance set in the Victorian era. She loves heroes who struggle against all odds and heroines who are ahead of their time. A former teacher with a degree in history, she finds there's nothing better than being able to combine her love of the past with a die-hard belief in happy endings.

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick cute read with one very down bad MMC and an almost as equally down bad FMC.

I wanted to love this because it was marketed as The Mummy (1999) vibes. There are some similarities, a treasure hunter + librarian/historian pairing, but it’s not quite the adventure + humor + romance triple threat of The Mummy.

That said, it’s still a solid historical romance!

Whats to love…
- archeologist/treasure hunter + librarian/historican pairing
- playboy MMC ready to reform for her
- Excellent side characters!
- plenty of heart
- Open door spice
- short (304 pages)


What didn’t work for me, but might work for you…
- the playboy characterization got a little tiring pretty quickly… We get it, he’s bedded a lot of women.
- pacing felt a little off, a lot of build up for a pretty quick resolution

🌶️- Open door

3.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Avon for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved meeting the Prince family in the first book of this series and was excited to jump back in with this second book. A family that finds and sells antiquities is a fascinating one to follow for a series.

In this installment, big brother Dominic Prince is going into the field to excavate a mound in Norfolk and enlists the help of the Hawthornes twins, locals who have an interest in preserving local treasures. The serious, historian sister met Dominic briefly in London and is drawn to him. The romance here is ista-love (or insta-lust), with Dominic immediately thinking about Tess as a potential fling.

The secondary storyline is about not letting the American funding the dig take the antiquities to the US. That part of the story is handled well and wraps up efficiently. There's a thread in that part of the story that might have been explore more, which is the relationship between Tess' parents and the aristocrat who owns the land where they are digging. The purpose of that storyline isn't all that clear and the hint of a big reveal doesn't mean anything.

This book is a case where a time jump would have really helped make the relationship believable. Tess and Dominic meet for just a few minutes in London. It's hard to imagine Dominic would be instantly smitten with Tess. The prologue could have had them working together for days or a few weeks to catalogue and assess a library and then parting when the job was done. It would have made the reunion in Norfolk and the relationship that develops immediately more plausible. Without that, there's a lot more telling than showing when it comes to the feelings the characters have for each other.

[Kristina Dowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so fun! I loved the concept of the dig and the characters themselves were a great time. I haven't read book one (whoops!), but I plan to - and to keep an eye on future books. The love story was great, I enjoyed the historical context and the drama!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[zoe ✨️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was immediately interested in this book from the synopsis as I loved the idea of a treasure hunter x historian pairing. The first 40% of the book really set up an interesting dynamic between the characters and set up their relationship very well but something stilted after the first (and only basically) treasure was found. I appreciate the drama with the Americans wanting to seize the treasure and take it from England but also think that missed its mark a little considering how much of the British musuem is filled with treasures stolen from other countries 🤷‍♀️

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

I loved this, it was everything I love about historical romance with the added bonus of an archeological dig. The romance and banter between Tess and Dom was sweet, and their respect for each other made the growth of their relationship feel natural and satisfying. I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series, so I’m going to go back to read Dom’s sister Allie’s story now.

[Kayla Schmitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

This was a fun read! I really enjoyed that it was a typical historical romance. None of the chaperones, balls, walks around the park etc. Instead the FMC and MMC are digging for Viking treasure. A unique storyline!

Lots of tension, banter, and a perfect amount of spice. I absolutely loved that Dom worked hard to earn Tess’s trust. He worked hard to prove to her they were end game. Bonus, no third act break up! Just two adults who believe in each other and their love to fight through obstacles.

My only pet peeve is the amount of time it was mentioned Dom had bedded many women. Like I get he’s the scoundrel but it started to give me the ick.

Overall, a refreshing and fun historical romance!

Thanks to Christy Carlyle, NetGalley, and Avon for the ARC!

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a great time with The Scoundrel and the Siren! 💕 Dominic and Tess had sparks from the start, but what I really loved was how their relationship grew into friendship and trust, not just attraction. No silly drama, no big breakup, just a steady romance that felt natural and sweet (with just the right amount of 🌶️).

The pacing was great, I read it fast and never got bored. And can I just say — so refreshing to have a historical romance that isn’t all about London, balls, titles, and endless chaperones. 🙌 Treasure hunting in Norfolk? Yes, please.

Overall, charming, fun, and a lovely HEA. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Collins for the ARC. 📚

[Ashley Faltisek · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ — Fun idea, okay execution

The Scoundrel and the Siren had me hooked with the setup: treasure hunting, a stubborn heroine who knows the land better than anyone, and a hero with daddy-legacy issues trying to make a name for himself. Honestly, I love all of that. And the Norfolk + Viking hoard angle? Very cool, very different from the usual London ballroom circuit.

But… the book itself didn’t totally sweep me away.

Dominic is charming in that “I’m annoyingly determined but also kind of endearing” way, and Tess has that grounded, sensible energy that balances him out. Their dynamic should be perfect, and sometimes it really is — especially when the story leans into their conflicting goals. I also loved the treasure-digging aspect. It adds a nice adventure feel you don’t always see in historical romance.


The pacing felt slow in spots, especially early on. I kept waiting for the spark to really hit, and while the chemistry is there, it never fully sizzles. The tension around the treasure — who gets it, what it means to them — had the potential to be so juicy, but it wraps up a little too neatly for my taste.

Basically: the promise was big, but the delivery was more “nice” than “can’t-stop-reading.”

It’s a pleasant, easy read with a unique setup and two characters who are genuinely likable. I just wish the romance and the stakes had pushed a little harder.

A good time — just not a new favorite.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know who writes these blurbs, but they may need to re-evaluate terms like "heart-pounding" and "battle over" as I wouldn't use either for this book. I enjoyed the book, I thought the way Dominic worked to win over Tess's trust with her heart was very sweet and I liked their moments of banter. All in all, I would say this book is very low-stakes, there is never any true animosity between our leads (all miscommunications are quickly resolved, no third-act breakup) and there is no danger/adversity with the dig for most of the book. The British history referenced is interesting. For those that want a medium burn steamy romance with two smart non-aristocratic Victorian characters on an archeological dig that discusses the value of important finds remaining in their home country (I loved the dig at Elgin, although what Prince's does should be pointed out is similar).

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scoundrel and the Siren

Tess Hawthorne’s dream is to lead an archaeological excavation into the burial mounds that surround her village in England. Dominic Prince of the Prince treasure hunting family fame shows up to do just that while backed by an American millionaire who intends to take the finds to his new museum in New York City. Tess begrudgingly agrees to help with the dig, hoping that at least now her curiosity as to what is within the burial mounds can be sated, though she despises the idea that treasures will be taken across the Atlantic.

I love historical fiction about women who fight to exist outside the mold society wants to shove them into and the men who respect (and fall in love with) them for it. Tess is a wonderful mix of headstrong, independent, and feminine and Dominic is adorable in how fast he falls for her.

The archaeology backdrop was exactly the sort of thing I love. Treasure hunting and academics are my weakness, especially when it comes to historical fiction. The historical elements of the book were also very captivating, set at a time in history when society was becoming fascinated with the ancient world. It may be a more modern element, but the book also touched quite a bit on the ethics of moving historical finds to different countries to put them on display. I don’t know how much it was debated contemporary to this book, but it's certainly a very important ongoing debate in the modern world of archaeology and the role of museums.

This book as has a pretty cozy vibe. There are no big third act break ups, no diabolical villains. There was enough tension for me and I appreciated that Tess and Dom are adults who acted like adults.

This is the second book in the series, the first starring Dominic’s younger sister, an aspring author who overhears a jewel heist being planned and is determined to help solve it. Of course she falls in love with the detective along the way. It's clear the Prince family is full of independent women who wholeheartedly pursue their dreams, so Tess looks like she will fit in perfectly with the family. I haven’t read the first book yet, but look forward to picking it up as well as reading about the last sister in the future.

I also love the cover to this book which doesn’t really fit with the rest of the author’s books. Classic historical romance covers don’t really appeal to me because they rarely show much personality in my eyes. Meanwhile the details in this one like the binoculars and paper immediately did give me treasure hunt vibes, which were confirmed by the back copy. Where as the cover for the previous novel, The Duke and Lady Scandal feels generic and doesn’t entice me to read the back copy and learn that it very much looks like a novel I’d enjoy.

Thanks Net Galley for the ARC!

[Nikki (awallflowerreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a bit Mummy-inspired (if you couldn’t tell by the cover), and I loved all these callbacks to a movie I adore. Dominic Prince, eldest brother and adventure extraordinaire of the Prince family, is itching to get out of the city and back on a project. After the death of his best friend, he’s feeling particularly adrift. So when his sister must bail on their latest dig, he travels to Norfolk alone to meet with a TS Hawthorne who will act as his historian on site. Tess Hawthorne has always dreamed of an archaeological dig and uncovering the secrets of her Norfolk home. And when a letter arrives for her deceased father seeking assistance, she can’t resist the pull. Especially with her twin brother, and flirt about town, encouraging her to do it. The instalust between Dom and Tess is so hot and real- this author does a really good job of creating a believable instant attraction. Their intial meet cute in the library, then subsequent meeting in the jail cell, leads to all kinds of sparks it’s hard for either to ignore. They fit into this really great dynamic of himbo and scholar that I enjoyed (though he’s not dumb by any means, he definitely gives off Rupert Carsington vibes).

With the source material being what it is, and the many winks early on to scenes from The Mumny, I expected this to have a bit more adventure. It kept seeming like it was about to ramp up to something, but continued to be pretty low stakes throughout. Dominic and Tess are on a dig, and slowly falling into deeper lust and love. And while their archeological find ends up being bigger than either expected…that’s about it. I did appreciate the realistic conflict between the two on what should happen with the findings. Dominic, like all true treasure hunters, is after the glory and slated to give these findings to some American museum for profit. Tess, on the other hand, would prefer to keep these findings local and start a museum in Norfolk to benefit the people. We’re clearly on Tess’s side here, but this felt like a genuine conflict for the situation. Overall, this was a great premise, but the execution didn’t pay off in the way I’d hoped. I still enjoy this author’s writing style and the way she delivers delicious instant attraction so well. I think if you’re looking for a quick read and enjoy archeological digs with realistic conflict, and high spice, this book is for you! I was just hoping for more of a high-stakes adventure romp

3.5/5
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

[Breanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Siren and the Scoundrel is romantic comedy with some adventure in the form of a treasure hunt.
The synopsis of this book had me sooo interested, like treasure hunter vs historian and they fall in love?? Sign me up😩 Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into it like I wanted to. I think plenty of people will enjoy this, I just couldn’t fully do so for some reason.

The hunt and conversation around it was interesting. It wasn’t as high stakes as I anticipated but I still enjoyed it. This was for sure more romance centric, I think if I picked it up knowing that I would have had a better time. The sibling relationship bits were sweet too, her and her twin are so close that the FMC literally chooses a night in jail just to be able to catch up with him after a couple weeks apart, now that’s a bestie lol Her brother is def an idiot but she loves him anyway, extremely relatable.

The beginning was too insta love for my tastes, talk of wondering about electric jolts bringing him back to life during the first two minutes of meeting level insta😅 The lines were honestly super romantic, it was just jarring how quick they came with zero reason. I also felt things were a bit over explained as well, like the author was second guessing if we would pick up enough feelings from the dialogue alone. The dialogue was honestly where the writing shined, they should be more confident in it! I can definitely rock with some insta love/lust sometimes so I’m wondering if I was just in the wrong mood to fully enjoy this book, plus I read an uncorrected e-proof, so I think I will try this book again at a later date.

If you are looking for a sweet, funny historical romance with an adventure, this is for you! It’s EXTRA for you if you want love at first sight, these two meet and it’s hello yearning 😂❤️ Early in the book Dom looks at his hand like, “The same hand that held Tess Hawthorne’s last night” this man is down baaad and Tess is hardly any better lol

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

[Emilie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.

I have been struggling to figure out or explain exactly why I didn't like this book. And I can't quite find the right words. I really enjoyed the first couple of chapters--the MMC was really intriguing (even if I didn't quite buy into his motivations for his introspection and "reevaluation" of how he was living his life--the best friend aspect felt flat and a bit of a stretch for some reason). I was looking forward to getting further into the book, but once our two MCs met up and agreed to work together, everything kind of went downhill for me.

First, all character development just seemed to stop ("Scoundrel" and "Siren"? Um, no. The MMC seemed like a pretty nice guy, and was super nice to the FMC...who was supposed to be a "siren"? Nope. Sorry. Countless and interminable references to how the WHOLE VILLAGE knows exactly what kind of things the FMC got up to in her past does not make her a siren). The plot and pacing were halting, and then abrupt, and then jerky: moments/scenes that really had no bearing on the story were detailed and yet still felt confusing and superfluous, and then days would pass off page, with no mention. Plot threads and points were mentioned and then dropped. Events/people were talked about like the reader was supposed to know all about them with completely no background or history--at one point I even did a search on my Kindle in the ARC for a name because I had no idea who this person was that was being discussed like we were supposed to be intimately familiar with past events and this character's personality, and sure enough, it was the FIRST time this name had been mentioned! (And I am hoping this is because I read an ARC, but the continuity of the timeline was full of mistakes. Something was supposed to happen "tomorrow night," and then it happened THAT night, or something was supposed to have happened two days ago, but then it was mentioned as "yesterday"...I just got confused and then annoyed.)

The whole book began to feel like someone had decided to cook a meal for a dinner party without ever having attempted any of the recipes before--and didn't even have any recipes to follow! None of the ingredients fit together, nothing was seasoned, and most of the dishes were served raw or burnt. This book had some good aspects, and could have been a great read. But it was not. At the least some serious editing needed to take place to tighten the story where it needed it, develop characters, and evolve the plot and story in an organic manner.

This is the first book I've read by this author, and sadly it will be my last. To be honest, I got halfway through and just could not finish it. My frustration level with the juttering plot, flat and two-dimensional FMC, and the fact that I just did not care made me put the book down and have no desire to pick it back up.

[celestialpixels_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌊 Treasure, Tension & a Heart That Can’t Be Buried ❤️‍🔥

Christy Carlyle’s "The Scoundrel and the Siren" is the kind of historical romance that sweeps you up like a gust of sea wind, equal parts adventure, longing, and quiet tenderness. Rather than centering on glittering ballrooms, Carlyle brings us to the rugged beauty of Norfolk, where maps, myths, and hearts are all waiting to be uncovered.

Dominic Prince is a man chasing more than fortune; he’s chasing the legacy of his father and the thrill of discovery. Tess Hawthorne, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with fame or fortune; she’s a woman bound to her principles. When circumstance (and curiosity) draw them into a shared quest for an ancient treasure, what begins as an uneasy alliance becomes something far more vulnerable and real.

What I loved most is how Carlyle handles romance as both an emotional and intellectual meeting of equals. Tess is clever, capable, and wonderfully grounded; Dominic is charming but flawed, his ambition softened by the depth of his growing affection. Their banter sparkles, but their quiet moments carry the story’s heart.

With the atmosphere of "The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter" by Hazel Gaynor, the wit of "The Duke and I" by Julia Quinn, and just a hint of the mystery from "The Devil and the Dark Water" by Stuart Turton, this novel finds the sweet spot between escapism and sincerity.

✨ A gentle, windswept romance about what it means to seek - whether it’s a treasure, a purpose, or someone who finally sees you clearly.

🙏 Thank you to Christy Carlyle, Avon / Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[bookedinthepnw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scoundrel and the Siren by Christy Carlyle sucked me in right from the beginning and now I’m definitely going to be reading more historical romances!

The story is about Dominic Prince, a handsome, butt-chinned MMC who is introduced as a lovable but unreliable thrill-seeker who detests the thought of staying still or settling down. He has a meet cute with Tess Hawthorne, our FMC, in a library, and then in a town jail where she’s locked up with her bar-brawling brother, and Dom can’t seem to fight his attraction towards her. They end up having to work together on a dig to unearth some Viking treasure (hello forced proximity/workplace romance) and the chemistry is UNREAL.

This book was full of blistering heat and crazy yearning and I was FEELING it in the best way 🥵! Can’t wait to read more about the Princes!

🪏 Historical romance
🪏 Workplace romance
🪏 Forbidden romance
🪏 Forced proximity
🪏 Reformed playboy
🪏 Secret lovers
🪏 Library meet cute
🪏 Village lockup meet cute
🪏 Daisy the milk cow

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the advance copy to review!

[Milly and Mac Dashwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christy Carlyle’s The Scoundrel and the Siren has a premise that will instantly appeal to many readers who love some adventure in their historical romance. With its archaeology and library settings, it offers a clear entry point for fangirls of Indiana Jones or The Mummy. The heroine, Tess, is a librarian with a very similar determined energy as Evelyn in The Mummy, and the story opens with a truly delightful meet-cute in a library that had me so hopeful about what was to come.

While the opening is strong, the plot didn’t quite accelerate or expand in the ways I expected. I really enjoyed the museum storyline and the thoughtful commentary about artifacts and colonization, and there are several expertly crafted moments of humor throughout. The romantic chemistry shines most during the characters’ dialogue, which is mostly lively and fun. For me, the steamy scenes would have benefited from slower pacing and a bit more buildup, and the hero’s characterization felt a tad inconsistent. Even so, readers who want some academia vibes with flashes of adventure will still find plenty to like here.

This one comes out on March 31st! Many thanks to Avon and to NetGalley for the opportunity!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dominic and Tess have a chance encounter in a library, despite their hostile first run-in, there is something below the surface that might not be as disagreeable as they originally thought. What are the odds they are working together on the same archeological excavation site? They both feel the spark, but can they let go of their pasts enough to trust each other and maybe even believe in love?
The pair has great banter, and I really enjoyed how their characters grew and learned about each other as the story progressed. Tess is such a strong, independent woman that don't need no man but definitely deserves all the love in the world, and Dom definitely has so much love for her; she just has to believe it. I think that side characters are really the backbone of whether the book works or not, and I really like the cast of characters that are along with Tess and Dom.
I can't wait to see what's next for the Prince's!

[Gylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Princes of London series. I enjoyed the first book so I decided I wanted to read this one and was not disappointed in it. I absolutely loved this book!! The book was a lot of fun, very entertaining and so delightful. The chemistry between Dominic and Tess could be felt from their very first meeting and I felt they were the perfect couple together. I enjoyed how Dominic understood that he needed to earn Tess’s trust since she was already burnt once before by a scoundrel. I also enjoyed reading how he started questioning his life and realized that he didn’t want to follow his father’s footsteps anymore but wanted to be his true self. Dominic and Tess were both enjoyable characters and I instantly liked both of them. The secondary characters were wonderful and really added to the story without be a distraction. If you are looking for an enjoyable fun read I recommend this book!!

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Avon for the preview. All opinions are my own.

If you're looking for a low-angst, low-stakes historical romance with an archeological dig setting, this might be for you. If you're looking for a recreation of the cinematic masterpiece, The Mummy, you might be disappointed.

This is a perfectly fine historical romance with a playboy MMC and a been-burned-before FMC. They're hot for each other immediately, and pretty down bad immediately. What I need people to understand is you can't just have a Rick O'Connell lookalike on the cover and have your FMC say "I am a librarian," and have that be your entire nod to The Mummy. You need banter and danger and a push-pull between the characters. This book instead is just perfectly bland and colorless.

It's a very quick read with some decent steamy scenes. And if you do like low-stakes in your HR, you can appreciate this book. I was just looking for a lot more.

[bad.mad.wisreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

As a history buff, I instantly knew I would enjoy that aspect of the story. While not completely accurate with the time period it is set in I still very much enjoyed the book.

Tess is our FMC- she’s a a bit stubborn, protective of her brother and her heart, and full of love for history. Dominic our MMC- is a treasure hunter with no cares in the world, or so he wants people to think. Together they have to team up to uncover a dig site despite not starting off on good terms.

I did find the romance to be quite rushed, I feel like it was no time before major moments in relationships were had. It was a bit off putting, but once I got over the fast paced I enjoyed the romance aspect.

Overall it was a fun book to read - giving it a solid 4 stars.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

In honoring my 2026 goals, I had to DNF this book. I got about 35% of the way in and just really wasnt enjoying it.

I enjoyed the premise and was dissappointed there was less of a focus on the working relationship while they did the dig. Instead, I felt like they were both stereotypes and everything moved too fast.

I felt like Tess was too stereotypical, she was a wallflower who was self conscious, nerdy, and ‘not like other girls’ which is fine but not my vibe. Dominic probably got unfair judgement from me because I hate that name, but even beyond he felt very shallow. His whole thing was being a rake and a scoundrel, but there wasn’t any secret depth underneath the charm. I felt like they had insta-lust and not natural chemistry.

This wasn’t my vibe, but if you are into more stereotypical tropey historical romance you may like it!

Thank you to Avon for the early review copy!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an entertaining book.

MMC - Dominic- is trying to emerge from his famous father’s shadow to be his own man. He yearns to make big changes to his life as he begins to tire of the constant need to be “on”.

FMC - Tess is trying to trust and open her heart again after being lied to by a man who used and humiliated her. So, she certainly doesn’t trust someone as handsome and charming as Dominic - she’s been there done that.

They are both vying to uncover a possible Viking treasure in the Norfolk countryside and realize working together will get them to the treasure quicker…and change their lives for the better in the process.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute historical romance!

I enjoyed reading Tess and Dom’s love story! The story imagines a fictional version of the discovery of the real site Sutton Hoo. Having visited the site myself in real life, I thought it was a very fun piece of history to explore that is lesser known to US audiences. If you are attached to historical accuracy though, the fact that the book takes place decades before the actual discovery may be a deal breaker. It wasn’t for me, and overall this hit a lot of the notes that I’ve come to expect from an Avon historical romance. There was a little too much of an “insta-love” in the romance development for me to put it in the top tier of historical romance, but overall an enjoyable read.

[Migdalia Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! It has everything I look for:

Feminist characters and storylines
Victorian setting
He Falls First trope
Bookish theme

Bonus points for the adventurous/archaeological storyline and the gorgeous cover art.

I fell in love with the main characters right away, and only fell harder as the novel continued. I appreciate that the 3rd act breakup didn't occur: the author was able to create enough conflict on and off-page to carry the story forward without an arbitrary breakup.

This is the first time reading a Christy Carlyle book and I'm excited to dip into her back catalog.

Thank you to Netgalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and a half stars.
While this was a relatively fun read, large parts of it didn't quite work for me. I truly enjoyed the archaeological scenes and the fictionalized dig that resembled the Sutton Hoo. However, as this is mainly a romance, I'm afraid I can't rate it higher because I just didn't enjoy the romance very much. It was a case of insta-lust, and I had trouble seeing where that lust turned into something more. The stakes also felt very low in their relationship, so it was hard to understand what was keeping them apart once they'd started their arrangement.
If the focus of this book had been more on the history and the dig, I believe I would have enjoyed it much more.

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it super refreshing to read about a non-aristocratic couple, which obviously isn't super common in HR! The characters were charming, and it definitely had cozy vibes. My only qualm was that perhaps it was too cozy- there was no third-act breakup, and the villain didn't even really do anythign villainous- so when the end of the book came around, I was surprised that the book was ending already. Despite the lack of challenges the couple faced, I did really enjoy this one. It was sweet, authentic, and different than most HR without losing the charm of the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nice enough. I haven’t been super impressed with this series so far, but this was better than book 1. The conflict between the MCs didn’t feel fully fleshed out, and for someone who was as jaded as Dom I felt his arc was rather rushed and easily won. I almost feel like it would have been better if their roles were reversed. Even the excavation felt somewhat lackluster and the issue with the Americans resolved too easily. I rarely say this but I almost think this book would have benefited from a third act breakup just to add some excitement to it. I hope Eve’s story finally manages to grab my attention in this series.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Christy Carlyle, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I do love a good Historical Romance. This was such a short and sweet romance. It’s the perfect palate cleanser in between those long fantasy books. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked their romance and the archaeology vibes. It was nice that I didn’t necessarily have to read book 1 first before picking up this book. Christy Carlyle does a great job at reintroducing characters mentioned. I’m interested in continuing this series. I’m hoping it’s going to Tess’s brother. I would recommend it!

[Pandora Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ A heartfelt, feel good historical romance! Tess is a headstrong FMC, and the MMC is quickly smitten and ready to reform his rakish ways.

Things I loved 💕:
Archaeological Dig / Historian theme
Mature FMC w/ life experience
Small Close Community Vibe
Enjoyable Spice Scenes
Close Knit Siblings
Super sweet MMC quotes

Things that didn’t work well for me 👎but might be okay for you:
The chemistry was great, but there was an element of insta love that could have built over time instead.
I don’t love when a strong FMC who knows her own mind suddenly can’t do anything without the MMC.

🌶️- Open Door

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

[Savannah Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was super cute and a very fast read! i did really love the treasure hunter aspect of this story and found it to be really interesting. this has a lot of adventure and comedy which i found to be very enjoyable. however, the pacing of this really took me out of this book. i really wanted to love this more than i did and i would still recommend this because i did have a fun time reading it, but it was a roller coaster pacing wise. i also didn’t love the MMC. i found him to be very annoying and i personally don’t love the play boy trope ever. the side characters in this story were one of my absolute favorite aspects of this one! super cute.