January 30, 2023
McAvoy brings a fairy tale feel to this diverse and illicit Regency romance, the second installment to the Du Bells series (after Aphrodite and the Duke). Lady Verity Eagleman, who longs for a sense of belonging she’s never felt among her cold family, feels like a thorn among roses while staying with the boisterous, tight-knit Du Bells. It’s there, however, that she meets handsome Dr. Theodore Darrington, who, despite his shyness, falls for her almost immediately. When one illness or another repeatedly throws them into each other’s paths, a friendship develops and slowly strengthens into love. Despite Theodore’s newfound fame in high society for his medical skills, however, his dubious parentage (he’s the illegitimate son of a marquess) makes him an unsuitable match for a lady. They’re both eager to sneak alone time together, but they have different ideas about where their relationship is headed: Theodore hopes to enjoy what little time they have left before they’re forced to part ways, while Verity believes they can find a way to stay together forever. The leads are well suited and the series conceit—which diversifies the upper echelons of Regency society sans historical comment or justification—continues to make for memorable, Black-centered love stories. Readers will be pleased. Agent: Natanya Wheeler, Nancy Yost Literary.
Starred review from March 1, 2023
In this reimagined Regency England with a multicultural aristocracy, the differences in station between the illegitimate son of a marquess and the daughter of an earl would make an aboveboard romance socially unacceptable. Lady Verity Eagleman, a thoughtful young gentlewoman, and Dr. Theodore Darrington, a brilliant physician, are fascinated by each other from the instant they meet, though there's a vast social gulf between them. Often finding themselves in each other's company due to shared acquaintances, they grow to realize that, in addition to sharing a physical attraction to each other, their perspectives on life are likely compatible. Verity's past makes her more open-minded than many of her class, while Theodore's tenuous social standing makes conformity necessary to his personal and professional survival. McAvoy's latest series installment (following Aphrodite and the Duke) avoids easy answers to the mental and societal problems her protagonists face from within and without. Supporting characters frequently steal scenes and imbue humor into the couple's emotional journey. VERDICT This charming book is likely to be popular with fans of romance, historical fiction, and multicultural reimaginings of historical romance, such as TV's Bridgerton, . Recommended for all public library collections.--Nicole Williams
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