If you loved 9 Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, then its sequel would definitely take a place within your favorites, too.

When I read that the second book from the series was going to be about the calm and romantic Nicholas St. John and not about his firecracker of a sister Juliana – I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed. I thought that, him being so gentle and kind and all things lovable would make the novel somewhat boring.

Was I ever wrong.

It turned out that he was a man, harboring so many secrets that only a woman with an equal number could match him. Lo and behold – the beautiful, intelligent and kind-hearted Lady Isabel. A daughter to an earl, Nicholas is perplexed by her oddities in the form of reading bills, wearing men’s clothing and working on a roof.

But they are a perfect match even more due to the fact that they both suffer from the fear of loving, caused by the ruined marriages of both their parents. And while battling wits and struggling to hide their secrets, they must learn to trust each other, or else more than their own lives would be in ruin.

The second book in the series proves a bit darker, deeper in meaning, but still with the humorous and sarcastic tongue of its predecessor. I especially enjoyed the hilarious articles from the Pearls & Pelisses magazine which advised the chits from the ton on how to “land a lord”. The irony and sarcasm underlining them was delicious. It reminded me of Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series and her Lady Whistledown.

The book left me thirsting for the third installment in the St. John siblings series which is bound to be an enticing read.