Goodger has a knack for writing poignant and emotional scenes for her heroes that simply tug at my heart. Thankfully, Nathaniel's POV was strong here; I wouldn't have enjoyed it half as much otherwise. There was enough overlap with The Earl Most Likely, Clara's sister Harriet's story, taking place simultaneously, to make me feel like I was rereading the first, which I found annoying because it frequently pulled me out of the present one. And their vastly different relationship with their mother was so jarring that I felt like I was reading about two mothers. I simply couldn't reconcile the two. But if you're hungry for insightful and even desperate heroes, Nathaniel's ruse and subsequent quandary will made the read worthwhile.
