Bow Street agent Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, doesn’t believe in love—until a passionate kiss with a beautiful stranger in a brothel forces him to reconsider. When the mysterious woman is linked to an intrigue involving a missing Russian princess, however, Seb realizes her air of innocence was too good to be true.

Princess Anastasia Denisova has been hiding in London as plain ‘Anna Brown’. With a dangerous traitor hot on her trail, her best option is to accept Wolff’s offer of protection—and accommodation—at his gambling hell. But living in such close quarters, and aiding Wolff in his Bow Street cases, fans the flames of their mutual attraction. If Anya’s true identity is revealed, does their romance stand a chance? Could a princess ever marry a rogue?

This is the first book by this author that I have had the pleasure to read and review for all of you.  I must tell you how delighted I am that even though this book is part of a series it 100% reads like a stand-alone.  So much so that I didn’t realize it was part of a series until I looked at the cover page to make sure I spelled the author’s name correctly while writing this review.  That being said I am really hopeful that we will get to share more of not only this series but this author with each other.  Because this is one of those books where you fall in love with the heroine’s tenacity and will to survive on the first page, then find yourself sucking in your breath in anticipation of the perils she faces, knowing full well she is amazing and will doubtlessly pull through unscathed.  This book has it all: a notorious and handsome rogue, a brothel, faithful friends, a terrible villain, suspense, and above all things true love that conquers even the most cynical of hearts.  With that being said; I adored these characters, loved the way the author wrote their story, and from start to finish enjoyed this book immensely. 

After the death of her brother, Russian, Princess Anastasia “Anya” Denisova found herself stranded in Paris and resorting to desperate measures to keep from being forced into a marriage with the abusive traitor, Count Vasili Petrov.  After faking her own suicide and fleeing to England we find Anya living in Covent Garden, next to Mrs. Haye’s brothel and working as a part time companion to the Dowager Duchess of Winwick.   Doing her best to maintain her new identity becomes impossible when Count Petrov not only comes to London circulating a story that he is looking for his lost fiancé but is spotted leaving Mrs. Haye’s.  With help of her employer, who has become a dear friend and only one of two people in her new life who knows her true identity, she must go into hiding.  It is decided, after a failed kidnapping attempt was made on her, that the safest place for her to lay low until Petrov returns to Russia is in the private residence rooms of Tricorn Club, under the protection of the Duchess’ nephew.  Should she trust him with her true identity?  Will he be able to keep her safe? 

Sebastian Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, notorious rogue by night, partial Tricorn Club owner and Bow Street investigator by day, has been given an assignment; to investigate the possibility of a Russian spy who was giving information to Napoleon.  Dedicated to his pursuit of the truth and his bachelor life he has no time for or belief in the idea of love, that is until a onetime meeting with a mysterious woman in a brothel who plagues his thoughts and dreams.  Never thinking he would cross paths with her again she was the last person he expected to see when he set out to protect his great aunt while she traveled to their country home.  After rescuing her from an attempting kidnapping and at his great aunts most ardent request, he takes on the task of protecting and hiding her from those who wish her ill.  He knows she is hiding something from him and possibly his great aunt and while she is living under his roof he is determined to find out what it is.  Conveniently, as he works to uncover her secrets he finds that not only is she beautiful, well mannered, and enchanting, but that she may just be his best lead in the investigation of the Russian spy.  Will he uncover her secrets and what will he do with them if he does?  

I really enjoyed this book and am excited to read more from this author and this series.  Let me know what you think.