GABRIELA AND HIS GRACE

Heiress Gabriela is the youngest daughter of Mexico's powerful and politically connected Luna family and is the only one who remains unmarried. In exile in London for the past few years due to the French occupation of Mexico, she is determined to be more than a pretty face, cultivating relationships with the English nobility in support of her nation's cause. Gabriela is reluctant to wed but still finds herself the target of opportunistic suitors, so she decides to return to Mexico. She'll be accompanied on the long voyage by arrogant rake Sebastian, Duke of Whitfield. Having gotten off on the wrong foot when they first met, they've spent years trading barbs in mutual disdain. But as their travels bring them together, they learn they have a lot more in common than anyone imagined. This third and final installment in De la Rosa's exhilarating "Luna Sisters" series (after Isabel and the Rogue) is a tender and steamy Victorian love story and a gratifying culmination of the stories of a lovable trio of sisters. VERDICT De la Rosa showcases her unmatched skill in mixing romance and historical fiction that spotlights Mexican characters.

The final Luna sister searches for happiness. Four years ago, Gabriela Luna and her sisters fled their home in Mexico City to escape the encroaching French army, then sailed to London to try to win supporters for the Mexican cause. Now, the rebellious and impulsive Gabby is the only one of the three who isn't married, and after she's nearly trapped into matrimony by a penniless earl seeking her healthy dowry, she decides it's time to go home and prove her worth to her father. Onboard the ship, she's dismayed to learn that one of her traveling companions is Sebastian Brooks, the Duke of Whitfield, who's heading abroad to check on an investment (and keep an eye on Gabby). Gabby has never been able to see him as more than a rake, after walking in on him and a partner in a very intimate moment, and the two have been arguing ever since. The long journey, however, gives them a chance to see each other in a new light. Once back in Mexico, Gabby is upset when she realizes that her father still doesn't respect her work, but also pleasantly surprised that Sebastian steps up to defend her. Gabby quickly realizes that even on the other side of the Atlantic she's still being assessed primarily for her value as a wife, and when she decides to escape back to England, Sebastian is the one who accompanies her. And since there's only one cabin left, which they need to share, it isn't long before the connection that's been developing between them becomes intense and physicalbut after they're caught stealing one last kiss on the London docks, it looks as though Gabby's journey may end up with a marriage after all. De la Rosa's highly anticipated final Luna Sisters novel is a delight; the slow burn between Gabby and Sebastian is expertly executed, as is their enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Fans will be happy to see Gabby finally get her turn in the spotlight, as well as to get another glimpse at the lives that her sisters, Isabel and Ana María, have been leading since their HEAs. Through it all, De la Rosa delivers a complex, compelling story that celebrates the embrace of family alongside the thrill of true love. A moving conclusion to an excellent historical romance series.

UK: Little Brown Book Group