4.5 stars. ( )

Privacy is something most of us take for granted, at least where our personal lives are concerned. I know I’d never miss mine unless it was threatened – and then I’m sure I’d realize quite quickly that it is a treasure to be protected, especially when it comes under attack. Lack of privacy is something celebrities and politicians face on a daily basis, but how they deal with it varies from person to person.

The two main characters of this novel, Army vet Jack and aristocrat Edward, are both in the public eye, if for different reasons, and have accepted it as part of what they do. But when they become involved and their relationship might be exposed with adverse consequences for the work they do, it is a different matter. This novel is the story of not just their romance, but also their dilemma: will they deny what is going on, break up, and continue their charitable work or will they accept living their life in the public eye so they can be together. Not an easy decision in any circumstances, but it is far more stressful since they have to make it while the press haunts them and public pressure almost crushes them.

Jack is an Army veteran, has dealt with addiction, and has found new purpose working for Those Returned, a charity for veterans. He is just trying to do the decent thing, helping those who have fallen on harder times than he did, and he is excellent at it. Good enough to have garnered a reputation with the press, and for his boss to send him to gala events so he can collect much-needed donations. When he is tasked with “recruiting” a celebrity aristocrat for their cause, he not only captures the man’s financial contribution, but his personal attention, interest, and dedication as well.

Edward is an aristocrat, has dedicated his life to charitable work, and is used to living in the public eye. His carefully constructed public persona has almost nothing in common with the man he is underneath the cover, and that is exactly how he wants it. Meeting Jack and falling for him is not part of the plan, but Edward will not deny his feelings either. While coming out was never Edward’s intention, lying about who he is, now that he has a man to love, is not in Edward’s character. I loved how steadfast he is, how undeterred by a situation he never envisaged.

The secondary characters deserve mention as well. Edward’s parents are wonderfully eccentric English aristocrats in the traditional sense and not phased by much. Jack’s boss is supportive, knows what he wants, and just the right man to run the charity and keep Jack occupied. The villain is a truly hateful individual and I was tempted to strangle him more than once – which is as it should be. The setting of contemporary England was utterly believable, and the relentlessness of the paparazzi exactly as I have seen it play out multiple times over the years.

If you like stories about men from different worlds who meet and need to figure out how to live together, if you enjoy a suspenseful, exciting contemporary story that carries a touch of fairy tale magic (gorgeous “prince” included), and if you’re looking for a heartwarming read about amazing men who have to fight for the right to live their lives the way they choose, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It’s going in the reread file for sure.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )