A review by octavia_cade
The Harlot Countess by Joanna Shupe

medium-paced

2.0

This is miles better than the first book in the series, which was absolutely dreadful. I didn't realise that the main pair from that book would end up as supporting cast in this one, but thankfully their presence was minimal and relatively rational. This follow-up looks better in comparison simply by having protagonists who aren't awful fucking people. Maggie isn't a doormat, and what's-his-face (seriously, I finished the book literally two minutes ago and I've already forgotten his name!) had a bad start but improved somewhat. I do think that Maggie fell for him again far too quickly, and I don't really understand why, but she had a decent sense of self-worth and some actual agency, which is necessary in a heroine for me to enjoy a romance.

It's a popcorn read and every plot twist was telegraphed miles in advance, but it zipped along nicely and killed a couple of hours easily enough, so I'm not inclined to quibble.