Drewsmina "Drew" Treylayne was a wicked stepsister. Since her stepsister became a princess, Drew has been doing her best to become a better person and come to terms with her own insecurities. That has led her to the concept of opening a finishing school for young ladies--she just needs the funds.

Enter Ian, the Duke of Lachlan. Living as a smuggler, he's been cut off from society for some time--which puts him at a disadvantage when his estranged sister comes to town with her two daughters. Not only will having them properly finished give them an opportunity to marry well; it could also give Ian the opportunity to reenter society.

The only trouble is that Ian is immediately attracted to Drew, which makes it all the easier for them to end up in a scandalous embrace...

I'll be honest--I think that the big issue with this one is the heroine. The hero is kind of gruff and cranky and does have that DILF energy we're all looking for... But the heroine is at a point in her journey where she's trying to be good. And her previous actions are being explained through her issues and insecurities, and I just...

I heard of this book being promoted as the wicked stepsister's love story--and when I heard that, I assumed she'd be a bit bitchier. I love a bitchy heroine. We don't get enough of them. And to be frank, we don't get one here. Drew is a good girl, and while that's fine... Her path to redemption really began before this book kicks off. So the wicked stepsister connection is fairly tangential.

In every other sense, this is a fairly soft, fairly straightforward romance. I did like the deflowering scene--there's a bit of that teach me vibe... But I couldn't really shake the idea that the book would've had more of an edge if we'd started earlier in Drew's path to redemption.

If you're into the daddy hero vibe with a softer landing point, this book will work for you. I just wanted more from the heroine.

Thank you to Netgalley for proving a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Received a copy for review.*
I was intrigued to read a book with a redeemed stepsister.
Drewsmina is ready to move not a new phase of her life. Now that she is away from her horrid mother, her stepsister is helping her find some young women to polish before the season.
Ian is relieved to have his sister and nieces home but has no idea what to do with them. His sister appears off with the fairies a lot of the time. He doesn’t know what happened to them after the death of their father.
The tropes; boss/employee, forced proximity, educational sexy times;
The educational aspects of this book are so well done. He is a dirty talker but not in the way you expect. The birdwatching was top notch.
It doesn’t get a full five stars because it felt like it lost it’s way a bit at the end.
It was a delight to read and I really loved Drew.