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It has been a hot minute since I last picked up a book, and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting the first one to catch my eye to be a historical suspense novel – but here we are.
This is a new-to-me author, and let me just tell you, I absolutely loved every bit of this love story. I think I’ll be recommending it forever.
I live for slow-burn romance books, especially when there’s a much bigger and, in my opinion, smarter plot – and that’s exactly what we get here.
There’s everything from lovely family dynamics to a sweet, slow romance between the leads, plus an absolutely amazing mystery plot with several stakeholders that will keep you guessing from start to finish.
One thing I always look for in a mystery thriller or suspense book is smart characters, and you guys, Robin and Phoebe were an amazing duo. They complemented each other in so many ways, even though there were times I felt they could have taken a step back.
They’re both so fierce, so strong, and so determined to piece together the mystery and find her brother.
That’s one thing that kept me interested throughout the book – even though the romance was very much on the back burner most of the time.
And I can’t speak for other people, but whenever I’m reading a historical romance – not historical fiction or a historical fiction book with romance, but a historical romance – I’m not really focused on the date.
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Usually, historical events aren’t central to the plot. But in this book? I literally had to pause and do a little research because I just loved how everything came together.
For context, this book is set in 1835, a time when London’s police force was just getting started. Aside from the negative connotations of the police, there was a lot of drama, and they didn’t even have investigative powers yet.
That’s our male protagonist’s dilemma – he wants to work with the police and be a detective, but since the system doesn’t allow for that yet, he has to make a name for himself with this case. And that’s why he’s so determined.
Phoebe, in my opinion, definitely has the most character development in this book. She starts off as a somewhat naive, average woman in the 19th century, just coming to terms with the fact that she may not have much control over her life.
She’s trying to find her place in the world and is so fed up with being patronized by everyone while searching for her brother. She is motivated, determined, and honestly? She gives Robin a run for his money.
She may not aspire to be a detective, but she’s willing to do whatever it takes to find her brother – even throwing herself into danger once or twice.
And if you’ve ever read a book about a missing person – whether it’s true crime or a mystery – you know the kind of emotional undercurrent that comes with it.
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That’s something we see here, and it’s so clear from the beginning. Even though this is historical romance and I wasn’t expecting that level of emotional depth, I was blown away.
I could feel Phoebe’s pain, her desperation, and how her world tilted overnight. She had to come to grips with the fact that no one was truly helping her, and the people she thought she could trust? She couldn’t.
One thing I particularly loved about the missing-person element was how both leads engaged with it in very different ways.
Phoebe is a society girl who has lost her brother – she’s in pain and doing everything she can to get him back. Meanwhile, Robin is a lost boy – he and his mother were on the run after something (which you’ll find out in the book) happened.
He was eventually picked up by someone who became a father figure to him and several other boys, so he grew up in a found family of sorts. Now, he’s determined to keep boys off the streets, even though he won’t fully admit that to himself.
So, we have Phoebe, who is learning and determined, and Robin, who is reluctant but equally determined. Watching these two forces collide, repel, and come together again was fantastic.
Now, my only issue with this book is that I found the title a little misleading. From the beginning, we know Robin grew up in a foster-like home and has a strong found family. But the title, which refers to him as a secret lord, made me think his identity would play a major role in the story.
Instead, it’s barely touched on until the last 15% of the book. I’m not saying this is a bad thing – after all, you can’t tackle every plotline in a single book without making it too long or disjointed, but when a title makes a promise, I expect it to deliver.
So, if you’re going in expecting a story about a man who suddenly discovers his noble identity while juggling detective work and his growing attraction to Phoebe, this might not be the book for you. Because that’s not the story.
I love this book so much – if that isn’t obvious. While reading, I kept thinking about one of my favorite books, Her Protector’s Pleasure by Grace Callaway, which I always recommend to anyone looking for a steamy historical romance.
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That said, I should mention that this book isn’t steamy at all. There’s only one kiss, and while there are moments of romantic tension, it remains very much a clean romance.
Grace Callaway’s book, on the other hand, is not clean, but both have that same tension between two people from different social classes.
Plus, both feature strong-willed female leads who don’t take nonsense and will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals – so that’s a bonus, no matter what.
I totally recommend this book if you’re looking for a 2025 release to add to your TBR. And if you want even more romance books coming out in 2025, make sure to check out this page!
