This was an wonderful, well-written, heart-melting story from start to finish. With one of the best introductory scenes I might have ever read, this is one book I definitely recommend to anyone that loves fresh stories, unique twists, the right amount of drama, and characters full of emotions and wit. 

So, that scene; we are introduced to the Duke of Sunderford, or Sinful Sunny, in the most decadent and naughty way, giving us glimpse of what was yet to come * yum *
I love dukes. I don’t care how many fictitious dukes there are, I’ve read lots of them and I’ll probably continue reading them for the rest of my life. However, Sunny is by far the most deliciously wicked, cynical, charming duke I have ever read. He was the epitome of the perfect all-rounded scoundrel there could possibly exist, and yet in spite of all the flaws the haughty man might have had, he never lied! 

The plot itself was so much fun to read. One of the reasons my favorite trope is enemies to lovers is because of the verbal sparring, and this story satisfied my needs for it Every.Single.Time. The chemistry between Sunny and Isabel, the governess, simmered slowly until it burned a raging blaze at a perfect pace. Their love was believable and honest, just as the emotional attachment Sunny developed for his wards. Throughout the book we learn of Sunny and Isabel’s painful past, yet the story doesn’t dwell on it and instead it moves forward because of it. In truth, I think my only cavil is that as we neared the end I felt the scenes were being rushed. I’m not talking about the ending itself but the scenes that preluded the climax. Even so, the story delivered in every other way so I'm willing to overlook whatever faults I thought there were. 

** I received this book at no cost to me and I volunteered to read it; this is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.**

Adam, the Duke of Sunderford, also known as Sinful Sunny, enjoys his life of debauchery and has embraced it fully. When he is told that he is now ward to two twin 7 year old girls and a governess who is prudish and dull, he refuses to give up his vices. Isabel is living with a lot of secrets and has gone through a lot of heartache, so when the two girls end up in Adam’s care she doesn’t hide her displeasure or judgment of Adam’s chosen life style. Isabel and Adam butt heads from the very beginning and Adam thinks she is the least attractive and most dull woman he has ever met but he starts to see glimpses of a different side to her when she doesn’t think he is looking that starts to make Adam question who is the real Isabel. The twins also start to burrow under Adam’s skin and before he realizes it his old lifestyle no longer appeals. When Isabel and the girls rush back to Cornwall after his annual ball where things heated up, he comes to realize how much the girls and Isabel have come to mean to him. When they return, he promises Isabel to never again disrespect her, but when she finds out all of the changes he has made in his life to make the girls feel at home she can’t keep her distance any longer. But when Adam thinks that she betrayed him and means to steal the girls away from him he over reacts and fears that he might just have lost her for good. Lots of secrets have to be revealed for the two main characters to have their happily ever after and the way everything comes together in the end was great. It did have some slow parts and I would have liked a bit more added to the conclusion, but overall I enjoyed the story and the character interactions.

This is one I can see myself reading over and over again.

I LOVED this book. I loved the relationship between our leads, Harriet and Gideon. I love the fact that Harriet was such a steadfast and staunch defender of Gideon's. She leapt  to his defense (literally and figuratively) whenever anyone dared to speak ill of him. After hearing about his reputation very early in the book, she made up her own mind about him by his words and actions. And her trust in him would not be shaken. As for Gideon, it was heartening watching him come out from the darkness and realize the treasure he had in this woman who trusted and believed in him implicitly when not even his own parents did. The wonder and awe he felt was palpable. They had such a spark, and I many of their interactions had me grinning from ear to ear. 

This was just a very low angst book, romance wise, and I really, really enjoyed that. There was no Big Misunderstanding, neither of them were at all inclined to automatically believe the worst of the other, once they were together, they were together.

The only thing that kept me from giving this five stars is the fact that Harriet did have a few moments that were pretty much TSTL moments, and I felt it took Gideon far too long to confess his love for Harriet. I understand he'd been horribly, horribly burned in the past, but still.

I am using this book for this following square:

Book themes for Bon Om Touk: Read a book that takes place on the sea, near the sea, or on a lake or a river, or read a book that has water on the cover.

"The inevitable?", he demanded hoarsely. "Is that what you call it? Is that how you envision our lovemaking? An inevitable duty?"

"It was not unpleasant," she assured him quickly. "I did not mean to insult you. It was actually quite exciting in some ways. It definitely had its moments."

"Thank you," Gideon murmured dryly. "I tried."

"I know you did. One must make allowances for the uncomfortable bed we shared. I suppose. I do not imagine a rock floor is conducive to lovemaking."

I'll stop here, but this whole discussion has me cracking up. I love these two!