Stevie‘s review of Six Impossible Things (Rhymes With Love, Book 6) by Elizabeth Boyle
Historical Romance published by Avon 25 Apr 17
I’ve greatly enjoyed these witty and charming novels about the seemingly unmarriageable young ladies of Kempton. While I’m sad to see the series reach its conclusion, I’d rather it ended on a high note than dragged on beyond the point at which the stories still feel fresh. For the finale, we’re treated to the tale of how the villain of recent stories fully meets his comeuppance. With a healthy dose of romance for two of his arch-nemeses, of course.
Roselie Stratton isn’t from Kempton, although her brother has recently married one of those outrageous misses, but she has her own reasons for avoiding marriage. Told throughout her childhood that there is no place for a woman in the diplomatic service or the Foreign Office, she has nonetheless found a role as an agent for the Home Office. As her alter-ego Asteria, she has brought down a number of traitors and foreign spies, although so far the Marquess of Ilford, whom regular readers already know to be a wrong’un, has eluded her.
In pursuit of the same enemy of the state – and of Asteria, although for very different reasons – is Brody: Bradwell Garrick, Baron Rimswell. A longstanding acquaintance of Roselie and her brother, the chances of him discovering Asteria’s true identity are very high, and yet the pair are drawn to each other every time their paths cross, against Roselie’s better judgement, given the dangers and scandal she’ll face should her identity be revealed.
We’ve seen some of the events in this book before, from at least one other point of view; however, the changes in emphasis were very effective in preventing any of the plot threads from feeling tired. Nor does the marriage of convenience trope feel at all stale in this story: there’s so much else going on, and so many unexpected villains to be unmasked and outwitted, meaning plenty of originality to keep even nit-picky me happy all the way through.
I guessed some of the plot twists, and was alternately shocked, and pleasantly surprised, by others. Not all the secondary characters come out of this fight unscathed – or even survive to the end of the book – but we get tantalising glimpses of some of the men of Kempton, so maybe a spin-off series may be in the offing one day. The epilogue also hints at exciting adventures that easily deserve a book of their own, and for once gave me a happy satisfied feeling about the series as a whole, rather than leaving me wondering if the book would have ended better with the final proper chapter.
All in all, a fine conclusion to an excellent series.
Grade: A
Summary:
Lord Rimswell is a man of honor and absolutes. If he says something is impossible, it is. Yet his life of right and wrong is turned upside down when he finds himself in a compromising situation with the most unyielding, yet maddeningly beautiful, woman in London. If only he had not given in to the irresistible temptation to kiss her. Now he must marry her.
Miss Roselie Stratton is the very definition of impossible—headstrong, outspoken, and carrying a reticule of secrets that could ruin more than her reputation. Kissing Brody is hardly the most ruinous thing Roselie has ever done as a secret agent for the Home Office…nor will she let a marriage of convenience stop her from continuing her work. Little does Roselie realize that she has underestimated Brody’s resolve to keep her safe—for he has hopelessly fallen in love with her and is determined to do the impossible by stealing her heart in return.
Read an excerpt.
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