Just..just...someone please punch Ashebury? 
 He's charming, hot and is probably a precursor to the modern arty photographers, so there's that. 
 But nothing, absolutely nothing changes the fact that he's quite loathsome. 
 Granted that there was nobody to raise him properly as a child, but that does not excuse his hypocrisy. Ugh! 
 In their first secret tryst, Minerva hides her identity and for the first time reader gets to witness Ashebury's foot fetish and his need to photograph every woman he ever sleeps with during these secret rendezvous. Oh well....as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. 
 But then he realises Minerva's real identity and now he just can't stay away from her. The fact that she's got an insanely big dowry doesn't hurt. In fact, he says it himself, how great it would be to revive his estate using Minerva's dowry. 
 Poor Minerva, tired of rejecting fortune hunters and desperate to find someone who loves her for herself, falls for his charms. The sad part is that even her world weary and loving father and sensible brother's teachings couldn't stop her. I really felt bad for her. 
 Following the 2/3rd mark of the book, Ashebury starts showing some promise. His hotness and lovable charms start outweighing his follies. By the end he's grown as a person. 
 But all in all, I am still not in a forgiving mood. I've definitely seen better heroes. The 3 stars are for the story, execution and all the characters except for the hero. Pity.