Grant Morgan is one of London’s most eligible and unattainable bachelors. He’s also a powerful member of the Bow Street Runners, and when he’s called to the waterfront late one night to investigate a drowning victim, Grant is stunned to recognize the face of Vivien Rose Duvall, a well-known woman of the night. He’s even more startled when he realizes that she’s alive. With no one to care for her, Grant carries Vivien to his home and revives her, only to learn that she is suffering from amnesia.
Vivien hesitantly accepts her handsome rescuer’s claim that she is his mistress, despite her misgivings about her true identity. Nevertheless, she can’t deny the marks on her throat that prove her near-drowning in the Thames was not an accident, and now she must trust the man who claims her as his paramour, for her life is in danger. As Grant searches for Vivien’s attacker, the two find themselves falling in love, all the while struggling to stay one step ahead of the evil forces that will stop at nothing to see Vivien dead.
Book 1 of a Bow Street Runners Triology, Someone to Watch Over Me is a Victorian historical romance with action, amnesia, and amor.
Grant Morgan is a famous detective type who, as such, is received by the ton despite his low born upbringing. He is the stuff of your alpha male fantasies, gruff, chiseled and aggressive. He is a big boy, described as a man with a presence. I also found him to be a little…well, I am having difficulty articulating without sounding glib. Let me say that many moons ago I read a film analysis article that described Sleeping With the Enemy as the natural sequel to Pretty Woman and so I often think of certain types of “heroes” as fitting this trajectory. Some would like to paint them as the ultimate, romantic alphas ready to climb the stairs and save the transformed heroine (who he, incidentally transformed through a series of humiliations and his amazing bed room skills). I just think–runaway!
So yeah, I had some issues with this book.
However, I try to not let my nerd brain get in the way and look at this from the perspective of the many people who actually do think Pretty Woman is super romantic (however, please do read the linked analysis and see if mind = blown) and readers who love the reforming alpha. That reader might really enjoy Grant Morgan.
The book has lots of twists and surprises, although I anticipated what the resolution would look like and thought the villain was maybe a bit too overshadowed, so that the end seemed like kind of a let down.
I do enjoy Kleypas’ writing and her deft hand at placing the reader in the Victorian era. She nails the details, sets the tone, and I think presents interesting or new characters that make her books hard to put down. A well known courtesan with a blackmail book? Yes, please. A woman pulled from the Thames and from the edges of death? Alright! An Overboard style revenge scenario? You had me at Overboard (I am a sucker for that movie, despite some of its complicated and problematic text). For me, these elements were overshadowed by a hero who is, at best, an arse. But you may find him to be the stuff of alpha fantasies.
So, unplug your brain for a bit and give this series a try. Or, if you are sensitive to assault and alphas who are a bit controlling, give this one a pass.
4 out of 6 Alpha hero and amnesiac heroine in danger find love
| Content Rating/Heat Index | |
|---|---|
| Mature Content |   |
| Adult subject matter including prostitution | |
| Intimacy | |
| Steamy sex scenes of mostly vanilla variety | |
| Violence | |
| Assault, attempted murder | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Appropriate for mature fans. | |
