Companion to the Count by Melissa Kendall

I got this during Dragonblade publishing's big sale. COMPANION TO THE COUNT was so satisfying: it's got the rake-with-the-heart-of-gold trope and some of the most relatable anxiety rep I've encountered in a while. Saffron and her younger sister, Angelica, are in dire straits since their brother's disappearance and possible death: their estate and money have gone to a distant relative who doesn't have much interest in their keep, so all of their hopes are being poured onto Angelica, the beauty, who has to make a marriage that will be their salvation.

One day, at a party, Saffron has a run-in with Leo, catching him in what appears to be in flagrante delicto. At first, she thinks he's a disreputable cad, but he's got his share of tragedies too: a sister who painted under a male pseudonym. Someone appears to be trying to steal all of his sister's work and he's doing his best to flush out the potential thief, by hosting an auction with the "last" of her work.

I enjoyed this so much. Kendall's work reminds me of Amanda Grange's: a strong but realistically flawed heroine, a dashing and slightly brooding hero, and action blended with angst and romance. There's a much gentler, tamer similarity to Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series, too. I wouldn't call this a mystery, exactly, but it's got mystery as part of the story, and I'm excited to read the sequel.

3.5 to 4 out of 5 stars