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Enjoyment: 4.5/5
Execution: 4.5/5
Actual rating: 4.5/5

This is the soft countryside romance that I needed during this time, the ultimate comfort read. This is 304 pages of slow burn friends-to-lovers, sharing a bed, soft touches and kisses, and oh my gosh I loved it. There is minimal plot, which I did miss, but at the same time, reading this book felt like taking a nap in a sunny meadow.

Although most of Cat Sebastian's books work as stand-alones with background connections and chronicity between the books, I definitely recommend reading the other two Sedgwick brother books before you get to this one, as they offer a fair bit of background and certain plot points are mentioned multiple times throughout this book. This is Will and Martin's story; Will is the brother to Ben (It Takes Two to Tumble, book 1) and Hartley (A Gentleman Never Keeps Score, book 2), and Martin is the childhood best friend, who had a role in book 2 as a minor antagonist. When Will finds Martin near death's doorstep, he whisks him away to the countryside to care for him. Martin is ashamed to have the man he loves nursing him back to health, and he keeps trying to push Will away before he wastes his life on him, but Will is obstinate and stubbornly loyal in his love. Both characters have their own demons; Will is struggling with a past opium addiction and PTSD from his time in the navy, where Martin is dealing with a chronic illness and incredible guilt over his late father's heinous crimes, but their love grows slowly and patiently as they find their way to each other's side time after time again.

If you're a Cat Sebastian fan, or just a fan of soft historical romances, you do not want to miss this one. We have lovely demi and bi/pan rep, a whole host of loveable, quirky characters, each with their own unique flaws and strengths, gentle humor, and an achingly sweet love story.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.