Tess Hawthorne would rather be home in Norfolk, even though she’s seen as the “scandalous spinster of Wiggenstow.” But she’s happy to have found a job, so she’s in London helping a rich woman catalog her library, until a run-in with a “tall, broad-shouldered madman” leads to her losing her position. Back home, she’s excited to learn that a rich American has agreed to finance a dig in her town that she’s longed to work on—then discovers that the rogue from the library will be running things on the funder’s behalf. Dominic Prince comes from a family of antiquarians, so Tess has to admit he’s ideal to lead the project. They make peace after Dominic apologizes and welcomes her on the dig, though she’s dismayed to hear that any discoveries aren’t likely to stay in England. Despite her misgivings, they fall into an easy pattern, which leads to an undeniable attraction that turns physical quickly. And though their connection only deepens from there, things get more complicated when the dig starts turning up unexpected treasures. The second entry in the Princes of London series is a charming, low-stakes romance with lots of fun archaeological details based in the actual history of the area (though with a few small tweaks to the timeline). Tess and Dominic have a kind, easy chemistry that will please readers looking for a cozy story, as their relationship is both spicy and straightforward. Though this is a fairly traditional Victorian romance in many ways, the focus on Norfolk over London is compelling, and Carlyle’s fans will love the clever heroine who prefers digging for ancient artifacts over digging into society drama.
