And as they slowly worked through those, I got a better sense of both of them. They had serious trust and communication issues. And in some ways that made sense for the story. I didn’t have a good feel for Drusilla or Gabriel. I struggled to feel connected to the characters and the story early on.

The larger story eventually comes, but in the second half of the book. The villain is more of an annoyance than a true threat until after Drusilla and Gabriel become engaged. I expected a bigger, larger story to start the novel, and then for that larger story to carry all the way through the book. This starts primarily with Eva, Drusilla, and Gabriel. (Book 2, Outrageous, is scheduled to release in the summer of 2021.) This is the first book in a new Rebels of the Ton series. Assumptions and Lord Visel piled on top could derail their relationship before it even has a chance. But each of them bring burdens and expectations to this new marriage. In the end, though, the only way to salvage the situation for Drusilla – besides the duel – was for Gabriel to marry her. When he went looking for the women after an absence, he found Drusilla alone with the foul Lord Visel.

When Drusilla’s aunt fell sick at the party, Gabriel became the responsible chaperone for Drusilla and his step-sister Eva. She never expects him to end up challenged to a dual over her honor. He goads her, and before she knows it, they are bickering. He makes her pulse race – and her temper flare. Secretly, Drusilla Clare has been in love with her best friend’s step-brother, Gabriel Marlington, for years.

Notorious by Minerva Spencer