This book has one of the nicest heroes I have read in a while. I fell in love with Robert Percy, Viscount Redhill, shortly into this slightly meandering romance. His actions, thoughts, family, and persistence in love are the anchors that keep the reader going through the story.

Lady Helaine has been forced to adopt an alternate identity as a dressmaker to earn a living after being cast out of society due to a scandal caused by her father. She loves her occupation, but will not be financially successful until she is able to dress ladies of the ton. Lady Gwen Percy presents her with an opportunity when she selects Helen to create her wedding trousseau.

Robert Percy is so much more than a titled lord. He has taken on financial responsibility for his father’s estates, his family, and every misguided business venture his drunk father purchases. He transforms these failing business ventures into successes, and his measure of success can be financial or humane.

Helaine and Robert meet when she shows up to collect a bill for the wedding trousseau of Lady Gwen, his sister, in advance of delivery. She needs the money to procure materials as she is too poor to afford it out of pocket or get credit. Her outspoken personality attracts Robert after the seemingly obligatory minor irritations in the first few meetings that are present in most romances. Not knowing her real lineage, he believes he is doing his best for her when he asks her to be his mistress and is promptly turned down. A wonderful pursuit and seduction then follow, facilitated by interactions in preparation for Gwen’s wedding. The rest of the book is about realization of love, Helaine’s ability to trust a man, Robert learning of Helaine’s background and earning her trust by sharing one of his own secrets.

The primary characters in this book are really well sketched out. Helaine’s fears and aspirations for financial success are realistic given the scandal and fall from grace her family has gone through. Her trust in men is understandably lacking given that her father caused the scandal, and simply disappeared, leaving Helaine and her mother to face society and consequences. Robert, as noted earlier, is delightful as a hero. His character is constantly reinforced by his actions and thoughts, whether it is his secret transformation of a brothel into a safe haven and hospital for prostitutes and their children; his passion for medicine to heal people; sending cookies to his sister when she is upset, to cheer her up; or his sexual restraint to gain Helaine’s trust. (Yes, that means that the reader ought not to expect quick or repetitive sex in this book.) I was also touched by the scene in which Helaine’s mother realizes that life will never be as it was, and asks her daughter to seize her chance of happiness with Robert regardless of the title of their relationship.

There were some aspects of the story though that did not make sense. Other than Gwen and Helaine’s mother, secondary characters seem to be used as plot devices or as a setup for other things. They were introduced as if they would be meaningful, but dropped after a chapter or two for the most part. For example, there is the one-time best friend whom Helaine goes to visit in the beginning of the book, and whose circumstances, home, health, and mother-in-law are detailed out, but then who practically disappears from the book after that chapter. And she seems to only have been added to the story so she could be introduced ahead of her upcoming book.

It also did not make sense that Helaine assumed an alternate identity to enter into trade because no one would employ her if they knew her real name. However, her occupation and desires put her constantly in the middle of high society, where she is not afraid to be recognized. Presumably, she grew up in the arms of that society and it is stated she had attended one society ball before the scandal. She faces dire poverty if she is found out, since that would mean loss of business, but she still goes shopping on Bond Street with Gwen and lives in her home for a short period, and even shows up for Gwen’s wedding with her mother.

However, this romance flows well overall, and is a good read. Be prepared to fall in love with a really nice hero.