Some men are born into scandal. Others pursue it with a
passion. Griffin Steele, secret son of the Duke of Cumberland, is guilty on
both counts. Yet somehow London's most notorious scoundrel has been saddled
with an abandoned baby boy--and with the unflappable, intriguing spinster
summoned to nurse him. . .
Justine Brightmore may be a viscount's niece, but she's
also a spy's daughter, determined to safeguard the infant when his suspected
royal parentage makes him a target. Yet how to protect herself from the rakish
Griffin? Marriage might shield her reputation, but it can only imperil her
heart, especially with a groom intent on delicious seduction. . .
Excellent book. Griffin Steele, the illegitimate son of
one of the Royal Dukes, made a name for himself out of nothing. Abandoned by
his mother and unacknowledged by his father, Griffin was raised by a cold and uncaring
uncle. Because of that past, Griffin is seen as cold, ruthless, and dangerous
by the society he despises, but the few that know him well know that he is
loyal, caring, and protective of those he considers his. As the story opens,
Griffin prepares to sell off the last of his businesses before leaving England
to tour the world, searching for something he can't name.
Those plans hit a snag when a baby boy shows up on his
doorstep, with a note entrusting the child to his care and protection. Griffin
sends for his friend and mentor, Dominic, expecting him to take the child off
his hands. Instead, Dominic insists on leaving young Stephan with Griffin but
promises to provide a caretaker for the child. Meanwhile, he will investigate
the note and ring found with Stephan.
Justine is the daughter of a spy and Dominic's
goddaughter. Between her father's chaotic life as a spy and the bluestocking
antics of the aunt who helped raise her, Justine craves a calm and peaceful
life. She believes she has it as the companion to an elderly woman in the
country. Dominic disrupts that peace when he requests Justine's help with the
baby, thrusting her into the house of one of London's most notorious men.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between
Griffin and Justine. She makes no secret of her dislike, and Griffin delights in
pushing her buttons. However, underneath the antagonism burns an undeniable
attraction. Griffin hates having Justine there, and her stubbornness and
attitude drive him crazy, but he can't stop his need to know everything about
her. The feelings Griffin stirs up disturb Justine, and she does her best to
ignore them, but it's impossible to resist his pull.
When Justine's attempt to protect someone puts her
reputation at risk, Griffin's sense of honor insists that he do the right thing
and propose marriage. Justine is horrified but eventually sees that there's no
other option. Though they initially plan to live separate lives, as they get to
know each other, their growing feelings make that less desirable. I loved
watching the trust build between them and Griffin share his past with Justine. It
was also fun to watch Griffin's roguish ways get past Justine's walls and change
her mind about peace and solitude. But it isn't until Griffin thinks he's lost
her that he realizes he's able to love after all. I loved his big moment at the
end and seeing the change in him.
The mystery of the baby was good and played a big part in
bringing Griffin and Justine together. I liked Justine's devotion to the baby
and laughed at some of Griffin's reactions. Dominic's investigation kept me
intrigued and invested in the outcome. There was a twist near the end that I suspected
well before its revelation, and I thoroughly enjoyed the reactions when it was.
The situation intensified with the involvement of a mysterious stranger. I was
disgusted with Dominic and Griffin when they didn't take Justine's fears
seriously, forcing her to take matters into her own hands. The final
confrontation was a nail-biter, with Justine showing her strength and courage.
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