Lawrence Grant Talmadge Edington (Mars), the Earl of Marsden, is a driven man and has been since his father was killed during a duel. His father died in his arms and Mars swore revenge on the man, Lord Dervil, who killed his father. He also hasn’t spoken to his mother in those ten years because she was the cause of the duel. Mars has managed small bits of revenge over the years by preventing Dervil from purchasing a bit of land he wanted and thwarting some business associations, but the revenge he longs for, putting a bullet through the man’s heart, has illuded him so far. Of course, that thirst for revenge hasn’t slowed his other appetites – drink, women, opium. Yes, he is a rake and a reprobate, but he is also handsome, charming, and well-liked by all who know him. Well, all except his mother and Dervil like him. Oh, and that matron-in-training who lives in Maidenshop – she doesn’t like him either. But, since he doesn’t like her, there is no problem there.

Clarissa Taylor has long been the village of Maidenshops group project. She, nor the village, knows anything about her parentage. She was just found on the doorstep of the parsonage one day and the vicar and his wife took her in. They took good care of her and raised her well, but they weren’t particularly loving and demonstrative. After they passed, she was really at the mercy of the charity of others. She contributed, of course. She took care of others, took part in village functions, and did her very best to be useful. She was even betrothed for two years until she discovered her betrothed was really in love with someone else but was too much of a gentleman to break it off with her. She left the village after that to take a position as a paid companion to a demanding and grumpy old woman in London. She’s back in the village now – after a harrowing experience with the old woman’s nephew. That was a narrow escape! Except, now she doesn’t know what she’ll do. The matrons of the village will have a solution for her – she’s sure of it.

Mars had a particularly bad night of drinking and howling at the moon. Then, there is this loud, commotion downstairs – and it is getting louder and coming closer. OOOOhhhhhhh! He just needs a bit of a restorative to make his headache go away – but that is not what he is about to get. No, his former mistress is entering his bed-chamber – loudly – and handing him a small, squirming bundle. Uh Oh! It appears his parting gift to her was more than just an expensive coach and four. That sweet, smelly bundle turns out to be his daughter, Dora, and all it took was one look and he was totally and completely smitten. But, what did he know of caring for an infant? No problem – the matrons of the village will know how he can get the help he needs.

So, Mars needs a nurse for Dora, and Clarissa needs a position. How convenient! Except, they don’t like each other. Leave it to sweet Dora – all she has to do is smile at Clarissa and it is all over. Clarissa and Mars head back to Belvoir, his estate, only to find a very unexpected and unwelcome visitor is already there. Clarissa hasn’t even gotten in the door before Mars is introducing her to his mother – as his betrothed. Uh! Oh! Uh! Oh! Uh! Oh!

I thoroughly enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers story. The story was well developed and well written, but, goodness, the characters are so very lovely. Mars is a flawed man who doesn’t know what love is – nor is he capable of feeling it – or so he thinks. I loved watching both Clarissa and Mars come to understand themselves and each other better and to come to truly respect and love each other.

I can definitely recommend this book – and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. I don’t know if this is the last book in the series or not, but the Logical Men’s Society was dissolved during the book, so it could be the last. Who knows? There didn’t seem to be any hints in this book to set up the next one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )