Title: You Had Me at HeistAuthor: Christina Britton
Series: Wimpole Street Widows Society #2
Pages: 352
Publication Date: June 16, 2026
Publisher: Forever
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical
Synopsis:
A scandalous romance blooms between a widow and her adversary in this delightful, sensual romance perfect for fans of the Bridgerton series!
Widow Iris Rumford has faced her fair share of hardships. Joining the Wimpole Street Widows Society has helped her start to heal—until she learns that her late mother's groundbreaking botanical work was stolen by her greatest adversary, who is about to publish the findings as his own.
Determined to stop the thief at all costs, Iris refuses to let the dashing guard protecting the research threaten her plans. Even if he does tempt her in new, intriguing ways ...
After a scandal cost Oliver Beckett his job as a Bow Street Runner, he’s spent the last year struggling to provide for his mother and sister. Guarding a lord's precious botanical collection seems too good to be true—who would steal a bunch of plants? But the appearance of a beautiful, maddening woman throws his hopes for a quiet future right out the window.
As the two find themselves constantly thrown together, their resolve is tested—and so are their hearts.
This blog uses affiliate links for some book recommendations, and if you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission. Thanks for supporting this little bookish corner of the internet!
This is a fun and touching addition to Briton’s series with great characters, a heist-based storyline, and a lovely romance. I also loved the messages about grief, family, and acceptance.
Iris is a great FMC. She’s blunt and says what she’s thinking, and she sometimes makes social blunders. She was treated differently her entire life because of her quirks and idiosyncrasies, and she struggles to feel like she belongs because of this. Iris has had a lot of tragedy in her life, and she’s determined to right the wrongs that happened to her mother, who has since passed. This month is the anniversary of my mother’s passing, so I really related to Iris. She loved her mother deeply, and even years after her death, the grief still remains. Grief isn’t linear, and feelings aren’t always simple, and I thought the story did a great job in showing the pain of loss as well as the beauty of loving someone so completely.
Oliver has suffered loss and hardships too. He is serious and works hard to care for his mother and sister, and, like Iris, suffered injustices in his past. I really liked his character! He grows a lot over the course of the book, and his feelings for Iris are super swoon worthy.
Iris and Oliver make such a great pair, and I love how their relationship develops. Oliver is taken with Iris from their first disastrous encounter, and He becomes a bit bumbling around her, which is so sweet and charming. I love that she throws him off his game.
I also love the group of friends who help Iris get revenge for her mother. The women are fabulous and have so much courage. They challenge the status quo, and each has a unique story. Together, they are a force!
Two other women made a big impression as well. Oliver’s mother and his sister Verity are wonderful, and the way they bring Iris into their family was so lovely. They, like Oliver, really understand and accept Iris, even though they know she’s keeping secrets. They are kind and compassionate women, and I love how they keep Oliver in check, calling him out when he’s wrong and in how he treats Iris.
The heist aspect of the plot is intriguing, especially since Iris and her friends want to break into the property Oliver, an ex Bow Street Runner, guards. The property is owned by a man Iris suspects stole research from her mother and burned down her home. What ensues are attempts to find evidence against Oliver’s boss while evading Oliver’s watchful, attentive guarding. The story definitely shines a light on women’s roles in science, gender inequities, and patriarchal corruption.
I always enjoy Christina Britton’s historical romances, and this is no exception. Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- enemies to lovers
- heist plot
- found family
Christina Britton developed a passion for writing romance novels shortly after buying her first at the impressionable age of thirteen. Though for several years she turned to art and put brush instead of pen to paper, she has returned to her first love and is now writing full time. She spends her days dreaming of corsets and cravats and noblemen with tortured souls.
She lives with her husband and two children in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can find her at www.christinabritton.com.
