ARC Review: Lady Anne's Lover by Maggie Robinson

Lady Anne's Lover is the third and final book in the London List series. Characters from the previous books briefly appear in this one, but it will work as a stand-alone. The story has many dimensions including murder, sexual abuse, loss of a limb, alcoholism, and mystery. In spite of all of these issues it is a well written, straight forward romance that works on many levels.

Nineteen year old Lady Imaculata Anne Egremont has run away from her abusive father and plans to work as a housekeeper until she reaches her majority. She takes a job in the household of Major Gareth Ripton-Jones. He is an impoverished war hero that lost an arm in an accident and is accused of murdering his fiance'. When the renamed Mrs. Anne Mont arrives she finds the house a complete mess and Gareth wallowing in alcohol. The two gradually form a relationship and decide to marry and use her dowry to rehabilitate his property. But troubles complicate things before they say “I do.” Anne has several suspicious “accidents.” Gareth struggles to give up alcohol. And Anne hesitates to tell him about her scandalous past in London (described in the previous books). These two wounded people have a rough time getting to their happily ever after.

I really enjoyed Lady Anne's Lover. Maggie Robinson is a skilled writer and she made me understand both the hero and the heroine. I liked the setting in Wales (1820-21); it was a little different. There was plenty of steam, but it was sweet and sensitive. Robinson doesn't spend a lot of time dwelling on the serious issues. This is not a deep, angsty book. But she does allow the characters to find their own way to deal with their troubles. The mystery was not too mysterious and the resolution with her father was a little too easy, but this is a very likeable story that any historical romance reader would enjoy.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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