Stevie‘s review of Boundless (The Shaws, Book 3) by Lynne Connolly
Historical Romance published by Lyrical Press 04 Dec 18
I’m always sorry to see one of Lynne Connolly’s excellent historical series come to an end, and The Shaws has been particularly enjoyable. Of course, there was bound to come a point when everyone had been paired off, and the only remaining sibling of this bunch has already decided she won’t ever marry long before the start of our story. But then events transpire to make her change her mind.
Lady Livia Shaw cuts short her visit to an orphanage, only to be attacked and robbed by a gang of urchins as she makes her way to where she was scheduled to be collected. Fortunately, the occupant of a passing hackney cab comes to her rescue and takes her back to the house he just left. Unfortunately for Livia’s reputation, her saviour is Adrian, the notorious Duke of Preston, and the house belongs to his most recent, now former, mistress: an actress. Adrian is a widower, and the subject of many scandalous rumours, not least the one that states his father was not the previous duke’s son but instead was his mother’s favourite black page. Following his wife’s death, Adrian has all but vowed not to remarry, other than for the fact that he requires a direct heir if he is to prevent his cousin from inheriting the title and estates on Adrian’s death.
Livia, meanwhile, has secrets of her own, one of which lies behind her visit to the orphanage. Having returned home to a scolding from her mother, she realises that she has lost her treasured locket, also linked to that same secret. Hoping that it fell off while Adrian was attending to her, she asks him to help her find it.
Adrian goes beyond Livia’s initial request to check the house for the locket, returning also to the orphanage, where he acquires an unlikely sidekick and learns that the locket may have been stolen to order. Intrigued as to the importance of a cheap piece of jewellery, Adrian sets out to track down the thief and learn more about Livia in the process.
As the pair spend increasing amounts of time together, they grow closer, until they are eventually caught in a compromising situation, which, as is the way of these things, gets blown out of all proportion. Adrian tries to save Livia’s reputation and the pair agree to a betrothal, secretly planning to allow a prolonged engagement to eventually fizzle out, once Society has moved on to other scandals.
While Livia is keen to stick with this plan, Adrian finds that he can’t envision life without her – even after learning the full extent of her secrets – and eventually feels able to take her back to his ancestral home where he can best reveal the truth of his own background.
This was quite possibly my favourite book of the series. Although there are no great political intrigues, we get to follow Adrian through some less travelled parts of historical London and see some of its seedier sides. I’m still sorry to see this series end, but at least it went out on a high.
Grade: A
Read Veena’s review here.
Summary:
She’s the unlikely wallflower of the extraordinary Shaw family. A woman who will never marry, but not for the reasons you might think…
Attacked on the streets of London, Lady Livia Shaw is relieved when a gentleman comes to her aid—and startled to discover her rescuer is Adrian, the Duke of Preston, a notorious rogue. But their association—and instant attraction—does not end there, much to the Shaws’ distress. For Livia was robbed of a memento—one that is both her most precious possession and a reminder of a shameful secret. It is a secret she knows will cause her to lose Adrian forever, yet he is determined to track down the thief…
Adrian never wanted to be anyone’s hero, but now he’s finding the prospect as pleasing as he does Livia’s company, and her beauty. Certainly he wants her in his bed, but what surprises him is how much she comes to mean to him. Which is why the revelation of her scandalous past is nearly his undoing. Arrogantly, he had assumed only he had the power to shock. But it is too late to turn back, and now Adrian may have to risk everything for Livia, even his heart…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
