Two years ago, I reviewed the first book in this series, The Bedding Proposal ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) and mentioned that I was planning on reading the SHIT out of the next book with the sequel hook twin brother. That was some time ago, and then the sequel arrived at my door and reader, I devoured it.

Rosamund Carrow is the daughter of a barrister, and the sister of a barrister. She learned legal theory and legal argument at her father’s knee, but because she’s a woman, she doesn’t get to actually be a barrister and put all of that lovely theory into practice. Her brother, Bernard, is good at theory and research, but has debilitating anxiety when it comes to actually barrister-ing in court. Their father handled that part, until he very impolitely died. The Law Firm of Carrow and Carrow still had some cases, so Bernard and Rosamund hatch a plot: they’ll dress Rosamund as a dude, tell them this is Bernard’s cousin, Ross Carrow, get her admitted to The Inns of Court, and she will handle the actual representation.

Simple, right?

Of course, the first barrister they oppose in court is Lawrence Byron, who is SUPER good at law, and wins most of the time and then, when “Ross” shows up in court, he LOSES. The indignity! They strike up a friendship, and hang out at Lawrence’s club and at a boxing match, and suddenly Lawrence is contemplating the shapeliness of “Ross'” ass. It’s very disconcerting for him (shades of Sebastian and Viola in Twelfth Night).  He figures out that “Ross” is a woman (that scene was fun) and shenanigans ensue.

So the fun part about “I need to dress up like a dude for ~reasons~” plots is the question of “does she put in the work to make this work, or did she just put on some pants?” You’ll be happy to know that Rosamund and Bernard put in the effort to make the disguise successful, from voice work, practicing walking, altering clothes, and then relying on that old standby, “People see what they expect to see.” For most of the crusty old lawyers of Lincoln’s Inn, they idea that one of their number could be a woman wouldn’t even enter their minds.

I loved that Rosamund had a brilliant legal mind, and while I am very curious about the nature of her legal arguments, I also would have picked them apart. It’s probably better that Warren let it happen off screen. I would have enjoyed a few barnstorming court scenes, though.

Now, much like his brother, Lawrence has some boundary issues. When he figures out that the reason he’s obsessed with the shapely ass in question is because it’s the ass of a woman, he’s like, “Oh, that makes sense.” Then he decides that his best course of action is to seduce her, because sure. Once all the cards are on the table, he realizes that he actually LIKES her, THEN they negotiate their relationship, like fucking grownups.

But, you know, the part where he decides revenge by seduction is the best choice is a bit ooky.

The main obstacle between Lawrence and Rosamund is fairly easily handled, though I appreciated that it was something that Lawrence had to put thought into. The ending was a bit tidy and mildly rushed — and might have come with some social consequences, but then, the Byrons have demonstrated in previous books that they really don’t give a shit.

There was a chance for a much more complicated resolution, which could have been fun (but also would have ruined at least one legal career, maybe three), and it sucks that any reasonable resolution required that…

Bonus! There is sexy time in a law library which…. well, *I* did not partake, but I know that every study room in my law school’s library was used for clandestine rendezvous. (Not the most romantic…or clean…of locations TO BE HONEST.)

Either way, I very much enjoyed this book! MORE LAWYERS PLEASE.