Veena’s review of The Cutthroat Countess (Wicked Women of Whitechapel, Book 3) by Minerva Spencer
Historical Romance published by Kensington Books 24 Oct 23
I thoroughly enjoyed this controversial-for-its-time series featuring three unconventional women with gifts they use to earn an honest living. When three aristocrats join the Farnham Fantastical Acts with their own agenda in mind, there’s bound to be chaos and chemistry. With two of the three leading female acts accounted for, it’s time for the blade-wielding performer to come into her own.
Jo has a host of secrets and connections that she uses, first, to rescue Elliot, himself a spy for the crown, and then, second, allies with him and all his friends and family. Despite the growing closeness between the two, a future is not in the cards for them, given that Elliot needs to marry a peer, a woman approved by his grandmother, and Jo doesn’t have any blue blood. Or does she?
Jo finds out that her past is not what she believed it to be and that someone is willing to keep the secrets from that past buried. Can she and Elliot overcome the obstacles in their path to find their happily ever after?
A fitting ending to the series. I definitely recommend reading the entire series and not just this one book.
Grade: A
Summary:
Before Josephine Brown began working as a blade expert for Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre, she’d never stayed put for long. She’d never had friends, either. Nor had she allowed herself to open her heart to a man. Yet now, as part owner of the circus, she’s suddenly forming real friendships. And then there is her attraction to clever, handsome Honorable Elliot Wingate—whose life she happened to save. After forever fleeing her past, the last man she should choose is one who ferrets out secrets on behalf of King and Country . . .
Elliot was fascinated by Jo “Blade” Brown even before he witnessed her lethal gifts, firsthand. He’s never met a woman who is such an intoxicating combination of self-sufficiency, beauty, and mystery. He’s never been in love before, but there is no denying he’s fallen hard. Yet each time Elliot tries to get closer to Jo, she slips farther away. If he reveals what’s in his heart, will he risk driving her away for good?
As their investigation—and her feelings for Elliot—stir up Jo’s deeply buried, extremely dangerous secrets, she’ll have to decide whether to run once again, or trust somebody at last . . .
