Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Fun book. Although I haven't (yet) read the first two books in the series, therefore missing some of the history of Venus and Galahad, there was enough information provided that I could understand their pasts.
Vee is a romantic at heart, but after years of relationship disappointments, she has given up on looking for love. She no longer trusts her heart or her judgment and has set her sights on a nobleman who is as much of an academic as she is. Unfortunately, he is also boring, judgmental, and oblivious to her interest, and no one in her family believes they belong together. Vee's happiest times are spent working at the Covent Garden orphanage she helps run. It is also very overcrowded and needs more space - such as the empty building next door - if only she had the funds to purchase it.
Galahad is the American-born cousin of Vee's brother-in-law, Giles. He owns a gambling den near the London docks and is looking to add a second location. When he hears of the perfect building in Covent Garden, he rushes to secure ownership of it. He then discovers that it is next door to Vee's orphanage and realizes that for the sake of family harmony, he needs to mend fences with her.
The story opens with a prologue that describes the first meeting between Vee and Gal and sets the tone for their relationship over the past five years - chilly at best and antagonistic at worst. As the daughter of a gambler who deserted his family, Vee has definite opinions about gamblers and doesn't hesitate to share them. They do their best to avoid each other when possible and keep their distance when it is not.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Vee and Gal develop. Their antagonism is overt, but underneath are sparks of attraction that neither will admit. They are, however, blazingly apparent to others. When Gal acquires the rest of the orphanage building, he decides to "make nice" with Vee and try to get on her good side before she finds out about his purchase. It's understandable but also slightly underhanded and has the likelihood of coming back to bite him in the future.
Vee isn't sure what to think when Gal stops being such a pain and turns on the charm. She doesn't trust him, but it doesn't take long before he begins to win her over.
There are some hilarious scenes between the two as they spend time together. One is the first card game they play against each other. Vee is undefeated in the family, Gal is a professional gambler, and the tension between them is palpable. Their second game, after she finds out about his purchase, is a lesson in distracting the other player, and Vee is masterful. There are other times when the banter between the two had me laughing out loud and wondering when they would see the light about their feelings for each other.
However, both have serious insecurities that they keep locked behind sturdy walls. Both lost their mothers at a young age, and both have fathers who are morally bankrupt. Vee's issues make her very judgmental toward Gal and make it difficult for her to trust him. After the loss of his mother and grandfather, Gal keeps his heart locked up and doesn't allow himself to get close to anyone. The more time they spend together, the more Gal and Vee begin to see past those walls and realize that their initial impressions of each other were inaccurate. But it still takes a near tragedy for the last bits of wall to crumble and for them to admit their feelings for each other. I loved the ending.
Some of the best scenes in the book involve Vee, Gal, and Vee's orphans. I loved Vee's devotion to them and desire to give them the best possible future. I enjoyed her surprise at how Gal connected with her three most troublesome boys. Gal won my heart by understanding what drove their actions and his practical methods of helping her with them. At the same time, the boys were very protective of Vee, and their desire to help her with the building issue created some memorable moments. I especially enjoyed the scene with the pigeons and its aftermath. There was also a heartwarming scene involving the three boys and their proposed apprenticeship at Gal's business.
The epilogue was terrific, and I enjoyed seeing the three couples a few years into the future.
#netgalley
Vee is a romantic at heart, but after years of relationship disappointments, she has given up on looking for love. She no longer trusts her heart or her judgment and has set her sights on a nobleman who is as much of an academic as she is. Unfortunately, he is also boring, judgmental, and oblivious to her interest, and no one in her family believes they belong together. Vee's happiest times are spent working at the Covent Garden orphanage she helps run. It is also very overcrowded and needs more space - such as the empty building next door - if only she had the funds to purchase it.
Galahad is the American-born cousin of Vee's brother-in-law, Giles. He owns a gambling den near the London docks and is looking to add a second location. When he hears of the perfect building in Covent Garden, he rushes to secure ownership of it. He then discovers that it is next door to Vee's orphanage and realizes that for the sake of family harmony, he needs to mend fences with her.
The story opens with a prologue that describes the first meeting between Vee and Gal and sets the tone for their relationship over the past five years - chilly at best and antagonistic at worst. As the daughter of a gambler who deserted his family, Vee has definite opinions about gamblers and doesn't hesitate to share them. They do their best to avoid each other when possible and keep their distance when it is not.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Vee and Gal develop. Their antagonism is overt, but underneath are sparks of attraction that neither will admit. They are, however, blazingly apparent to others. When Gal acquires the rest of the orphanage building, he decides to "make nice" with Vee and try to get on her good side before she finds out about his purchase. It's understandable but also slightly underhanded and has the likelihood of coming back to bite him in the future.
Vee isn't sure what to think when Gal stops being such a pain and turns on the charm. She doesn't trust him, but it doesn't take long before he begins to win her over.
There are some hilarious scenes between the two as they spend time together. One is the first card game they play against each other. Vee is undefeated in the family, Gal is a professional gambler, and the tension between them is palpable. Their second game, after she finds out about his purchase, is a lesson in distracting the other player, and Vee is masterful. There are other times when the banter between the two had me laughing out loud and wondering when they would see the light about their feelings for each other.
However, both have serious insecurities that they keep locked behind sturdy walls. Both lost their mothers at a young age, and both have fathers who are morally bankrupt. Vee's issues make her very judgmental toward Gal and make it difficult for her to trust him. After the loss of his mother and grandfather, Gal keeps his heart locked up and doesn't allow himself to get close to anyone. The more time they spend together, the more Gal and Vee begin to see past those walls and realize that their initial impressions of each other were inaccurate. But it still takes a near tragedy for the last bits of wall to crumble and for them to admit their feelings for each other. I loved the ending.
Some of the best scenes in the book involve Vee, Gal, and Vee's orphans. I loved Vee's devotion to them and desire to give them the best possible future. I enjoyed her surprise at how Gal connected with her three most troublesome boys. Gal won my heart by understanding what drove their actions and his practical methods of helping her with them. At the same time, the boys were very protective of Vee, and their desire to help her with the building issue created some memorable moments. I especially enjoyed the scene with the pigeons and its aftermath. There was also a heartwarming scene involving the three boys and their proposed apprenticeship at Gal's business.
The epilogue was terrific, and I enjoyed seeing the three couples a few years into the future.
#netgalley
