Review: Mr. Ridley by Delilah Marvelle

Title: Mr. Ridley
Author: Delilah Marvelle 
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Delilah Marvelle Productions, LLC
Publish Date: February 28, 2017
Source: Author

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "LONDON, ENGLAND - 1830
Criminals fear the iron fist of justice he delivers. Scotland Yard will do anything to get their hands on his mind. Whilst women? They crawl in the hope of becoming his. But only one woman is about to hold his body and his mind hostage.
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Jemdanee Lillian Watkins is a botanical savant from India who ends up getting arrested for a crime she didn't commit. Only one man believes her: Mr. Ridley. Drawn to him and the rope he knots in her presence, she realizes this overly regimented dark hero hides nothing but his passion."

My Two Cents:

"Mr. Ridley" is the story of Jemdanee, a young woman who knows what she wants. Originally from India, she finds herself in danger and arrested in England and teams up with our titular character, Mr. Ridley. Neither one is prepared for the other and what they'll bring into each other lives. Filled with rich characters, romance, and deep, dark secrets, this is a thoroughly exciting opening to a new trilogy! There is so much to love about this book!

The characters really make this book. Jemdanee is a great character. She is smart, witty, and resourceful. Even with all of Ridley's darkness, she never seems to lose her cheer or her quick retorts. I was also very interested in her biology expertise. Especially for the time - she is very much ahead of her time. Her work was so fascinating! Ridley is a complete puzzle. As the story unfolds, we find that he keeps a lot hidden. His father was brutally murdered when Ridley was young. This changes his whole trajectory and acts as a massive shadow that Ridley can never quite seem to get out from under. I loved the way that we find out about everything both of these characters have been through. As their relationship together blooms, we see how they got to where they are. The author has a gift for giving you just enough detail to keep you reading for a few pages before dropping another hint that keeps you reading a bit more to try to figure these characters out.

The chemistry between Jemdanee and Ridley is amazing! Although Jemdanee seems drawn to or at least intrigued by Ridley in the very beginning, the chemistry soon unfolds into something really special. The romance in this book is so good and ridiculously hot! The anticipation builds throughout the book and the action feels realistic!

I love a good historical romance but I like when there is real historical detail in the book as well! This book definitely has that. I especially liked the glimpse of Scotland Yard that you get in this book. The author does a really good job of world building and showing us what the characters' world is like! There is a lot of really rich detail and the research that must have gone into this book is clear.

Now the only problem that I have with this trilogy is the decision of whether to read the second book right away when the third book won't be out for awhile yet or to wait until the third book comes out so that I can finish Ridley and Jemdanee's story in one fell swoop. Decisions, decisions!