IF HE'S NOBLE is Book 7 in Hannah Howell's Wherlocke series. I believe that readers who may be new to this series can still enjoy IF HE'S NOBLE. Hannah Howell explains the family dynamics and the types of special abilities the Wherlockes and Vaughns possess in several places, making it easy for new readers to be brought up to speed on the series. However, I would love to have a Wherlocke/Vaughn family tree either at the beginning of books or on Hannah Howell's website for reference because there are so many extended family members. I love this series and IF HE'S NOBLE is a perfect example of why.

Newly knighted Sir Bened Vaughn meets Primrose Wooten by chance as she's both searching for her missing brother and fleeing the evil machinations of her aunt. Bened makes such a wonderful hero because he wasn't born with any kind of a title, and he's inherently a good guy. Bened doesn't really feel like a knight or as someone deserving of a title. As his feelings for Primrose grow on their journey to find her brother Simeon, he worries that he's not good enough for a woman like Primrose since her late father was part of the gentry. This is ironic, not only because Bened is incredibly good and very deserving, but also because Primrose's opinion of him is very high and she sees him as a knight-errant. I love the chemistry between Bened and Primrose. Not only is the sexual tension delicious, but being around Bened is a good influence on Primrose. Living with her aunt made fear a constant companion for Primrose. However, knowing Bened has nurtured her confidence and her abilities to fight and protect herself.

Nobody writes a villainess better than Hannah Howell. Primrose's Aunt Augusta is so thoroughly wicked and Machiavellian that she rivals the evil queen in SNOW WHITE and Conan Doyle's Professor Moriarty. I like that bits of the story are told from her point of view, allowing the reader to see how she thinks and to truly appreciate how morally bereft she is. Having such a fabulous villainess enhances the overall story and is a great counterpoint to the noble traits of the hero and heroine.

There are so many things to love about IF HE'S NOBLE -- the knight's quest, the sweet and steamy romance, the excitement, and the amazing characters. As always with this Wherlocke series, the supporting characters are just as fascinating as the hero and heroine. Modred the Duke of Elderwood, Lord Simeon Wooten, and Lilybet Wherlocke are all characters I am eager to read more about. Similarly, young Gawain and his ability to communicate with the dead make him another gifted child I can't wait to read about in the future when he's grown up. I look forward to the next installment in this delightful and extremely addictive series by Hannah Howell.