Boundless by Lynne Connolly
The Shaws #3

Secrets, scandals and serious issues abound in this book. Lady Livia Shaw is saved one night by Adrian Sterling, the Duke of Preston and when she realizes she has lost something precious when she was attacked on the streets he offers his assistance in finding the missing object. I don’t want to give away the secrets or tell too much about this book as it all weaves together in a way that kept me interested from beginning to end. I loved the growing relationship between Livia and Adrian and the people they both were. I enjoyed the supportive family Livia was blessed with. At times I felt sad, angry and happy for the couple and also was angry that they had to suffer so much. They seemed to suit one another to a T and so deserved the happiness they achieved together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )

Two people with deep dark secrets find their HEA in this excellently written third (and final) entry in the Shaws series. With many books, when the secrets are revealed, you wonder why it was a big deal to anyone. That isn’t the case with this book. You can see why both will go to almost any lengths to maintain their secrets. The characters are likable and relatable and the situation will make your heart bleed for each of them. While it is a bit slow paced, it is an excellent read.

Lady Livia Shaw is the last unmarried child in her family – and she intends to keep it that way. She can’t marry because she has a deep, dark secret that she would have to reveal to the man she marries, and she just cannot – will not – do that. She’s a beautiful woman, wealthy in her own right and has had many suitors, but she rebuffs them all.

Adrian, the Duke of Preston is the subject of many rumors and he’s never cared enough to refute any of them even though most of them are untrue. He doesn’t care what others think of him – even though they call him the Blackamoor Duke. He knows the truth and that is good enough for him – after all, he is a Duke and can do what he likes.

Livia was set upon by a group of street urchins just after she left an orphanage in an unsavory part of London. She had actually fled the orphanage – alone. When she is rescued by a tall, handsome man she is very grateful. However, when she realizes who he is and that he has taken her into the home of his mistress – alone – she is ready to leave immediately. Then, as she is leaving, he kisses her – deep and long – right on the street. That sets tongues to wagging!

Livia vows never to interact with the Duke again – not in any way. Adrian is intrigued by Livia and is determined to encounter her again. Livia’s plans are thwarted when she realizes that she’s lost her most precious possession – a small brooch. She doesn’t know if the urchins stole it or if she lost it inside the home of the duke’s mistress. She has no other choice, she must approach him to ask if it is inside the home. When he doesn’t find it at the home of his mistress (actually ex-mistress), he vows he will find and retrieve it for her.

Adrian and Livia have begun a long series of interactions and encounters that bring them closer and closer and make Livia more and more fearful for her secrets. She instinctually trusts Adrian in spite of his reputation, but she cannot share her secret with him. Actually, for someone from a family filled with rogues and is supposed to be totally non-judgmental, I think Livia did a lot of judging of Adrian. She believed rumors much too quickly and easily and didn’t compare them with the man she had actually come to know.

The pace picks up toward the end of the book when the bad guy is identified, secrets are revealed and love is acknowledged. I loved the Shaws and am looking forward to seeing what happens next since this is the last book in the series.

I can happily recommend this book because I think you will enjoy the read.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher." ( )

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netalley) I love the Shaw's and the Emperors this family was the best. They may have a scandalous background but what I enjoyed the most from them was the loyalty they always stuck up for each other or didn't judge. This was Livia's book and her love interest Adam, can I say how much I loved Adam, well I did he became my favorite. Adam was known as the blackamour Duke and as scandalous as they come he even beats the Shaw's and Emperor if you could believe that, so saying that he fit right in with this family. Livia was carrying a secret and due to it she felt she could never get married, but thanks to Adam she could he didn't care about her background and he proved it more than once and he was great..Her young love interest returns from the army and was a horrible person and a liar to boot and you know he is here to cause problems but again Adam is not going to let him...No more details my friends grab a copy and Enjoy!, because you will. ( )