Bound

About the book

Veronica “Vero” Mercer grew up with grifters for parents, and she knows her way around a con. When grad school bills pile up and her friends are in trouble, she turns her art history skills into a forgery side hustle. It’s supposed to be a short term deal, but her work draws the attention of Dr. Viktor Ashworth, a reserved, very British professor. Instead of turning her in, Ashworth kidnaps her – politely – and makes an unusual offer: forge a mysterious ancient manuscript for him. Soon Vero finds herself spending long nights with Viktor, bent over rare vellum samples and obscure inks. But as the con grows riskier, Vero has to wonder: what does Viktor really want, and why can’t she stay away?

Description: publisher’s blurb via Hardcover

Where the score comes from

The sources average 7.4 across 57 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 28% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Romance average of 7.6. That is how 7.6 comes out.