When the past won’t let go, but you find an ally tagging along

Synopsis

A forbidden attraction
To the mysterious valet…

With nowhere else to go, penniless Sofia Guaro has been the guest of her brother’s grand British in-laws, feeling stifled. Her only escape is sneaking out to explore London with the family valet—broodingly handsome Josiah Meadows…

Josiah gets drawn back into his criminal past when he is forced to take one last mission to retrieve a painting from Cornwall—and Sofia won’t be left behind! He must resist his beguiling accomplice. After all, having sworn never to return to his own aristocratic family, can he ever be the man she deserves?  

Content Notes 

Mild violence 

Blackmail

Mention of parental loss

Character(s) engaging in criminal activities 

Character(s) having suffered trauma (incl. past parental abuse)

Character having suffered homophobic discrimination 

My review

Sofia’s Guaro changed a lot the past years. From being a rogue somehow, she is now staying as a guest of her brother’s British in – laws. While she truly appreciates the friends she has made that are looking after her, she cannot help but feel trapped, forced to abide by the “laws” of society. But Sofia wouldn’t be Sofia if she would find a way to escape and explore London. Even if she knows that the family valet is keeping an eye on her. It makes Sofia feel more secure knowing that Josiah Meadows is not letting her out of his sight. He takes his job very seriously, and keeps his distance from the family, despite everyone sees him more than just a valet. Because his past is not something he is proud of and does not want to taint the people that gave him a chance. But when his past catches up with him, he has no other choice to go on one last mission, to retrieve painting in Cornwall. What Josiah did not expect is that the stubbornness of Sofia would mean that she will go together with him at any cost. As Sofia and Josiah both have a past that haunt them, it is also that what brings them closer during this ‘adventure’. But Josiah feels that he can never be the man that Sofia needs and deserves, especially as there is one thing about his past that he has walked away from and sworn to never return to…

It’s not a secret that I enjoy thins type of books, even if there are some kind of people that look down on it. But I think that if a book brings you pleasure, it doesn’t matter what genre the story is. So all the haters: be gone! 😊

There are several reasons that I liked Sofia right from the start. It won’t surprise you that one of those reasons is that she is Italian. That made already a first connection with me. But somehow, I also liked it that she has had a troubled past and that she is streetwise. And that cheekiness that she had as a younger person, is not something she has lost overtime. Yes, of course she has changed her life now, and is behaving like expected. But there is clearly still a fire in her, that needs to escape at moments.

But I liked it also how she appreciates the turn her life has made, and she appreciates her friends and her family, even if especially her mother isn’t always an easy character.

Despite her background that has thought her how to trick people, with a lie here and there, she also has this genuineness in her. When she likes a person (and I don’t mean this per se in a romantic way), she truly likes them. There isn’t a pretending, faking. Her feelings are genuine, real.

And that is something we see with Josiah. Because no matter how hard Josiah tries to keep Sofia at distance, to keep things ‘professional’, Sofia won’t allow it. She knows that Josiah will always have her back, that he will always protect her. But Josiah does not realize, or doesn’t want to realize that Sofia wants to do the same for him.

Josiah may seem like a real rogue at the start of the book, and even a distant, cold perhaps. But it becomes very clear that his behaviour is not only to protect the people around him, but also self – preservation. Even if we don’t know exactly what kind of past he is keeping hidden.

Even if the truth about Josiah, his background, is revealed later on, his story shows how life can turn around, how guilt can change your life course. And how meeting one person can take you on a path, make you do things you didn’t imagine before.

I can comprehend that Josiah wasn’t all that thrilled that Sofia is adamant to accompany him on his forced quest. This is something Josiah needs to do on his own, and doesn’t want to put Sofia in any kind of danger.

Which made me snigger a little bit, because doesn’t he know Sofia at all? 😊

I have to admit, that the more I got to know Josiah, yes there were bits that frustrated me, but he also knows who he is, and he isn’t ashamed of it at all. I know, I am talking in riddles here, but you’ll understand me when you are reading this book 😊.

Now, this isn’t a complete happy – happy – joy – joy book, because we see how the past can still cause a lot of trouble in the present. And that it can force you to do things you don’t want to do (anymore). But for love and care for your loved ones, you are always willing to do everything, right?

And love, romance, that has to be in this story too, right? It’s obvious that there is already something simmering between Sofia and Josiah early on. But again that troubled past that is holding the both of them somehow back. Yes, when there is an evolution taking place between the pair, it would seemingly be on clear agreement that it is only temporarily, with no string attached. But we all know…

I was also very curious to read how the story would evolve, how things would shift with just reading along. And while I knew how it would end, I just needed to know how they would get there, what other hurdles there would be for the pair of them to get to that ending we are all crossing our fingers for.

Lotte wrote a story that is a little bit different than others in this genre. But as it is different, it also made it better in my opinion. It kept me somehow alert, as I didn’t know what to expect next from the characters. This story for sure kept my attention every reading session I had. And beside all the general and usual emotions I had while reading, I couldn’t keep that extra smile whenever Sofia was talking, thinking, cursing in Italian 😊!