Great compilation with varied voices and approaches. Some of the neighborhood approaches felt more unique than others, but that's probably due to the limitations of "noir" as a specific genre. Really interesting to read during my trip to Barcelona!

I enjoyed the first book in Jeffries' detenu series, so I happily requested an ARC from Netgalley for this one. Unfortunately, I'm not sure it measures up for me.

We got a lot less of the detenu background, and it seems like Heathbrook's experiences in France were a lot less harrowing than Jon's. He was kind of a "reformed rake" but we're told it's been a while and not really given a good reason for his reformation besides getting custody of his brothers and maybe pining after Giselle? And this "rakish" past isn't even connected to his big secret or a end of book reveal.

Speaking of pining. We learn they had one kiss several years ago but with none of the context of their relationship beyond "he lived in her relative's boarding house". I didn't feel the yearning at all, and was surprised that they both claimed they'd been in love with the other all these years!

The ending felt rushed. A new twist was introduced, solved quickly and neatly, and the original external conflict (a man stalking Giselle and her mother) is hurriedly wrapped up. The solution to the twist is pretty flimsy, like a big ol christmas bow that looks impressive but is just a cheap sticker that doesn't even stick to the present.

I'll probably read the next book (likely following Chloe and Scovell), but this one really fell flat.

Thanks to Netgalley, Sabrina Jeffries, and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

One of the best historical rom coms I've read lately! I loved the setup (obviously, a take on You've Got Mail): Parish pits the best typesetter in London against a hot aristocrat who's invested in the printing machine that's going to make her career obsolete.

Although the setup for their letters is a bit flimsy (his sister is bored in bed following eye surgery, so she seeks out an anonymous penpal with which to discuss books; he starts corresponding with the penpal while facilitating the letter exchange situation), I thought the epistolary parts were incredibly charming. Parish really shows us why these two start falling for each other before they ever meet or even know much of anything about each other. We also see that they have good banter and flirtation in real life (not knowing who the other is).

I did want them to find out who the other person is a lot sooner than it actually happens, but the way Parish builds to the reveal is well done. Both characters need to grow on their own before they can even attempt to build something together. Eleanor in particular is arrogant and stubborn, but she's also so sympathetic. Peter is so similar, which is why they butt heads! He's intense and singlemindedly focused on his investment and completely ignorant to the real effects it has on people like Eleanor and her friends.

I thought the side characters were funny, but ultimately I think there were too many Peter sisters and too many Eleanor friends. Perhaps one or two in each case would have sufficed.

Worth noting: there's great sexual tension here and even a couple references to PG-13/R-rated activities, but Parish keeps it to some (very hot!) kissing. I personally prefer a bit more (even just some more kissing!), but it makes sense for the characters that they don't kiss until almost the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC!!

I loved this book so much that I had preordered a signed copy before I'd even finished my ARC (thanks Harper St. George and NetGalley!!)

It starts with Jenny proposing to David in the back of a carriage, which if I recall correctly we hear about in the previous book but don't actually see. You don't have to read the previous two books (but they're incredible, so you should), just know that these two have had sexual tension as side characters and their marriage will allow Jenny's sister Eliza to marry the prizefighter she's in love with. Jenny knows David wants her baaaad, so she offers him ONE NIGHT (the wedding night) before she goes to Paris for her latest role. To quote a text I sent my best friend, "he's like OHMYGODANYTHINGYOUWANT and she says 'we can live apart and you can sleep around bc you're reputedly very slutty and then we can get a divorce' and makes him promise NO KISSING and he's so upset about it."

They have their One Night (it's incredible) and Jenny leaves for Paris literally at the crack of dawn. David is so upset that he decides to go back to his old ways with a night out at a debauched sex party he used to frequent. He's trying to get it on with a former lover but he can't get hard and becomes convinced his dick is broken. You know what's not broken? The piercing. On his dick. Neither is his penis, in fact, because the second he sees a letter from Jenny on his desk, it decides to work again.

Anyway, it's great. Truly fantastic. Perfectly paced with brilliant characters. Even the side characters are compelling--I loved David's brother and his partner, and Jenny's mom really shines towards the end.

Steer clear if you're super sensitive about "cheating": David sleeps with another woman off-page the morning of the engagement party, although he was mostly desperate bc of anticipation for his night with Jenny and thought about her the whole time. That night, Jenny asks him to be celibate until the wedding night, which he is. Later, when he's trying to go back to his "old ways", there's some unenthusiastic kissing/fondling, but it's brief. During this time, Jenny has no expectations of fidelity and has told him he is free to cavort with whoever.

I liked this one quite a bit, particularly when it focused on the actual work of making the paper, but it didn't quite wow me like everyone else.

A very, very particular-to-me annoyance: the sex scenes are very monologue- and dialogue-heavy, and it gets repetitive. I don't enjoy praise kink/"good girl"/etc, so I felt like Ethan was Belle's personal orgasm cheerleader. Since I wasn't really buying in to the sex, I had a hard time seeing chemistry between the two. However, I get the feeling a lot of readers will really love the way their intimate moments are written! Just not for ME.

This isn't a negative commentary on the book, but I don't agree with the reviewers that felt a lot of tension and angst (except maybe in the last 10%). The stakes really didn't feel that high. Ethan has marketable skills and connections; he wouldn't end up destitute or in the workhouse if he failed. And Belle has a wonderful, supportive family. Not to mention Belle's dowry would have solved everything. I understand Ethan is Proud but I didn't get enough of his backstory to really understand why he would risk the careers of several people as well as his own happiness with the woman he loved. And he should have suffered a bit more.