A Change of Heart by Rose Pearson

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Honorable Rescue from Despair

This brief but efficiently paced Regency romance delivers a classic childhood-friends-to-lovers arc, though it misses a major historical mark. When Lady Hannah is unceremoniously dumped by the dishonorable Lord Benedict, she is left socially compromised and despondent. Enter Lord Montagu, returning from the war, who uses his lifelong devotion to court her, mend her broken heart, and restore her standing in the eyes of the ton. Aside from the villains, the cast is genuinely warm-hearted, making the central romance easy to root for.

The story's main failing, however, is that society lets Lord Benedict off the hook entirely. His excuse for ending the betrothal is inexcusable. In actual Regency times, a gentleman breaking his word was the ultimate social taboo; Benedict should have faced financial ruin, a total loss of credit, and complete ostracization from polite society. Instead, the book ignores this reality, leaving the villains to behave badly without social consequence. This includes Lady Claire, whose behavior is so viperish it proves a title does not automatically make one a lady, and a swift, old-fashioned lesson from her father feels entirely warranted.

Though the narrative is incredibly short, it covers its plot and character arcs remarkably well. It remains a sharp, satisfying read, even if the author forgot to give the villain the social ruin he richly deserved.