Publisher: Berkley
Kat Holloway’s beau, Daniel McAdam, has always had a past shrouded in mystery. He knows nothing about his origins, only that a kind man rescued him from the streets all those years ago. So when a man claiming he knows where Daniel comes from turns up dead moments before meeting with them, Daniel goes on the hunt for the killer. It soon becomes clear that to see justice served, Daniel will have to figure out who he truly is and where he came from. When Daniel asks Kat for her assistance, she readily complies, knowing she’ll do whatever it takes to protect the man she’s come to love.
The quest takes Kat and Daniel deep into the East End, where they face dangerous foes from Daniel’s rugged past, many of whom aren’t happy that Daniel now works with the police and will stop at nothing to keep Kat and Daniel from uncovering their secrets. As Kat begins to learn things about Daniel’s history she’s not certain she wants to know, she fears that the darkest secret—his true name and lineage—will tear apart the tender bonds they’ve begun to form.
It is Victorian London, and Kat Holloway is struggling to navigate an uncertain future. She is increasingly worried about the fact that the family raising her daughter, Grace, will be moving away from the city. At the same time, Kat’s fiancé, Daniel McAdam, has been arrested for murder. Kat immediately sets out to clear his name.
Daniel has been looking for answers about his past for years. That opportunity is lost when the man that might have had information is the man that Daniel is accused of murdering. That murder leaves more questions than answers. Both Kat and Daniel are surprised that the murder may be connected to Daniel’s mysterious past. Although he is released from custody fairly quickly, Kat is determined to solve the murder - not only to clear Daniel’s name, but also to finally uncover the truth about his past and why he knows so little about his own origins.
Kat and Daniel are both resolute when it comes to finding answers, but Kat has other things weighing on her mind. As an accomplished cook in a busy household, she dreams of using her exceptional baking skills to work for herself. If she can make that dream a reality, she may finally have a way to bring Grace back into her life on a permanent basis.
Throughout the story, there is also an underlying fear surrounding what might happen if Daniel discovers the truth about his early beginnings. As Kat searches for answers, she must contend with the possibility that some secrets are better left buried.
I enjoyed the combination of mystery, family, and personal revelations in this latest installment featuring Kat Holloway. The Victorian London setting adds another layer to the story, and I especially enjoyed seeing Kat continue to work toward a better future for her and Grace.
