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London Highwaymen #2
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes
Cat Sebastian returns to Georgian London with a stunning tale of a reluctant criminal and the thief who cannot help but love her.
Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, just shot her husband. Of course, the evil, murderous man deserved what was coming to him, but now she must flee to the countryside. Unfortunately, the only person she can ask for help is the charismatic criminal who is blackmailing her--and who she may have left tied up a few hours before...
A highwayman, con artist, and all-around cheerful villain, Rob Brooks is no stranger to the wrong side of the law or the right side of anybody's bed. He never meant to fall for the woman whose secrets he promised to keep for the low price of five hundred pounds, but how could he resist someone who led him on a merry chase all over London, left him tied up in a seedy inn, and then arrived covered in her husband's blood and in desperate need of his help?
As they flee across the country--stopping to pick pockets, drink to excess, and rescue invalid cats--they discover more true joy and peace than either has felt in ages. But when the truth of Rob's past catches up to him, they must decide if they are willing to reshape their lives in order to forge a future together.
Marian Hayes, the Duchess of Clare, just shot her husband. Of course, the evil, murderous man deserved what was coming to him, but now she must flee to the countryside. Unfortunately, the only person she can ask for help is the charismatic criminal who is blackmailing her--and who she may have left tied up a few hours before...
A highwayman, con artist, and all-around cheerful villain, Rob Brooks is no stranger to the wrong side of the law or the right side of anybody's bed. He never meant to fall for the woman whose secrets he promised to keep for the low price of five hundred pounds, but how could he resist someone who led him on a merry chase all over London, left him tied up in a seedy inn, and then arrived covered in her husband's blood and in desperate need of his help?
As they flee across the country--stopping to pick pockets, drink to excess, and rescue invalid cats--they discover more true joy and peace than either has felt in ages. But when the truth of Rob's past catches up to him, they must decide if they are willing to reshape their lives in order to forge a future together.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 7, 2022
306 people are currently reading
20454 people want to read
About the author
Cat Sebastian
27 books5,112 followersCat Sebastian has written sixteen queer historical romances. Cat’s books have received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist.
Before writing, Cat was a lawyer and a teacher and did a variety of other jobs she liked much less than she enjoys writing happy endings for queer people. She was born in New Jersey and lived in New York and Arizona before settling down in a swampy part of south. When she isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, having one-sided conversations with her dog, or doing the crossword puzzle.
The best way to keep up with Cat’s projects is to subscribe to her newsletter.
Before writing, Cat was a lawyer and a teacher and did a variety of other jobs she liked much less than she enjoys writing happy endings for queer people. She was born in New Jersey and lived in New York and Arizona before settling down in a swampy part of south. When she isn’t writing, she’s probably reading, having one-sided conversations with her dog, or doing the crossword puzzle.
The best way to keep up with Cat’s projects is to subscribe to her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,553 reviews
June 1, 2022
if you like bridgerton, but struggle to suppress that persistent little voice in your head, the one that sounds like the sweet snick of the guillotine--
cat sebastian is for you.
i've loved all her books, but this one? with the two bi disasters ineptly committing crimes against the aristocracy? with the vicious cutthroat aristocratic woman and the soft highwayman with very poor self-preservation instincts???? and the epistolary blackmail letters that accidentally become love letters? absolutely everything i want in a historical romance.
cat sebastian is for you.
i've loved all her books, but this one? with the two bi disasters ineptly committing crimes against the aristocracy? with the vicious cutthroat aristocratic woman and the soft highwayman with very poor self-preservation instincts???? and the epistolary blackmail letters that accidentally become love letters? absolutely everything i want in a historical romance.
November 10, 2024
when he blackmails her and she kidnaps him and they escape from murder charge together and they became allies to friends to lovers to partners in crime to lovers for life😌
so, simply it was adorable
~~~~
weekend read with my pookiest pookie lila🎀 i know it’s gonna deliver bc whatever we read together it usually does 🙂↕️🤭
so, simply it was adorable
~~~~
weekend read with my pookiest pookie lila🎀 i know it’s gonna deliver bc whatever we read together it usually does 🙂↕️🤭
July 25, 2022
"There is something inexpressibly masculine about expecting to be believed."
I read the first book in this series, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, last year and was left with a lot of questions by the way it ended. Where did Marian go? Where did Rob go? Why do Kit and Percy (the main characters from the first book) have Marian's baby??
Fortunately, this book answers many of those questions. The story begins in medias res and runs parallel to Kit Webb in a way that does not feel heavy-handed or repetitive of the events of the first book. I loved the use of the blackmail letters between Marian and Rob as a storytelling device to show the development of their relationship. It felt real that Marian would go to Rob and that Rob would see Marian as his equal (or better).
The book has several of my favorite tropes (only one bed! road trip! horses! larceny!) and really picks up steam as we travel around London with these two chaotic disaster bisexuals. My one major criticism is the plot from the first book is not propelled forward by this sequel as we are left in basically the same place we were at the end of Kit Webb albeit with slightly more of the gaps filled in. I also wish there was more crimes especially with the full group. Perhaps if there is a third book we will finally see the rise of this Robin Hood-steal-from-the-rich crime family.
That being said, the exploration of consent was interesting and well done for a historical with a female main character. It was a nicely executed subversion of the typical sexual dynamic in this genre and included asking for consent from both of them without feeling hamfisted. The lady asking for consent! In a historical! More specifically, the sexual exploration was centered around (mild spoilers for the book) The result is compelling sex scenes which developed their relationship even further.
Overall, I highly recommend this book even if you don't like historical or MF romance.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
I read the first book in this series, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, last year and was left with a lot of questions by the way it ended. Where did Marian go? Where did Rob go? Why do Kit and Percy (the main characters from the first book) have Marian's baby??
Fortunately, this book answers many of those questions. The story begins in medias res and runs parallel to Kit Webb in a way that does not feel heavy-handed or repetitive of the events of the first book. I loved the use of the blackmail letters between Marian and Rob as a storytelling device to show the development of their relationship. It felt real that Marian would go to Rob and that Rob would see Marian as his equal (or better).
The book has several of my favorite tropes (only one bed! road trip! horses! larceny!) and really picks up steam as we travel around London with these two chaotic disaster bisexuals. My one major criticism is the plot from the first book is not propelled forward by this sequel as we are left in basically the same place we were at the end of Kit Webb albeit with slightly more of the gaps filled in. I also wish there was more crimes especially with the full group. Perhaps if there is a third book we will finally see the rise of this Robin Hood-steal-from-the-rich crime family.
That being said, the exploration of consent was interesting and well done for a historical with a female main character. It was a nicely executed subversion of the typical sexual dynamic in this genre and included asking for consent from both of them without feeling hamfisted. The lady asking for consent! In a historical! More specifically, the sexual exploration was centered around (mild spoilers for the book) The result is compelling sex scenes which developed their relationship even further.
Overall, I highly recommend this book even if you don't like historical or MF romance.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://horsetalkreviews.blogspot.com/
June 8, 2022
4 stars
Thank you Avon & Harper Voyager for this ARC!
Taking place in London 1751, newly mothered and Duchess of Clare—Marian—is blackmailed via letter correspondence with—Rob—a con artist. As she, unfortunately, comes to know that the man she believed to be her husband contracted a marriage to a woman who still lives. Within these continued letters back and forth between the duchess and Rob, she finds comfort and ultimately what seems to be a likeness starting to form. Events unfold, the duchess shoots the duke to which she finds solace with her blackmailer and the journey to happiness and love begins with much more to be revealed.
I severely enjoyed this book. All in all, this is a queer romance with heteronormative relationships throughout including the found family trope and the all-so-loving grumpyXsunshine trope. Rob and Marian had the best banter (that never left) and some of the sweetest, most tender moments between their mutual attraction/infatuation with one another, as well as talks of the past and the future. Their relationship just blossomed and of course, he fell first. Rob being an all-out in the open kind of guy regarding those he loves and cherishes, he couldn't hold back or hide his true feelings for Marian. And she reciprocated that by showing them in her own ways.
To say the least, this was the perfect crimes of Marian Hayes with everything packaged up beautifully in the end.
Thank you Avon & Harper Voyager for this ARC!
Taking place in London 1751, newly mothered and Duchess of Clare—Marian—is blackmailed via letter correspondence with—Rob—a con artist. As she, unfortunately, comes to know that the man she believed to be her husband contracted a marriage to a woman who still lives. Within these continued letters back and forth between the duchess and Rob, she finds comfort and ultimately what seems to be a likeness starting to form. Events unfold, the duchess shoots the duke to which she finds solace with her blackmailer and the journey to happiness and love begins with much more to be revealed.
I severely enjoyed this book. All in all, this is a queer romance with heteronormative relationships throughout including the found family trope and the all-so-loving grumpyXsunshine trope. Rob and Marian had the best banter (that never left) and some of the sweetest, most tender moments between their mutual attraction/infatuation with one another, as well as talks of the past and the future. Their relationship just blossomed and of course, he fell first. Rob being an all-out in the open kind of guy regarding those he loves and cherishes, he couldn't hold back or hide his true feelings for Marian. And she reciprocated that by showing them in her own ways.
To say the least, this was the perfect crimes of Marian Hayes with everything packaged up beautifully in the end.
November 21, 2023
Finished this with 36 minutes to spare before it gets returned on Libby. You could say I’m feeling like a god.
June 15, 2022
2.75 stars.
There are several problems with this book, but if I were to group them all under one heading, it would be “lack of emotional texture.” We are told a great deal that Rob is charming and Marian is prickly, but Rob’s charm is mostly just … talking to people like a normal person? I know charm can be hard to convey in text form when so much of it comes down to intangible body language and tone, but I really saw no reason for anyone to like this guy so much. And as for Marian, she has all the sharp edges of a butter knife. Again, this can be a difficult trait to write, especially in women (because people are assholes) but Marian’s prickliness never extends to anything that runs the risk of her seeming unsympathetic. It’s all so shallow.
One of the few aspects of Marian that is interesting is her complicated relationship with her baby daughter, Eliza. Marian loves Eliza, but doesn’t feel a great deal of warmth towards her, and mostly associates her with her conception (the book doesn’t put too fine a point on it, but she was the product of marital rape) and Marian’s near-death experience of pregnancy and childbirth. This IS genuinely intriguing, and something you don’t see a lot in female characters, but it’s wasted because Eliza barely appears in the book, and when Marian finally does see her again towards the end, she doesn’t actually come to any kind of catharsis or sense of closure. She’s just like “eh, I guess I love my kid.” There’s no journey that takes her there, she just randomly decides this. But even after this point, she seems deeply ambivalent towards Eliza. Fortunately, she ends up surrounded by people who do love the baby, which is probably a good thing because that kid will definitely grow up to realize her mother resents her and need years of ye olde therapy.
The happily ever after of it all is also very unsatisfactory, because nothing about it really ties back to what’s come before or makes sense as a culmination of the characters’ emotional arcs. Rob starts the book as a thief with a heart of gold, and ends it as a thief with a heart of gold who also has a girlfriend and stepdaughter. Marian starts the book - well to be honest I couldn’t tell you a whole lot about her emotional state, since so much of it is determined by characters who are absent from the narrative (her dead husband and her unpleasant brother) and we never see her interact with these people, all we have is her bouncing off Rob’s vague “charm.” I think what Sebastian was going for is Marian’s heart being slowly melted by Rob’s love and support, except she already had a support system before the book even started - her stepson, Percy - so what about Rob makes the slightest bit of difference to her? Why is this her emotional tipping point? The happiness of the ending only works if we believe that Marian’s new place in life (living with Rob, Eliza, her stepson, and her stepson’s boyfriend and doing heists together) but nothing about Marian as we have come to know her suggests that this would be what fulfils her. She’s never shown the slightest bit of interest in people outside her immediate circle - and I don’t say that as a criticism, it’s an entirely reasonable outlook for her to have - so what about robbing the rich to feed the poor makes her feel like she’s found her place in life?
In her book, “Romancing the Beat,” Gwen Hayes writes about how every romance novel needs to start with characters who are lacking something - a “hole in their heart” - and end with them having filled this hole via the emotional journey their relationship has taken them on. The problem with The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes is that the characters do a lot but there is no clear correlation between what they’re doing and what they’re feeling, or why we, the readers, should care. And it makes for a really bloodless book.
There are several problems with this book, but if I were to group them all under one heading, it would be “lack of emotional texture.” We are told a great deal that Rob is charming and Marian is prickly, but Rob’s charm is mostly just … talking to people like a normal person? I know charm can be hard to convey in text form when so much of it comes down to intangible body language and tone, but I really saw no reason for anyone to like this guy so much. And as for Marian, she has all the sharp edges of a butter knife. Again, this can be a difficult trait to write, especially in women (because people are assholes) but Marian’s prickliness never extends to anything that runs the risk of her seeming unsympathetic. It’s all so shallow.
One of the few aspects of Marian that is interesting is her complicated relationship with her baby daughter, Eliza. Marian loves Eliza, but doesn’t feel a great deal of warmth towards her, and mostly associates her with her conception (the book doesn’t put too fine a point on it, but she was the product of marital rape) and Marian’s near-death experience of pregnancy and childbirth. This IS genuinely intriguing, and something you don’t see a lot in female characters, but it’s wasted because Eliza barely appears in the book, and when Marian finally does see her again towards the end, she doesn’t actually come to any kind of catharsis or sense of closure. She’s just like “eh, I guess I love my kid.” There’s no journey that takes her there, she just randomly decides this. But even after this point, she seems deeply ambivalent towards Eliza. Fortunately, she ends up surrounded by people who do love the baby, which is probably a good thing because that kid will definitely grow up to realize her mother resents her and need years of ye olde therapy.
The happily ever after of it all is also very unsatisfactory, because nothing about it really ties back to what’s come before or makes sense as a culmination of the characters’ emotional arcs. Rob starts the book as a thief with a heart of gold, and ends it as a thief with a heart of gold who also has a girlfriend and stepdaughter. Marian starts the book - well to be honest I couldn’t tell you a whole lot about her emotional state, since so much of it is determined by characters who are absent from the narrative (her dead husband and her unpleasant brother) and we never see her interact with these people, all we have is her bouncing off Rob’s vague “charm.” I think what Sebastian was going for is Marian’s heart being slowly melted by Rob’s love and support, except she already had a support system before the book even started - her stepson, Percy - so what about Rob makes the slightest bit of difference to her? Why is this her emotional tipping point? The happiness of the ending only works if we believe that Marian’s new place in life (living with Rob, Eliza, her stepson, and her stepson’s boyfriend and doing heists together) but nothing about Marian as we have come to know her suggests that this would be what fulfils her. She’s never shown the slightest bit of interest in people outside her immediate circle - and I don’t say that as a criticism, it’s an entirely reasonable outlook for her to have - so what about robbing the rich to feed the poor makes her feel like she’s found her place in life?
In her book, “Romancing the Beat,” Gwen Hayes writes about how every romance novel needs to start with characters who are lacking something - a “hole in their heart” - and end with them having filled this hole via the emotional journey their relationship has taken them on. The problem with The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes is that the characters do a lot but there is no clear correlation between what they’re doing and what they’re feeling, or why we, the readers, should care. And it makes for a really bloodless book.
August 23, 2022
This is a perfect novel.
I originally said that I would have a review up later that same day I finished the book, after I stopped swooning, but the swooning never really stopped, and then I got anxious about trying to make this review live up to how much I loved the book, and then I just gave up and said I'd get to it later. Fast forward two months, let's just get something out there so we can all move on with our lives. The short version of this review is that this book is great, it's my favorite of Cat Sebastian's books so far, and I've almost all of them (I'm just missing two of her most recent ones).
This is a book about two people who fall in over blackmail correspondence letters. It is aggressively anti-capitalist and anti-monarchy. It is about a woman who bucks against the traditional roles held for women, and who is trying to find her own way to love the people around her without giving up her own identity. It's about a secret duke who doesn't believe dukes should exist. There is a lot of queerness. There are capers. There is a cat. It's about loving people for who they are not who you want them to be. I loved it so much.
Here are some quotes:
I originally said that I would have a review up later that same day I finished the book, after I stopped swooning, but the swooning never really stopped, and then I got anxious about trying to make this review live up to how much I loved the book, and then I just gave up and said I'd get to it later. Fast forward two months, let's just get something out there so we can all move on with our lives. The short version of this review is that this book is great, it's my favorite of Cat Sebastian's books so far, and I've almost all of them (I'm just missing two of her most recent ones).
This is a book about two people who fall in over blackmail correspondence letters. It is aggressively anti-capitalist and anti-monarchy. It is about a woman who bucks against the traditional roles held for women, and who is trying to find her own way to love the people around her without giving up her own identity. It's about a secret duke who doesn't believe dukes should exist. There is a lot of queerness. There are capers. There is a cat. It's about loving people for who they are not who you want them to be. I loved it so much.
Here are some quotes:
”He isn’t the sort of man who ought to be a duke.” That wasn’t even a lie: Rob was indeed not the sort of man who ought to be a duke, primarily because he didn’t think dukes ought to exist.’
– – –
‘”You have been busy,” he murmured, thinking of what a waste it was that in all the thousands of love poems written across the ages, nobody had ever thought to catalogue their beloved’s proficiency in crime.’
– – –
“There were too many parts of her, and none of them good—daughter to a man who didn’t know her, mother to a child she barely knew, wife to the man she had killed, sister to a man she counted as an enemy. She knew there was more to her than that, that she was more than the sum of those roles, but she couldn’t put a name to any of those other parts so it was hard to believe that they counted for much.”
– – –
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Marian. If you acted sweet, I’d think you were a changeling. I’d call for the doctor. I love every prickly, sour, difficult inch of you.”
February 10, 2024
So much fun, so much banter, so much joie de vivre, all whilst embodying "be gay, do crimes." Love it, will definitely go back to the first one to get that story
June 18, 2022
Delightful doesn't even begin to describe this incredibly fun but also thoughtful bi-for-bi historical romance. A soft thief with a heart of gold and a penchant for crime a la Robin Hood and for brusque woman who order him around? A prickly determined woman who's new to crime but fiercely committed to protecting those she loves? A couple who meet while one is blackmailing the other and then the blackmailee kidnaps the blackmailer and all is even and forgotten? A couple who falls in live via letters which start out as notes between enemies?? Queer found family of criminals?? What is not to love.
If you are looking for some refreshingly different M/F sex scenes this is the book for you, especially if you like top-ish women and bottom-ish men and also no vaginal penetration!
I liked this character group so much I might read the previous (m/m) book in the series, which I usually have no interest in. Are we going to get a book for Betty, the criminal of my heart??
If you are looking for some refreshingly different M/F sex scenes this is the book for you, especially if you like top-ish women and bottom-ish men and also no vaginal penetration!
I liked this character group so much I might read the previous (m/m) book in the series, which I usually have no interest in. Are we going to get a book for Betty, the criminal of my heart??
June 3, 2022
Thanks to Avon and HarperCollins Publishers for an ARC for an honest review. 📚 🥰 💕
HAPPY PUBLICATION DATE IN A FEW DAYS!!!
You know from the first pages of the Prologue that The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian is going to be rolling with laughter as you meet Rob Brooks who’s misfortunes include being “charged with robbery (true), burglary (false), smuggling (true, but he hadn’t known what was in those barrels), counterfeiting (false), and horse theft (he had done that horse a favor).” This brief intro to Rob is followed by a brilliantly charming letter exchange between blackmailer Rob (a new illegal role to add to his list) and the-not-so-daft Mariam who believes she’s the Duchess of Clare but learns through Rob she’s been betrayed by her beloved. (And haven’t we all, at some point?!!). Marian thinks she might write her autobiography (at 23!!! Lol all day!!) titled “Marriage: Far More Trouble Than You Might Think.” All of this (and much, much) more happens before you’re barely 30 pages in, so hold on for the ride if your life because Cat Sebastian isn’t letting you off this kicking-with-action bronco bull. Truly loved this book, through and through. Now I’ve got to get the author’s other books, and thankfully there’s quite a few to devour. ❤️
HAPPY PUBLICATION DATE IN A FEW DAYS!!!
You know from the first pages of the Prologue that The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian is going to be rolling with laughter as you meet Rob Brooks who’s misfortunes include being “charged with robbery (true), burglary (false), smuggling (true, but he hadn’t known what was in those barrels), counterfeiting (false), and horse theft (he had done that horse a favor).” This brief intro to Rob is followed by a brilliantly charming letter exchange between blackmailer Rob (a new illegal role to add to his list) and the-not-so-daft Mariam who believes she’s the Duchess of Clare but learns through Rob she’s been betrayed by her beloved. (And haven’t we all, at some point?!!). Marian thinks she might write her autobiography (at 23!!! Lol all day!!) titled “Marriage: Far More Trouble Than You Might Think.” All of this (and much, much) more happens before you’re barely 30 pages in, so hold on for the ride if your life because Cat Sebastian isn’t letting you off this kicking-with-action bronco bull. Truly loved this book, through and through. Now I’ve got to get the author’s other books, and thankfully there’s quite a few to devour. ❤️
June 10, 2022
There is a lot to love about this book. Rob and Marian are an amazing sunshine/grump couple. Their unconventional relationship forms the major appeal of the book. Rob is an amazing combination of strong yet submissive. He finds both purpose and pleasure in providing Marian with everything she might want. (He's the sunshine if you hadn't guessed that yet.) Marian, on the other hand, is prickly, often mean, and demanding. She's also got a heart of gold, of course, that she shows by her fair and compassionate behavior rather than her words.
It's a good thing that the relationship is such a highlight, because there's really no plot. If you've read The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, then you know the end of that book puts Marian in an untenable situation. This book goes a long way to explain her motivations and actions, but it doesn't give her a lot to do. (Seriously, the first half of the book is Marian and Rob on a road trip... that spans 3 days or so.)
We recommend this one for when you're in the mood for a low-angst, unconventional romance that upends some of the tried-and-true romance tropes. (If you think that Marian is going to end up as a duchess, think again!).
36-Word Summaries:
Meg: Marian is the grumpiest grump to ever grump and Rob is her cheery sunshine. These characters are the perfect match and watching them interact almost made me overlook the fact that the plot is basically nonexistent.
Laine: Kinda weird that the origin story of the merry men is book two in this series but whatever. Blackmail turned epistolary romance is going to result in a life of crime and hookups and found family.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
It's a good thing that the relationship is such a highlight, because there's really no plot. If you've read The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, then you know the end of that book puts Marian in an untenable situation. This book goes a long way to explain her motivations and actions, but it doesn't give her a lot to do. (Seriously, the first half of the book is Marian and Rob on a road trip... that spans 3 days or so.)
We recommend this one for when you're in the mood for a low-angst, unconventional romance that upends some of the tried-and-true romance tropes. (If you think that Marian is going to end up as a duchess, think again!).
36-Word Summaries:
Meg: Marian is the grumpiest grump to ever grump and Rob is her cheery sunshine. These characters are the perfect match and watching them interact almost made me overlook the fact that the plot is basically nonexistent.
Laine: Kinda weird that the origin story of the merry men is book two in this series but whatever. Blackmail turned epistolary romance is going to result in a life of crime and hookups and found family.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
November 13, 2022
Oh Cat Sebastian. I will read and eat up every single one of your queer little class conscious historical romances!
January 6, 2022
I thought The Queer Principles of Kit Webb made me swoon, but I was unprepared for the vertigo inducing swoon of The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes.
First I’m going to share two quotes and these ought to be all the advertisement you need to sell you on this book. Next, I’m going to warn you that you cannot read this gem of a book without reading reading it’s predecessor, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, and then I’m going to add some spoilers for Kit Webb. And then I’m going to tell you some of the reasons I loved this book and beg you to read it when it comes out so that I can squee about my favorite thing which is too spoilery to share.
One:
“You have been busy,” he murmured, thinking of what a waste it was that in all the thousands of love poems written across the ages, nobody had ever thought to catalogue their beloved’s proficiency in crime.
***
“Meaning you give it away.”
“Not to put too fine a point on it, but yes.”
“To the worthy poor,” she guessed.
“I don’t much care if they’re worthy,” Rob said. “None of my business.”
Two:
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes overlaps in time with Kit Webb, answering the lingering questions about where Rob and Marian were and why they were together. We get to read the correspondence between Rob Brooks and Marian Hayes, in which Rob is blackmailing Marian and he is falling in love. (Marian is falling in love too, but Rob admits it). We dive quickly into the aftermath of the highway robbery gone wrong, but if you haven’t read the first book, a lot will be unclear.
Three:
Rob is all sunshine. He loves scrappy old cats, kittens and babies. Everyone is his friend. Marian is prickly and competent, a volcano under ice. She shows her love by arranging things for people. Rob adores her, and I would blackmail for her too. While Percy had some grief around giving up being the Duke of Clare, Marian can’t wait to shake off the shackles of aristocracy, so long as the people she cares for are safe.
As she did in Kit Webb, Cat Sebastian utterly rejects the premise of the good aristocrat. There is no trading in a bad duke for a good one.
Please read this book and then let’s have a book club meeting where we discuss it in great detail and sigh over every page. You know where to find me.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley, for the advance reader copy. My opinions are my own.
First I’m going to share two quotes and these ought to be all the advertisement you need to sell you on this book. Next, I’m going to warn you that you cannot read this gem of a book without reading reading it’s predecessor, The Queer Principles of Kit Webb, and then I’m going to add some spoilers for Kit Webb. And then I’m going to tell you some of the reasons I loved this book and beg you to read it when it comes out so that I can squee about my favorite thing which is too spoilery to share.
One:
“You have been busy,” he murmured, thinking of what a waste it was that in all the thousands of love poems written across the ages, nobody had ever thought to catalogue their beloved’s proficiency in crime.
***
“Meaning you give it away.”
“Not to put too fine a point on it, but yes.”
“To the worthy poor,” she guessed.
“I don’t much care if they’re worthy,” Rob said. “None of my business.”
Two:
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes overlaps in time with Kit Webb, answering the lingering questions about where Rob and Marian were and why they were together. We get to read the correspondence between Rob Brooks and Marian Hayes, in which Rob is blackmailing Marian and he is falling in love. (Marian is falling in love too, but Rob admits it). We dive quickly into the aftermath of the highway robbery gone wrong, but if you haven’t read the first book, a lot will be unclear.
Three:
Rob is all sunshine. He loves scrappy old cats, kittens and babies. Everyone is his friend. Marian is prickly and competent, a volcano under ice. She shows her love by arranging things for people. Rob adores her, and I would blackmail for her too. While Percy had some grief around giving up being the Duke of Clare, Marian can’t wait to shake off the shackles of aristocracy, so long as the people she cares for are safe.
As she did in Kit Webb, Cat Sebastian utterly rejects the premise of the good aristocrat. There is no trading in a bad duke for a good one.
Please read this book and then let’s have a book club meeting where we discuss it in great detail and sigh over every page. You know where to find me.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley, for the advance reader copy. My opinions are my own.
July 17, 2022
It took me way too long to realize this was connected to THE QUEER PRINCIPLES OF KIT WEBB. Even though it says it right there. So, hi, incase you are equally oblivious, I would highly recommend you read that first. And just being aware helps, too, because I have read that and it still took me a minute.
I loved so much of this -- we have two queer main characters, with some rare-to-see rep when it comes to sexual preferences, not to mention their personalities being a little atypical. But we also have an interesting spin on how Marian felt as a mother and what being a parent can mean or how it can be represented.
Also it took me a little too long to realize this was a Robin Hood homage but I was tickled when the other shoe dropped (right around the time the first one dropping RE connection to the other book).
And yet.. I don't know, pacing-wise, or maybe not feeling totally satisfied in the plot as a whole (I think I had similar issues with the aforementioned companion, now that I think about it), something keeps this from being a total win. There's a heck of a lot of great, though; it has a sense of fun while also being serious and I found Sebastian hit all the right notes.
But, once again, I just think things were a little scattered at times.. or maybe I'm the scattered one. Or, third option, my inability to remember enough about book one only tricked me into thinking this was scattered. Could be all of the above.
I loved so much of this -- we have two queer main characters, with some rare-to-see rep when it comes to sexual preferences, not to mention their personalities being a little atypical. But we also have an interesting spin on how Marian felt as a mother and what being a parent can mean or how it can be represented.
Also it took me a little too long to realize this was a Robin Hood homage but I was tickled when the other shoe dropped (right around the time the first one dropping RE connection to the other book).
And yet.. I don't know, pacing-wise, or maybe not feeling totally satisfied in the plot as a whole (I think I had similar issues with the aforementioned companion, now that I think about it), something keeps this from being a total win. There's a heck of a lot of great, though; it has a sense of fun while also being serious and I found Sebastian hit all the right notes.
But, once again, I just think things were a little scattered at times.. or maybe I'm the scattered one. Or, third option, my inability to remember enough about book one only tricked me into thinking this was scattered. Could be all of the above.
December 18, 2024
Marian is my spirit animal, like some kind of feral, slightly rabid cat
She’s so feisty and witty and keeps Rob in line. This is a great black cat/golden retriever romance in a Robin Hood adaptation.
Narration was just as good as the first. It’s a well acted audiobook.
She’s so feisty and witty and keeps Rob in line. This is a great black cat/golden retriever romance in a Robin Hood adaptation.
Narration was just as good as the first. It’s a well acted audiobook.
June 23, 2022
As far as Historical Romances go, this one is just so incredibly delightful and unique that I can't give it anything less than five stars. From the characters (both MCs are bi, plus a delightful cast of queer side characters) to the story to the smut, it is so refreshingly different from what you typically see and made me adore Cat Sebastian even more. My only regret is that this series isn't longer (I would love for Betty to get a book!), but I'm very happy with where it ended and know I will come back to this book again and again.
July 24, 2022
2.5 stars
So. That was disappointing... I guess I had been expecting something more epic for Rob[in Hood] and [Maid] Marian? A more villainous Sir John, for one. More epic a romance...
Things I liked:
- the fact that both are bisexual and discuss their likes and dislikes
- Marian not really being much of a mother (strange, I know, but I thought it was nice to have other forms of maternal feelings instead of the cliché)
- Rob. He's SO adorable. I love him.
Things I disliked:
- the pacing (I thought the middle was really dull and could've been better paced)
- the fact that this story continues the plot of book one to a point where you really can't read them separately and I feel like I should've re-read book 1 before to feel a little less thrown into it (most of it did come back to me eventually but...)
- Marian (to a point). I just really didn't care much for her most of the time.
- the romance. While I did like the way their sexual relationship is explored and that it was something different, I just honestly didn't care. I skipped most of their sex scenes out of boredom, which is a first for me in any of Cat Sebastian's books.
All in all, I'm rather disappointed. I think I just expected. More?
So. That was disappointing... I guess I had been expecting something more epic for Rob[in Hood] and [Maid] Marian? A more villainous Sir John, for one. More epic a romance...
Things I liked:
- the fact that both are bisexual and discuss their likes and dislikes
- Marian not really being much of a mother (strange, I know, but I thought it was nice to have other forms of maternal feelings instead of the cliché)
- Rob. He's SO adorable. I love him.
Things I disliked:
- the pacing (I thought the middle was really dull and could've been better paced)
- the fact that this story continues the plot of book one to a point where you really can't read them separately and I feel like I should've re-read book 1 before to feel a little less thrown into it (most of it did come back to me eventually but...)
- Marian (to a point). I just really didn't care much for her most of the time.
- the romance. While I did like the way their sexual relationship is explored and that it was something different, I just honestly didn't care. I skipped most of their sex scenes out of boredom, which is a first for me in any of Cat Sebastian's books.
All in all, I'm rather disappointed. I think I just expected. More?
June 13, 2022
Cat Sebastian is one of the very best writers - at every single level from stylistic elegance to depth of character and storytelling - of historical romance for adults, and this new book from her is just fantastic: warm, wry, witty, resolutely non-traditional and ruthlessly kind...much like the romantic couple at the heart of it. The grumpy one (prickly, ruthless, and desperately ethical Marion, formerly known as the Duchess of Clare before she murdered that husband for Very Good Reasons) is reluctantly and delightfully soft for the sunshine one (sweet, generous Rob, who first met her when he tried to blackmail her to avoid anyone ever finding out that he, in fact, is the rightful next Duke of Clare). I was already in love with them as a couple by the end of their hilarious correspondence at the beginning of the book (when she caustically points out just how BAD he is at blackmail, and they rapidly become best friends), and I fell even more in love with every mile they rode across the country afterwards, adopting stray cats, debating the ethics of theft in an unjust society, and protecting each other from everything else (including themselves).
I loved it, and now I need to go back and re-read the first book in this series, which stars Marion's ex-stepson (who's older than her and a lifelong good friend) and Rob's best friend, who were thrown together due to Rob's catastrophic blackmail scheme. (I think this second book would stand alone just fine for readers who haven't read Book 1 yet. On the other hand, Book 1 was also great! So, do as you will. ;) )
I loved it, and now I need to go back and re-read the first book in this series, which stars Marion's ex-stepson (who's older than her and a lifelong good friend) and Rob's best friend, who were thrown together due to Rob's catastrophic blackmail scheme. (I think this second book would stand alone just fine for readers who haven't read Book 1 yet. On the other hand, Book 1 was also great! So, do as you will. ;) )
November 11, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
This was delightful! Honestly the perfect book to read during a difficult week. It's a historical romance with two bi-sexual leads, loads of banter, and a really sensitive approach to sexual trauma.
Marian just killed her terrible husband, and the only person she feels safe reaching out to for help is the man who has been blackmailing her. Rob is a thief and con artist with a good heart and he agrees to help Marian figure out what to do. Eventually they develop a relationship that I love! Because of both not wanting to get pregnant and PTSD, Marian doesn't want penetrative sex and Rob has zero issue with that. The way they come together is so joyful, finding pleasure in ways that work for both of them. Which might include Marian being the more dominant party...
Really enjoyed this and would recommend if you need a fun, escapist read with a lovely romance.
This was delightful! Honestly the perfect book to read during a difficult week. It's a historical romance with two bi-sexual leads, loads of banter, and a really sensitive approach to sexual trauma.
Marian just killed her terrible husband, and the only person she feels safe reaching out to for help is the man who has been blackmailing her. Rob is a thief and con artist with a good heart and he agrees to help Marian figure out what to do. Eventually they develop a relationship that I love! Because of both not wanting to get pregnant and PTSD, Marian doesn't want penetrative sex and Rob has zero issue with that. The way they come together is so joyful, finding pleasure in ways that work for both of them. Which might include Marian being the more dominant party...
Really enjoyed this and would recommend if you need a fun, escapist read with a lovely romance.
June 8, 2022
This was quite delightful! We have our heroine, Marian, the Duchess who shot her husband and ends up securing the help of the hero, a highwayman who is actually quite a cinnamon roll named Rob. Basically she's a grump and he's sunshine.
This romance was a subtle slow burn that ended up being really satisfying, and it did have some moments of great emotion that I've come to expect from Cat. But it also felt a bit lacking with emotional punch and an overall story arc.
But it had great banter, wit, and fun, and felt uniquely different from most historicals I've read.
I also enjoyed the specific form of intimacy between Rob and Marian and loved the bisexuality representation.
I was provided an ARC copy for review
This romance was a subtle slow burn that ended up being really satisfying, and it did have some moments of great emotion that I've come to expect from Cat. But it also felt a bit lacking with emotional punch and an overall story arc.
But it had great banter, wit, and fun, and felt uniquely different from most historicals I've read.
I also enjoyed the specific form of intimacy between Rob and Marian and loved the bisexuality representation.
I was provided an ARC copy for review
June 10, 2022
I love love love this book! This will *henceforth* be my favorite example of a queer M/F romance. It’s delightfully sexy and quippy and so much fun. The ransom letters turned love letters, the Robin Hood like pickpocketing, the KITTEN. I could read another 200 pages of Rob, tail wagging the whole time, following around grumpy Marian while she takes down all of the corruption in the world. Marian’s postpartum depression is handled delicately and sensitively with so much nuance about how she loves and wants to protect her daughter but doesn’t always feel like a proper mother. As were the ethical discussions of murder (especially of someone who was an absolute monster) which were on point as well. Rob’s mother is the secret MVP of this whole saga and I love her to bits.
August 15, 2022
Wholly, utterly in love with this series. Marian's book did not miss in any way!
September 21, 2022
Three stars? I don't think I'm the right audience for this one. From the description, it sounded like there would be a lot of conniving shenanigans, like a swashbuckling adventure story that evolves into a sweep-them-off-their-feet romance.
Alas, it turns out to have just been a smidgen of criminal activity in the beginning (mostly the male lead TELLING us that he's a devious criminal) and a little bit at the end, with like the middle 80% being the two main characters traveling around, making out in stables or inn rooms, and falling in lurv. Barely a wisp of villainous behavior the whole time. The pacing felt like it really slowed down in the middle/end, and I could have easily DNFed out of boredom.
*sigh*
Maybe if I'd read the first book in this series, I would have had more introduction to the character of Rob being the promised "highwayman, con artist, and all-around cheerful villain", but as a standalone novel it was just all talk and no show regarding that aspect of his character. The most devious thing that we actually witness was that, uh, he didn't want to inherit a dukedom?
Ok, but let's talk about what was good with this book:
The writing was decent, meaning I didn't really notice it. It was effortless and smooth to read through. Plenty of fun banter.
It also avoided some of the worst romance novel tropes as far as sexy scenes went (I didn't note a single instance of the word "throbbing", thank the gods). I appreciated that the adult content was strongly geared toward consent, communication, mutual comfort and enjoyment....and didn't have a heavy reliance on the cliché that "P in V = Fireworks!" In fact, there's a distinct discussion where she says there shall be none of that ever because getting pregnant again would probably kill her, and he's just fine with that because they can still do Other Things, wink wink.
It was also interesting to have a case where the female protagonist ISN'T some chaste virgin, and is in fact a married woman who'd just had a baby. That is: her viability as a love interest didn't peak and end at marriage and pregnancy.
However....this marriage/baby aspect of the story is where the romance starts to feel...squicky to me. I wasn't going to do a plot synopsis, but I need to at least explain the gist of the interpersonal relationships:
We've got the Rob, the aforementioned highwayman, who learns that his mother had secretly married the Duke of Clare and then gave birth to Rob. The Duke of Clare then went on to pretend that that marriage never happened, and remarried two more times. The current wife, Marian, is considerably younger than the Duke, but evidently he's still virile enough that Marian has given birth to his child. Got it? Ok, so Rob decides to cash in on his mother's secret marriage by blackmailing Marian: "Give me money or else I'll tell everyone that the Duke is still married to another woman, so your marriage is a sham and you're not really the Duchess and your baby is technically illegitimate." Oooooooo.....Anyway, that blackmail leads to the shenanigans that this book promised (Marian ends up killing the Duke in an unrelated event, and then kidnaps Rob as a way of asking for help? I think?), and ultimately Marian and Rob get together and start falling for each other. Rob doesn't tell Marian that his mother is the woman that Duke was still married to; he pretends to just be some random guy who happens to know this info.
Ok, so..........This is where the romance makes me cringe a bit.
Rob is basically Marian's daughter's half-brother. No, not basically, actually. Rob is actually Marian's daughter's half brother. Marian is Rob's father's wife....so she's Rob's stepmother, I guess? Rob is hooking up with and falling in love with his half-sister's mother. Whichever way you want to phrase their familial relationship, it still feels....weird to me. Like, Rob and Marian hooking up isn't TECHnically incest by any blood relation between the two of them, but it still feels icky for me to think about it. "Oh yeah, my dad impregnated you and you just gave birth to my half-sister.....Wanna get frisky in the stables?"
**insert weirded-out face**
Did this not bother anyone else? Again, I know it's not technically incest, but I can't quite get my head past the idea of Rob meeting Marian's daughter and being like, "Hey sister, I'm going to be your stepdad now!"
**insert weirded-out shudder**
I...don't like it. I don't like that at all. ESPECIALLY because Rob doesn't tell Marian that he's her husband's son. She figures it out at like 95% through the book, but is just like, "Oh yeah, duh. That makes sense. You kind of look like him, actually." REALLY?? You just found out that your new lover is basically your stepson and that's just fine? Shouldn't you be a bit more angry about the fact that Rob knowingly concealed this information from you the whole time y'all were exploring each other's naughty bits?
**insert weirded-out incredulity**
Sooo...
Oh shoot, I just talked myself down to a lower star rating.
**changes rating to two stars**
Soooooo......yeah. This book wasn't what I was hoping for based on the description. It definitely sounded like there was going to be way more dastardly adventures, but alas that part (ie, the stuff that the back of the book sets up for the plot) happened in like the very early part of the book, and then the rest was just romancey stuff.
I would say that if you're someone who WANTS primarily romance stuff, then this book would probably be good because, as I said before, there was a lot of emphasis on consent, mutual enjoyment, and communication (except, of course, communicating the fact that "BTW, I'm your stepson"). If you're hoping for a swashbuckling adventure plot with some slow-burn romantic build up....this one might leave you disappointed.
Also....ick.
**insert weirded-out face again**
Alas, it turns out to have just been a smidgen of criminal activity in the beginning (mostly the male lead TELLING us that he's a devious criminal) and a little bit at the end, with like the middle 80% being the two main characters traveling around, making out in stables or inn rooms, and falling in lurv. Barely a wisp of villainous behavior the whole time. The pacing felt like it really slowed down in the middle/end, and I could have easily DNFed out of boredom.
*sigh*
Maybe if I'd read the first book in this series, I would have had more introduction to the character of Rob being the promised "highwayman, con artist, and all-around cheerful villain", but as a standalone novel it was just all talk and no show regarding that aspect of his character. The most devious thing that we actually witness was that, uh, he didn't want to inherit a dukedom?
Ok, but let's talk about what was good with this book:
The writing was decent, meaning I didn't really notice it. It was effortless and smooth to read through. Plenty of fun banter.
It also avoided some of the worst romance novel tropes as far as sexy scenes went (I didn't note a single instance of the word "throbbing", thank the gods). I appreciated that the adult content was strongly geared toward consent, communication, mutual comfort and enjoyment....and didn't have a heavy reliance on the cliché that "P in V = Fireworks!" In fact, there's a distinct discussion where she says there shall be none of that ever because getting pregnant again would probably kill her, and he's just fine with that because they can still do Other Things, wink wink.
It was also interesting to have a case where the female protagonist ISN'T some chaste virgin, and is in fact a married woman who'd just had a baby. That is: her viability as a love interest didn't peak and end at marriage and pregnancy.
However....this marriage/baby aspect of the story is where the romance starts to feel...squicky to me. I wasn't going to do a plot synopsis, but I need to at least explain the gist of the interpersonal relationships:
We've got the Rob, the aforementioned highwayman, who learns that his mother had secretly married the Duke of Clare and then gave birth to Rob. The Duke of Clare then went on to pretend that that marriage never happened, and remarried two more times. The current wife, Marian, is considerably younger than the Duke, but evidently he's still virile enough that Marian has given birth to his child. Got it? Ok, so Rob decides to cash in on his mother's secret marriage by blackmailing Marian: "Give me money or else I'll tell everyone that the Duke is still married to another woman, so your marriage is a sham and you're not really the Duchess and your baby is technically illegitimate." Oooooooo.....Anyway, that blackmail leads to the shenanigans that this book promised (Marian ends up killing the Duke in an unrelated event, and then kidnaps Rob as a way of asking for help? I think?), and ultimately Marian and Rob get together and start falling for each other. Rob doesn't tell Marian that his mother is the woman that Duke was still married to; he pretends to just be some random guy who happens to know this info.
Ok, so..........This is where the romance makes me cringe a bit.
Rob is basically Marian's daughter's half-brother. No, not basically, actually. Rob is actually Marian's daughter's half brother. Marian is Rob's father's wife....so she's Rob's stepmother, I guess? Rob is hooking up with and falling in love with his half-sister's mother. Whichever way you want to phrase their familial relationship, it still feels....weird to me. Like, Rob and Marian hooking up isn't TECHnically incest by any blood relation between the two of them, but it still feels icky for me to think about it. "Oh yeah, my dad impregnated you and you just gave birth to my half-sister.....Wanna get frisky in the stables?"
**insert weirded-out face**
Did this not bother anyone else? Again, I know it's not technically incest, but I can't quite get my head past the idea of Rob meeting Marian's daughter and being like, "Hey sister, I'm going to be your stepdad now!"
**insert weirded-out shudder**
I...don't like it. I don't like that at all. ESPECIALLY because Rob doesn't tell Marian that he's her husband's son. She figures it out at like 95% through the book, but is just like, "Oh yeah, duh. That makes sense. You kind of look like him, actually." REALLY?? You just found out that your new lover is basically your stepson and that's just fine? Shouldn't you be a bit more angry about the fact that Rob knowingly concealed this information from you the whole time y'all were exploring each other's naughty bits?
**insert weirded-out incredulity**
Sooo...
Oh shoot, I just talked myself down to a lower star rating.
**changes rating to two stars**
Soooooo......yeah. This book wasn't what I was hoping for based on the description. It definitely sounded like there was going to be way more dastardly adventures, but alas that part (ie, the stuff that the back of the book sets up for the plot) happened in like the very early part of the book, and then the rest was just romancey stuff.
I would say that if you're someone who WANTS primarily romance stuff, then this book would probably be good because, as I said before, there was a lot of emphasis on consent, mutual enjoyment, and communication (except, of course, communicating the fact that "BTW, I'm your stepson"). If you're hoping for a swashbuckling adventure plot with some slow-burn romantic build up....this one might leave you disappointed.
Also....ick.
**insert weirded-out face again**
January 22, 2022
3.5 stars
This is my second book from Cat Sebastian, but I had no hesitation picking it up because I liked The Queer Principles of Kit Webb and The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes didn’t disappoint with this story that was charming and emotional.
The chemistry between Marian and Rob grew so naturally over time and it was utterly palpable since beginning.
Just, if you're a fan of any kind of historical romance, go and read this.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
This is my second book from Cat Sebastian, but I had no hesitation picking it up because I liked The Queer Principles of Kit Webb and The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes didn’t disappoint with this story that was charming and emotional.
The chemistry between Marian and Rob grew so naturally over time and it was utterly palpable since beginning.
Just, if you're a fan of any kind of historical romance, go and read this.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2022
The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes was such a fun ride! It was witty and sharp, while also being incredibly heartfelt and tender. This is book 2 in the series and though it can be enjoyed as a standalone, I think it will be a much more fulfilling experience if read in order.
Things to look forward to:
-Tropes like: grumpy + sunshine, road trip romance, forced proximity, epistolary, enemies to friends to lovers, there's only 1 bed
- Rob is such a sweetheart. He’s charming and welcoming to everyone he meets and has an adorable soft spot for animals. He is so gone for Marian right from the start and I loved how much care he took to make sure she was comfortable, safe, and supported.
- The intimate scenes. These were steamy in a way I haven’t quite encountered before and were done so well. I loved how Rob and Marian listened and spoke honestly with each other about what they wanted and needed. Rob’s eagerness to please and the praise kink were so hot.
- The found family. I LOVED how this unlikely group came together. They are ride or die no matter what and the amount of love they have for each other is amazing. Thanks to the Duke’s bigamy, the family tree is a bit twisty and turny, but no matter the official title or connection, this group is a family.
- A great retelling/spin on the Robin Hood and Maid Marian story
I both read and listened to this one and the narration by Joel Leslie was just as fantastic as it was in book 1. The different accents and voices used made it easy to differentiate between characters and so much emotion was conveyed in the performance. Definitely recommend experiencing this series on audio if possible!
Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars
CW: murder, traumatic pregnancy, postpartum depression (implied), parental abandonment, parent with alzheimer's (implied), abusive relationship (past), gun violence, theft, blackmail
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
Things to look forward to:
-Tropes like: grumpy + sunshine, road trip romance, forced proximity, epistolary, enemies to friends to lovers, there's only 1 bed
- Rob is such a sweetheart. He’s charming and welcoming to everyone he meets and has an adorable soft spot for animals. He is so gone for Marian right from the start and I loved how much care he took to make sure she was comfortable, safe, and supported.
- The intimate scenes. These were steamy in a way I haven’t quite encountered before and were done so well. I loved how Rob and Marian listened and spoke honestly with each other about what they wanted and needed. Rob’s eagerness to please and the praise kink were so hot.
- The found family. I LOVED how this unlikely group came together. They are ride or die no matter what and the amount of love they have for each other is amazing. Thanks to the Duke’s bigamy, the family tree is a bit twisty and turny, but no matter the official title or connection, this group is a family.
- A great retelling/spin on the Robin Hood and Maid Marian story
I both read and listened to this one and the narration by Joel Leslie was just as fantastic as it was in book 1. The different accents and voices used made it easy to differentiate between characters and so much emotion was conveyed in the performance. Definitely recommend experiencing this series on audio if possible!
Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars
CW: murder, traumatic pregnancy, postpartum depression (implied), parental abandonment, parent with alzheimer's (implied), abusive relationship (past), gun violence, theft, blackmail
*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*
July 13, 2022
Leverage, but for historical romance fans! Now I want And at least one book starring Betty, as that is obviously what she deserves.
But really, this book is both the story I was hoping to get from this series, and also the story I've been wanted the author to write for a while now. Marion and Rob are the disaster bisexual criminals of my dreams. I loved the way their relationship developed over the course of the book, and I especially loved that Sebastian finally let her MCs get .
But really, this book is both the story I was hoping to get from this series, and also the story I've been wanted the author to write for a while now. Marion and Rob are the disaster bisexual criminals of my dreams. I loved the way their relationship developed over the course of the book, and I especially loved that Sebastian finally let her MCs get .
June 28, 2024
For now, this review is simply this word: squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Will be back later! I have lots of thoughts and even more feelings.
Will be back later! I have lots of thoughts and even more feelings.
September 1, 2025
Actual rating: 3.5
August 31, 2022
Oh look, we're forming regency Leverage over here!
Do you like historical romance but long for something not Excessively Straight? This is for you. Do you want happily bi characters wherein the dude and the lady are stone cold badasses and the dude is entirely devoted? Here you go. Do you want reasonably priced love and a good egg?
...I don't actually recall eggs in this particular novel of Cat Sebastian's but this does have a discussion of parenthood and what makes you a good one or not, one example of which being the woman who does her best to run an ethical brothel and took care of her son from afar.
Also an evil duke gets murdered by his emotionally and reproductively (?) abused wife, who... is not technically legally his wife because he's a dick.
Yay!
Trigger warnings for the aforementioned abuse, but it happens off page and is discussed more as the character recovers rather than having the actual abuse shown on page.
Do you like historical romance but long for something not Excessively Straight? This is for you. Do you want happily bi characters wherein the dude and the lady are stone cold badasses and the dude is entirely devoted? Here you go. Do you want reasonably priced love and a good egg?
...I don't actually recall eggs in this particular novel of Cat Sebastian's but this does have a discussion of parenthood and what makes you a good one or not, one example of which being the woman who does her best to run an ethical brothel and took care of her son from afar.
Also an evil duke gets murdered by his emotionally and reproductively (?) abused wife, who... is not technically legally his wife because he's a dick.
Yay!
Trigger warnings for the aforementioned abuse, but it happens off page and is discussed more as the character recovers rather than having the actual abuse shown on page.
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