The Baron’s Open Arms by Annabelle Anders

The Baron’s Open Arms by Annabelle Anders is book two in the Scoundrels with Secrets series. I really enjoyed this story. With the passage of six months between the first two books, I decided to read them in tandem to refresh my memory, and I’m so glad I did. I began with The Duke I Lost and, around chapter twenty-one, I switched to The Baron’s Open Arms. Then I pivoted back and forth between the two books. I found this to be a fabulous way of taking in the timeline of the story. Anders is a master storyteller, and she weaves romance, intrigue, sorrow, and joy all through her books. The Baron’s Open Arms is about Beatrice Beckman, the sister of the Duke of Dasborough from The Duke I Lost, and the duke’s best friend Lord Gideon Rothmore, Baron Hawkins. I think Hawk is one of my favorite characters. Quiet, steady, and handsome, Hawk has been there for the duke since they were children, and he has always been kind to Beatrice. Beatrice’s character was a little harder to like. She is obstinate and at times blind to how her actions affect others. Underneath the romance, there are delightful side characters and a mystery that still hasn’t been revealed. There are a few steamy scenes. Overall, it is a delightful romance.