I’ve begun reading a couple of historicals lately that, uh, well, bored me. They didn’t engage me immediately, make me care for the characters right off the bat, make me want to continue reading about their lives. So, needless to say, this book instantly blew fresh life into me with the emotion Ms. Jeffries shares with us concerning Minerva on the very first page. My heart wept for her young broken heart. And then I smiled at the way that brokenness healed. A perfect beginning to a wonderfully written story.

Though all of the Sharpe children are hellions and do their own thing despite what society thinks of them, I believe Minerva is going to be my favorite - and that’s saying something due to the little bit of insight we get here into Gabe and how emotional his story can potentially turn out to be. Minerva has loved Giles Masters for years until he intentionally breaks her heart. He knows his secretive life is not conducive to a successful relationship, so he sacrifices all of what might be between him and Minerva. But enough time has now passed that he’s ready to leave that life behind and concentrate on his barrister career, the potential of becoming one of the King’s Counsel, and perhaps even settling down. That brings the beautiful Minerva to mind, especially after his employer shows Giles Minerva’s latest book in which the villian eerily resembles Giles. Also included in her latest work is an advertisement for a husband!

Heading straight to Minerva with a two-fold goal in mind - keep all the other prospective husbands away from her and then end up being married to her himself - Giles instead ends up on the wrong side of the woman and her schemes. Playing along with her - and her grandmother, who has given all her grandchildren an ultimatum concerning marrying or being cut off - Giles is serious in his courting of Minerva and will marry her despite any and all objections. Minerva only wants to be left alone to continue her writing. Having had her heart broken once, she’s not ready for that to happen again, so she happily goes through the motions of pretending to be engaged to Giles. But the man creeps under her skin once again. The more she finds out about him and his legitimate occupation, she fears her heart won’t stand against another break, because that’s exactly what Giles will do to her.

This couple is so charming and engaging together. They each have mysteries in their lives and each comes unraveled as circumstances either work for them or against them. I really enjoy the fact they do work and stay together, even when the chips are down or there is conflict between them. They talk to one another to work those issues through. And the emotion throughout the book is wonderful. You feel their individual fears, hurts, and happiness as well as when they’re together. Minerva is able to keep her independence because Giles doesn’t want her to change, and it’s Giles who changes when he realizes what he has to do to keep his wife.

Thank goodness for Sabrina Jeffries and Giles and Minerva! I’m actually looking forward again to the next historical book I pick up.