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Jun 06, 2018cganderson rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one and am sad I waited so long to read it. (I hesitated because of a review that thought it focused too much on toilets.) It turns out the sewer/waterworks system was a key plot point and a way to move the story forward. And it was interesting - a good reminder about how far we've come. I found myself really liking these characters, as well as the subarc development of the other characters in this overall series. And I really like our heroine, especially when she finally just lashed out at our 'hero', not just for his dismissive treatment of her, but also because he failed to recognize her intelligence and management ability. She has fire, intelligence, empathy and the ability to manage her own multimillion dollar business/inheritance - and she knows it. It was great for James (author) to finally have a heroine that was (in essence) a successful businesswoman...and yes James has a few others, but often, she tends to focus more on traditional roles (ignoring the fact that many women were not the stereotype we've all been fed...) And this book, unlike some of her others (which has been one of my criticisms of James), is solid and doesn't bring back a character from the dead, or borrow too much from a real-life historical figure (like Kleypas does), or make major faux pas in historical details. James' plots are always daring, her characters often quite vivid/funny/outspoken, and when she's not making lazy/erroneous faux pas (sometimes it feels like her books are written 'by committee' and not for the better), then her work is clearly as good or better than the eloquent, lush prose (and often more pedestrian/stereotypical/'copied' characters) of Kleypas. Though don't get me wrong, I like Kleypas, too...or at least her Hathaway and Wallflower series. :) Though I do rather wish that more of James' 'heroes' would be less jerk-like. Frankly, I often want the heroine to punch them out, walk away and 'not forgive them but find someone better!' :)