As the youngest and most rebellious daughter of the overly protective Luna family, Gabriela Luna Valdés claws after her freedom in any way she can. This time, her hunger for adventure has led her aboard a windswept ship bearing for her homeland, away from a mob of fumbling British suitors. But Gabby can’t escape her father’s expectation that she settle down to find a proper husband—a compromise she’s unwilling to make.

For Sebastian Brooks, Duke of Whitfield, the trip to Mexico is his last chance. His last chance to rectify his family’s estate and refill their dwindling coffers. And his last chance to match wits with the sharp-tongued but deliciously tempting Gabriela.

When Gabby finds herself in need of a hasty escape, Sebastian agrees to assist her…but their close proximity sparks a red-hot passion that could ruin all their plans. With scandal looming, can Sebastian convince Gabby his regard is sincere or will she sail away with his heart?

This was a lovely conclusion to the Luna Sisters trilogy. In the four years (within the story) since it began, the French imperialist forces have fallen, and the girls have bonded as true sisters. And Gabby has continued to verbally spar with the cocky Duke Whitfield. Which in Romancelandia is code for they’re so gonna get together.

De La Rosa does a great job in making a believable transition from antagonism to friendship to lovers by having the two forced together through the two month long voyage (four hours if you count the voyage back). The proximity means they can’t keep their snippy masks all the time, and in seeing moments of vulnerability, they are forced to admit their prior impressions wrong and their defenses begin to fall. I love it!

I, especially adored how their voyage to Mexico allowed Sebastian and the readers greater insights to Gabby. She had always been the most spirited Luna, defending her sisters and women’s rights in equal breath, but facing her parents makes her feel like she’s still the unwanted little girl again. Doubly frustrating for a woman who has tried so hard to prove she has diplomatic skills and knowledge to back up her opinions, but comes to the sad conclusion that her father would never deigned to listen. She’s pretty, that’s all that matter. And her mother loves their father more than her daughters’ self-esteem.

I had mentioned in previous novels in the series that I wished we got to see the interactions between the Luna parents and their daughters rather than only being told about their impact. This more than rectified that critique because the criticism and dismissiveness of Elias Luna of his daughters’ personhood in favor of how he can use them is infuriating and crushing.

Which quickly made Sebastian the best book boyfriend with his eloquent defense of Gabby every time, and the sincerity accompanied with it! Ah, my heart.

It helps that Sebastian matches Gabby in admiring and respecting someone who cuts with the bullshit. He’s not willing to acknowledge it at first, but that’s why Gabby intrigues him more than any other woman. That and how he is not initially in her warm orbit of defense and friendship. She is willing to fight for anyone she loves, and is a perfect complement that Gabby the defender gets a defender in Sebastian. They fight for each other.

Plus he understands how it is to be at the ire of a dismissive parent with how his father derided him for being more of his mother’s son (basically not an ass) than his son. Unfortunately, that is a weak point as this common ground of shitty fathers is in the form of exposition. His father is dead, so his impact is not really shown beyond the Whitfield estate being in debt. But even that is not much of an issue because Sebastian has solved that through his investment in the mines, so. . . it wasn’t as impactful as it could have been. Especially since Sebastian’s father seemed to expect his son to embody the aspects of toxic masculinity and derided him for not. But it’s all implied and not explored, so it feels like a missed opportunity.

Another missed opportunity would be Gabby taking up healthcare reform which is mentioned throughout, but as the novel is more focused on the romance, it feels set aside. Of course, it is a romance novel it takes centerstage, but I feel like Isabel’s espionage work, and Ana Maria’s politicking was balanced well with their romance plots, so it’s a shame that Gabby’s healthcare reform wasn’t.

However, the relationship between the Luna sisters is the best. When you compare it to their estranged competition in the first book, it’s very heartwarming to see how they implicitly support, understand and communicate with each other, providing a united front against their parents. Better yet, we get one on one time between Gabby, and Isabel in Mexico, and Gabby, and Ana Maria in England, and finally their reunion in the epilogue. Arguably, they are the backbone of the series as much as the three couples.

Readers will enjoy several popular tropes like forced proximity, one bed, and marriage of convenience with a refreshing twist that puts some of the power in Gabby’s side as she already has feelings for Sebastian when these occur. There is also a third act break-up which does feel dragged-out, but I do enjoy that the argument is less about the secret but more about Sebastian not giving her the trust and respect he says he has for her.

Overall, a lovely end to the series that adds a new perspective to the regency romance genre by educating and entertaining people on the second French invasion of Mexico, the beauty and complexities of Mexican politics, and the women at the heart of this momentous change in their homeland.

5 stars.