In Victorian England men take care of everything, including opening up bank accounts for the women in their families, even if you’re a famous economist like Reina Martin. With her mentor, William Farlow, Reina is determined to open the first bank for women, where women can manage their own financial security. At home, Reina’s recently employed staff of paroled prisoners are learning to live new lives and create a family. When she discovers her butler, Pembroke, is actually an undercover detective looking for information on William Farlow, who is suspected of financial crimes that could bring ruin to England’s economy and Reina has to make a choice on betraying her mentor or saving the working class families she was once among.

I have missed Lisa Kleypas and am so glad that she’s back writing historical romances. In the Queen of Lombard Street she writes a riveting novel that deals with historical facts regarding women’s rights and life below stairs. She’d always had strong female leads, but Reina Martin, a woman who has risen above her class, but because of her birth can never become one of the peer, is a heroine that I can absolutely root for. She is intelligent, has empathy for others, and a huge heart. My favorite thing about her is the fact that she employed parolee’s and treated them with kindness despite their being a bit scary to her at first.

Pembroke was also a really interesting hero. Yes, he was undercover and because of that he was a bit dishonest, but as he and Reina got closer what became important to him was protecting those people in that household that he’d gotten to know and care for and protecting them. What was different about him was that he treated Reina as an equal. Not something you typically see in a historical romance. It put a more modern spin on the issues of that time which I found interesting.

This author has always had a talent for writing an interesting story. In the Queen of Lombard Street, she did her research, but she also gave these characters life and heart. What a rich and enjoyable novel!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest!

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