A Delicate Deception

January 24, 2020

Suffering from chronic social anxiety, Amelia Allenby moves from London to the rural Derbyshire countryside, where her peaceful walks are interrupted by a surveyor trespassing on her rented property, part of Pelham Hall estate. Sydney Goddard is visiting his inheritance, Pelham Hall, loathing it because he lost his family there and distrusts landed gentry. Amelia's initial reaction to Sydney is hostile, but slowly they grow closer, bonding over a shared aversion to traditional societal expectations, until a deception on Sydney's part comes to light and creates a chasm between the two they may not be able to repair.

VERDICT Despite a slightly meandering plot, Sebastian (A Duke in Disguise) once again creates a flawed yet completely lovable cast of bisexual and asexual characters, with Amelia's feminist attitude toward love making inspiring. Readers can enjoy this as a stand-alone, but for character backstories, they should start with the first in the series, Unmasked by the Marquess.--Eve Stano, Ball State Univ. Muncie, IN

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