The Viscount Without Virtue

This was my first read from Katherine Grant and it certainly won’t be my last!I love it when indie authors of historical romance turn tropes upside down and tackle the grittier side of history that sometimes gets glossed over in traditionally published books. Grant accomplishes this! She features a heroine who is passionate about her commitment to fair trade and adamantly opposes the consumption of anything that can be linked to slave labor. The hero is a wastrel disguised as a blacksmith. He’s on a mission to uncover the hypocrisy of the heroine’s father and disprove his alleged altruism and commitment to making the world a better place. But from the moment Ellen teaches Grant how to properly plane a piece of wood, there’s a sparkling awareness between them. She thinks he’d be the perfect teacher and the trysts everywhere but the bed simmer with sensuality and the lure of forbidden fruit. The intimate scenes evoke the tentative emotions of both the heroine and the hero.Of course the hero hasn’t been truthful about his identity or his intentions, and suddenly protecting her interests becomes more important than seeking the approval of his judgmental father. Both characters are the catalyst for the other’s personal growth and their relationship is both a sanctuary and a dare to be truer to themselves. I cannot wait to dive into the rest of the series!