Born into two different classes, James and Camille shouldn’t even know each other. But when the pursuit of a missing ruby brings them together, much more than a mere acquaintance is ignited.
The daughter of a curiosity shop owner, Camille would never be considered a lady. Nor does she want to be. With a fiery personality, she dreams of adventures far beyond the walls of her family’s modest business. But when her father thrusts a mysterious box into her hands and disappears, her whole world-dreams and all-shifts.
James is an apothecary, tending to the health needs of the town of Bentworth. His father, a well-known explorer and collector, is quite wealthy from the spoils of his adventures until one risky gamble and a stolen gem leave him on the edge of ruin. Seeking his father’s approval, James picks up the hunt for the stolen ruby, leading him to the door of Camille’s curiosity shop.
With both of their lives in danger as the ruby remains at large, James squires Camille away to the Bentworth School, believing that would be the last place her pursuers would look for her. They both find their hearts and dreams heading in a new direction, but before they are free to embrace their future they must solve the mystery looming around them. The more they uncover, however, the harder it becomes to know whom to trust. And they begin to realize that recovering the ruby may require a great sacrifice: their newfound love and maybe even their lives.
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I won’t lie – I’m not a huge fan of this genre, but I’m a big fan of Sarah E. Ladd, so I wanted to read her latest book. Two of my favorite things about Sarah: her complex characters and her descriptions. Sarah’s characters aren’t two-dimensional or stereotypical; they’re flawed people who grow and mature throughout her stories. And you can tell she’s put time and care into her descriptions as she paints vivid pictures, describing the countryside, homes, and people in ways that help you imagine the setting.
This book did not disappoint. You can see, smell, and feel the differences in the settings between London and the countryside as James and Camille search for the missing ruby. I would have liked to see a few more plot points – sometimes it felt like this one conflict was being dragged on – but overall it was a fun, entertaining read. If you like Regency romances I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
3.5 of 5 stars
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
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