They will not start on the best terms. Because of her, the Earl, Edward fell off his horse. And he never actually wanted a woman as a secretary. But gradually, he will like Anna and he will start developing feelings for her. NOTE this book is upper YA/NA featuring mature situations and some adult language. The romance is slow burn but leads to moderate steam. Out of the characters, Anna was definitely the most interesting one. A lovable woman capable of unlimited passion and tenderness. She will not hesitate to stand again the judgemental village, when she looks after a dying prostitute or when she gets a job that only men usually have. Imogen eyes her mother with a smirk, expression calculating. “Did your decision to bring us here have anything to do with the fact that Prince Franco is still unwed?” Anna is a spirited young widow who lives with her mother in law and their orphan poor maid at their humble home. Their financial situation is getting worse. So, Anna decides to get a job. Since Anna is highly educated (for a girl), she manages to score a job as the fifth Earl of Swartingham’s secretary.

Cheating: Not IMO but close though the H slept with what he thought was an OW when he had feelings for the h and he was engaged to someone else (more of a business arrangement) Good sense tells me I should get down and cleaned up before my stepmother seeks me out, but as the sun continues to rise, I find myself unable to look away. I remain in place, watching the golds grow brighter. The sun kisses more and more of Evanston. Any moment, it will illuminate even the Gray Quarter. Half fae Ember craves freedom from her conniving stepfamily. As if they weren’t enough to deal with, a chance encounter with the arrogant Prince Franco leaves her humiliated and in a fiery rage. Nothing could convince her the prince is anything but a rake. But when the opportunity to evade her scheming stepmother falls into her lap, she’ll pay the price—even if it means impersonating the prince’s newest flame… I huff a laugh. “The last time I took part in such activities, I came out the other side a vile rogue.” I set down the cufflinks to face Flora. “Besides, it isn’t just that. Nyxia wants me to interact with the humans on a deeper level than even she dares to. I am to attend garden parties, visit the theater, kiss the hands of aristocrats’ daughters—” Not that the question does me any good. It won’t change that I’m bound to the bargain I made. Bound to my stepmother.Sigh. I'm not one for struggling with unbelievable plots in historical romance - I mean, I did read and liked some of Tessa Dare's novels *giggles* - but in The Raven Prince my disbelief was so tightly linked with my irritation at the hypocritical heroes that it certainly ruined any enjoyment I could have felt. I did like the fact that Anna wasn't another virginal widow (another trope I hate), and her relationship with her mother-in-law was genuinely touching. All the secondary characters in this book are also excellent, like Hopple and his bumblebee and frog waistcoats, the cranky and mutinous Davis, Cora and Pearl (of course), and Mother Wren. They actually stole the show from the main characters, which is a problem. But the writing is good, and the garden scenes (there were several) are so magical that they reminded me of the reveal in THE SECRET GARDEN, and there were some pretty steamy moments in THE RAVEN PRINCE, so I guess I can't fault it **too** much.

Imogen, however, continues to eye me with disdain. She snorts a laugh. “Is that soot on your cheek?” But why did we have to come here?” Clara asks. “Couldn’t we have entered the Lunar social season in a different city? One where we could live somewhere nicer than the Gray Quarter? Or couldn’t we have asked to stay at the manor?” I’m not ready to go right now,” I say, which is only half true. If it were up to me, I would have left my stepfamily long ago. But the bargain I made deems it impossible until the day I turn nineteen.There are, apparently, significant societal changes at the end of the Fair Isle Trilogy, so this book (and maybe Wolf King, which I’ve not yet read) has major spoilers in it for those that have not yet read those other books - which I highly recommend. There’s a certain music about being alone. One I rarely get to hear outside of a single hour each morning. It’s my peaceful respite before the sun rises, before anyone seeks to fill my day with a cacophony of demands. After dawn, I’ll have to climb down from my rooftop hiding place and return to my chores and obligations. But for now, at least, I hear it. The subtle song of a sleeping city. Clara joins Imogen to smirk at me. “You think you’re a poet now? Little orphan Ember with her clever words and nothing to show for it.”