Tristan Stratford was a Bow Street Runner, in fact a very good one, until his older brother died. Now he is the Earl of Gray. Sophie Monmouth is an orphan who is part of the Clifford Charity School for Wayward Girls (at least that’s what is says on the sign). Lady Clifford has schooled her students with the routine skills of reading and writing, and investigative skills to rival Bow Street (just not the authority). Tristan watches Sophie climb down from his neighbor’s roof and chases her. Sparks fly, not the romantic kind, not just yet. They discover that they are interested in the same murder case, but for different reasons. Can they work together to solve the murder? How long will they fight the attraction growing between them? Tristan and Sophie are so good together. Both are smart, caring, and protective. The other characters in the story are likeable and engaging. This story has drama, danger, romance, and a good dose of snarky humor. The mystery that is a real page turner; the villains somewhat surprising. This an awesome beginning to this series. I look forward to the further adventures of Lady Clifford and the girls of her school. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This is a book where the characters really sit with you after you have finished the last page. Tristan Stratford, Lord Gray, is a man who a woman wants by her side, and in her boudoir. He is a strong man with righteous morals, but also a man with compassion and love to give. Sophia Monmouth is a woman who is also strong, and independent, but not so independent that she will not take help when she is in need. The story revolves around Sophia needing to find justice for a friend who has been accused of murder, and Tristan also also wants to find justice for a friend. His friend, however, is the man who was murdered. Their goals seem at odds, and of course like any good romance, that sets up for a clash of wills, and attraction. When Sophia realizes she needs Lord Gray to help her to free her friend, she challenges him to go against some of his set in stone morality; to face the true colors of the life of those beneath his station. This is compounded by his previous job of having been a Bow Street Runner who was used to following the laws by the book. Sophia’s methods slide more to the other side of the law. In their pursuit of justice, they also find attraction, and that is where the best part of the book lies. The author has woven the mystery, and justice story very brilliantly into the falling love, and tension all lovers of the romance genre enjoy. You cheer for their relationship, and feel the emotions as you turn the pages into the next chapter. This is the kind of book you stay up all night to read, and hate that your eyes get heavy. You fall into the world and get lost in the atmosphere and the lives of the characters, so much, you almost feel like they are your close friends. When the book is over, they stay with you; and truthfully, I had a bit of a book hangover from it. This, is to be the beginning of a new series, I believe, and the other ladies in the Clifford Charity School for Wayward Girls which Sophia resided I am sure will most likely be part of the other books. I am particular interested in knowing more about several of them, and anxiously await the next novel.