4.25 steamy & suspenseful second chance stars
I love everything that Grace Callaway writes because it always hits on my "must have" list for a good story: 1. Actual Plot 2. Some kind of mystery/intrigue to keep things interesting 3. Likeable characters with depth 4. STEAM... And this book delivered on all of those! I also love that her series link with each other (common characters, off-shoot of a book into a separate series, children of couples from earlier stories).
Pippa is the daughter of previous main characters from the Mayhem in Mayfair series (book 2 - Her Wanton Wager) that was widowed a year ago and is still technically in mourning, though she had fallen out of love with her husband well before his passing. When they first met, she was a starry-eyed young woman who romanticized a relationship with a fellow artist, but after they wed, she realized he was not the man she believed him to be. One of the areas of their marriage that she felt disappointment in was their marital relations: Pippa is a passionate woman, but her husband insisted she suppress her desires as it was not "ladylike;" thus, Pippa's sex life was very dissatisfying. She longs to feel like she did once as a teenager when she kissed a boy under the care of her parents: Timothy Cullen. In that one moment, she felt more passion in a single kiss than she felt during her entire marriage. But "Cull" (as he is known now) assumed the role of Prince of Larks, caring for children without homes just as he was in his youth. As a societal lady, it is expected that Pippa either continue in the role of the demure Countess of Longmere or she remarry an upstanding member of the ton. There is no chance she could ever explore the attraction for the man that makes his living trading in the secrets of her peerage.
A street urchin in his youth, Cull felt compelled to assume the role of the Prince of Larks when his predecessor passed away to ensure that the larks had a safe place to call home. The timing, however, was unfortunate as Cull had just shared the most passionate kiss of his life with Pippa Hunt, the daughter of the man that took him in when he was injured and helped him recover. Though Pippa has not seen Cull in many years, he has always kept tabs on her whereabouts (it is his job, after all) and has protected her from afar when necessary. One of the main reasons he has remained hidden is the very visible scars that he received when protecting his charges, and though some mystery is good for business, it is not the only reason he always wears a mask.
But since Pippa decided to join Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels, a charity organization that secretly accepts "missions" from women in need of investigative help, Cull has been more concerned than ever that Pippa will be harmed and has stayed even more involved in her protection than usual. When she chases down the children that unexpectedly rescue her from discovery by a mark, she spies them returning to their leader.... Cull. When she confronts him, the passion between them reignites, but their social standing remains the same. Will they be able to find common ground? Will Cull allow Pippa to see his internal and external scars? And can they unravel the mysterious death of Pippa's client before it's too late for either of them?
What I liked:
--- As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, this book hit all of my "must haves"
--- The mystery was definitely engaging and kept me interested in finding out what would happen next
--- I love that the characters connect back with previous stories so I can revisit some of my fave couples!
--- Steamy goodness!
What I didn't like as much:
--- Sometimes the love scenes were a little over the top for my taste
--- The ending seemed to wrap very quickly; I kind of wanted a little more "connect the dots"
Overall, this was another fun and interesting story with likeable characters, intrigue, and steam!
(Please note that I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.)
Plot --- 4.25/5
Main Characters --- 4.25/5
Supporting Cast --- 4/5
Steam Level* --- 3.5/5
Violence --- nothing overly graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all