3.5 stars rounded up. 
 I've always liked Tessa Dare's books, but even more, I like her. I may or may not have fist-pumped when I read the "nevertheless, she persisted" clapback at Mitch McConnell. 
 Dare is funny. Wicked funny. Was the book silly? Yes. So silly. Readers who want something more serious? Serious, this is not. However, it is not devoid of serious moments or substantive moments. 
 This read like a historical romance, but I found myself questioning the accuracy of various aspects. Accuracy issues aren't new to historical romances, though. I just didn't feel tuned into the setting, and I'm not even referring to the modern-day references, e.g. "fake news!" (which I actually enjoyed). Many of the mores, behaviors, and conversations didn't seem grounded in their time. Reading this, you may even wonder whether Dare should just try her hand at contemporaries. Ultimately though, I think her style brings charm and relatability to historical romance. I can shrug it off because I know what I'm going to get. However, others readers may struggle. 
 There are many things to love about this book and Dare's writing. But in the end, I didn't love the love story, and that is the gist of my complicated feelings. I wasn't able to focus or feel as much. I liked Ash more than Emma, and it's very rare for me to like the hero more than heroine. Not that Emma wasn't likable! She had admirable qualities, but she wasn't as easy to connect with. Ash wasn't supposed to be likable, at least not for awhile, but I have a weakness for grumpy heroes. His protectiveness, his vulnerability, his strength - they were swoon-worthy. He won my heart. 
 The book didn't always hold my attention, but that may have been influenced by my current mood and the fact that I read more contemporary and m/m nowadays. This is an enjoyable book, with enjoyable characters and enjoyable banter. If you won't be put off by the issues that I mentioned, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.