The Daring Times of Fern Adair ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Daring Times of Fern Adair by Cara Delvin


NetGalley

Fern Adair has spent most of her life tucked away in her family's Chicago home. There, she's protected from startled stars and uncomfortable questions about the scarred half of her face. But when her parents begin to host elaborate weekly dinners to socialize Fern—and to find her a husband—the refuge of her sheltered life fractures.

Despite her wealth, and her father's power as a district court judge, no potential suitor looks her way twice. Until one evening, a mysterious stranger takes a seat at Adair's dinner table.

Calvin Rosetti, older brother and enforcer to one of the city's most dangerous criminal kingpins, doesn't have honorable intentions. He wants revenge against Fern's brother, who wronged the Rosetti family in an unforgivable way, and Cal plans to use Fern to even the score.

Drawn out of her reclusive life and into Cal's illicit underworld, Fern discovers a side of herself she's never known, proving she is much more than just a pawn. She and Cal realize what it is to love someone they shouldn't—and it comes with violent consequences. With Cal's scheme falling apart, and a crucial choice set before them, Fern will come to know what she's capable of, scars and all.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Crime

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🎉 Overall Enjoyment?  🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention?  🎣 🎣 🎣 🎣 🎣

🗣️ Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes ➕

🕮 Would I want a sequel? Yes ➕

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author?  Yes ➕

💣💥 📢 Sort Warnings? Rąpɇ​

🌶 Spice? A little 

🌪 Plot Twist? No

👟 Pace? Fast

💻 Tidbits ~ Forbidden Love at its finest. Not insta-love and not a slow burn, but balanced tension as chemistry grows while seemingly opposites attract. 

Fern has lived a sheltered life in her bubble, a little turtle of her family's upper class home. After a fire left her with a scarred face as a baby, she rarely comes out unless her parents have parties to try to find a suiter to marry her off. She's horrified when she discovers they were being paid off to attend.
Enter mystery guest Cal, handsome mobster who is looking for revenge with the intention of using her as a pawn. 
Fern and Cal both have unscrupulous brothers who have caused irrevocable harm. 
Add her father who is a judge (in every sense of the word) and her mother who does whatever father says is best and you have a perfect recipe for an engaging dramatic adventure. 

Fern has gumption she never knew existed! Just when you want to yell “NOOOOooooo Fern, what are you thinking?” you remember that she has no street smarts having lived her life under the protection of staff behind guarded walls.

Cara Devlin painted a perfect picture of Chicago during the roaring 20's as you entered speakeasies during prohibition exploring both the dark and the shiny.
Narration by Christina Delaine was excellent. 
5 Stars all the way! 

Not yet published. Expected 2-10-2026
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. 

🎧Christina Delaine

🎧9.59 hours 🕮 370 pages




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