Meh, is really all I can say. It was really slow in the beginning. You get halfway through the book before Merrick and Arabella start actually being love interests. Which is a bit frustrating considering that they kiss within the first chapter. So yeah, real slow. 

Yes, it was nice that Merrick was respectful and developed a friendship with Arabella first but that took up half of the book, then suddenly in the space of two chapters they're having sex. The pacing was just a bit awkward and clunky and I definitely would have appreciated a slow-burn approach with a little more concentration on their supposed chemistry. 

I am really not a fan of the whole paragon-of-virtue female character. Particularly because in this instance it was paired with a Beauty and the Beast set-up where Merrick is the untamed rogue and Arabella the picture of feminine perfection, gag. It was just a bit much. 

Another issue of the picture perfect female lead is that it makes it rather unbelievable when she herself thinks she is unassuming and unappealing. So everybody around her responds to her positively but somehow she thinks herself an utter failure? Arabella's timidness was also really not my thing. Granted it is simply an aspect of her character but I just thought that a widow who had lived a less than ideal life would have been a little more jaded and thus added a bit of edge to her character. The fresh doe-eyed debutante role would have suited her character better than a tryst-seeking widow, virgin or not. In fact Cecily's character and Arabella's character are both better suited for each other's role in the book. Hmmm, maybe that was a bit of ironic humor on the side of the author. 

In defense of Arabella I was quite impressed when she risked

destitution and danger to flee her brother-in-law and avoid marriage. We stan a feminist queen

. It was also surprising considering her rather passive approach since then, refreshing to say the least. 

The best part of the book was definitely the interactions between Merrick and his half-brothers, particularly Holland, gotta love Holland. Although it is a tad unbelievable that they all hold Merrick in such high regard and none of them are spiteful or envious of the mere chance that separates their circumstances, but yeah, classism, she has us in a chokehold I suppose. 

I didn't hate the characters (except Parker and Farnsworth obviously) but I didn't love them either. The story was okay I suppose. Overall just a really underwhelming read.