There's nothing wrong with this book. I suppose I was expecting more Robin Hood-esque action and less regency drama. Anyway, it's a solid addition the hundreds of clean regency novels out there, but I've read my fair share of 'em, and it's probably time for me to take a break from the genre.

4.5 stars. What a fresh new regency romance with a taste of Robin Hood. I love that the characters had vulnerabilities to overcome and they lifted each other. I loved the bun transaction and Robert is a very swoony and mysterious hero. Mary is half Indian so she struggles amongst society but she finds her courage. The mystery and danger was thrilling and I couldn’t put it down.

There’s danger within Sherwood Forest. Robert Markham’s determined to uncover evidence against the lace factory owner who is smuggling product and leaving a trail of bodies behind. Mary Grace is a half-Indian woman taken in by the Wellings when she was an orphan in Calcutta. Now a lady, she travels to the Welling home, Meriden Park, in England. Her mixed heritage is met with suspicion, especially by the future heirs of Meriden Park, Mrs. Welling’s nephew and his wife. While running errands, Mary is stopped by Robert as he’s selling hot cross buns for a cause. The transaction? A bun for a kiss.

The story pulls in elements of Robin Hood while tackling issues of race and class. With her caregiver’s failing health, Mary must consider where her future lies. Mary’s a woman of two worlds, both shunning her due to her skin color. Mary loves moonlight, and her walks through Sherwood are at times romantic and other times dangerous. She encounters Robert there, nightly attempting to thwart further murders. Within the darkness, a fondness grows while also hiding a few secrets. These many factors of tension and vulnerability build the characters. Meriden Park is a quick, enjoyable Regency romance.

Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/meriden-park/