Series: Dove Pond (Book 4)
When an antique tin of love letters is found hidden in
her family home, noted historian Tay Dove rushes home to Dove Pond to
investigate. Tay is still reeling from a romantic betrayal, so she's relieved
to refocus her energies on her latest project: a biography of her
great-great-grandmother Sarafina, a star reporter who began her career in Dove
Pond in the late 19th century before abruptly leaving town.
Tay believes the letters could be the key in solving what
happened, but they only add to her questions -- especially when they reveal a
forbidden love affair with William Day, a wild youth who took part in a
notorious train robbery. Some answers might be found in eighty-year-old Rose
Day's bookshop, which doubles as a town archive, but Rose is curiously
resistant to give Tay access. Just when Tay thinks she's reached a dead end,
she finds an unlikely ally in Rose's grandson, Luke, a fellow puzzle lover. Together,
they set out to uncover what really happened all those years ago…and find the
truth behind a love story that could be more precious than gold.
Good book about love and family. Taylor Dove is the
middle sister of seven sisters. Each of them has a special gift. In Tay's case,
she can touch someone's handwriting and instantly experience the feelings,
sights, and sounds of the person writing. This talent enhances her career as a
noted historian, frequently guiding the direction of her research. When her
sisters find an antique tin of love letters written by their ancestor,
Sarafina, Tay rushes home to investigate. She's happy about the distraction
from her recent breakup and intends to focus on writing Sarafina's biography.
The letters reveal a secret relationship with William Day,
a wild young man later convicted of participating in a notorious train robbery.
Tay's best chance of finding answers lies in the Day family archives in Rose
Day's bookstore. But Rose resists giving Tay access until Rose's grandson,
Luke, gets involved.
Luke returned to Dove Pond after he became the guardian
of his niece, Lulu. Luke is one of those people for whom life comes easy. He's
handsome, brilliant, and charming. He had a good computer job he gave up to
take care of Lulu. Now, Luke works with Rose and does some computer consulting.
There is a lot of tension between him and Rose as he tries to bring the store
into the twenty-first century and meets resistance from his technophobe
grandmother. He is also easily bored, so he begs Tay for the opportunity to
work with her, solving the puzzle of the letters.
The plot intrigued me and kept me turning the pages. Tay
researches her ancestor's career as a journalist in New York, but some of the
information doesn't make sense to her. The letters from William open new paths
of investigation into Sarafina's past. The reader is helped along by chapters
told from Sarafina's point of view. Tay and Luke's teamwork is terrific with
each bringing a different set of skills to the search. The tension rose as they
closed in on the "family secret." While the secret wasn't a complete
surprise, learning how they accomplished it was interesting.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Luke
and Tay. She reluctantly accepts his help initially, but as time passes, she
realizes he isn't the hindrance she expected. There are some great scenes of
them working together and learning to appreciate the other's insights. Neither
expected the feelings that developed between them, leaving Tay to decide if she
would stay in Dove Pond or return to her job.
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Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Monday, September 16, 2024
Cinderella's Deal with the Colonel - Jenni Fletcher (HH #1727 - June 2023)
A penniless Cinderella
And a tempting offer from the colonel…
When a marquess's scheme leads to the debt and demise of
Abigail's father, she wants retribution! Only, her plans at confronting the
scoundrel go awry when his handsome younger brother Colonel Theodore Marshall
offers her a job as his secretary. Theo's deal helps Abigail restore her family
from financial ruin, but working so closely with him isn't as easy as she
expected. Especially when each encounter sparks with tension!
Good book. Abigail has had the worst few weeks of her
life. An only child, when Abigail's father died of a heart attack, she had to
deal with everything by herself. The will reading reveals that he lost all his
money in a bad investment, and the bank is repossessing her home, leaving her
homeless. Then, her fiancé, who promised to stand by her, dumps her after
discovering there is no dowry left. After learning that the financial disaster
was caused by investing in the Marquess of Salway's building venture, the
furious Abigail heads off to confront the Marquess. She feels he owes her at
least a recommendation for a job. Unfortunately, Abigail discovers that she is
yelling at the wrong man. Her target has left the country, and she is facing
his younger brother.
Colonel Lord Theo Marshall sold his commission after the
war and intended to start a new life in America. But first, he stops in London
to check in with his brother and his family. There, he finds that Fitzwilliam
has fled the country. Theo is an honorable man who believes he must clean up
his brother's mess before moving on. He is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the
problems and initially can't see a way to help Abigail. I liked seeing how his
conscience kicked in, and the scene where he finds and hires her was great.
Abigail has her work cut out for her as she serves as
secretary for Theo, companion for Sabrina, his sister-in-law, and governess/chaperone
to his two nieces. Meanwhile, Theo tries to bring order out of chaos so that he
can move on with his life. Neither expected the attraction that flared between
them, especially as both had vowed to remain unmarried. There are some terrific
scenes of Theo when his innate kindness and protectiveness kick in. I liked
seeing the friendship between them and watching as it grew into love. However,
there are obstacles, especially Theo's issues with the estate. An unexpected
discovery and the twist that came with it throws a wrench into their plans. I
liked Theo's "aha" moment and the emotional ending. The epilogue was
a nice wrap-up for the story.
Theo's valet, Kitchen, is my favorite of all the
secondary characters. He was Theo's sergeant-major during the war and now runs
his civilian life. I loved their relationship, which is far more like friends
than employer/employee. Kitchen's interactions with Theo were fun, especially
when he tried to guide Theo along a particular path. He and Theo warmed my
heart with their determination to help his men after they returned from the
war.
And a tempting offer from the colonel…
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Colorado Kidnapping - Cindi Myers (HI #2242 - Oct 2024)
Series: Eagle Mountain: Criminal History (Book 2)
With his little girl missing…
One lawman will stop at nothing to bring her home
The disappearance of his young daughter sets sheriff's
deputy Ryker Vernon on the trail of desperate kidnappers. Complicating the
single father's mission is the search and rescue volunteer who joins the
lawman's team. Harper Stanick was Ryker's high school sweetheart…until she
vanished from his life. As past secrets surface, the hunt leads to someone
close to Ryker. Now he and Harper must stop a ruthless criminal with a deadly
agenda if they are to bring his lost little girl home.
I really need to stop starting these books late in the
day if I want to get any sleep. I started reading after dinner and couldn't put
it down until I finished it, well after midnight. Once again, the author penned
a story that sucked me in at the beginning and kept me hooked to the end.
Harper moved back to Eagle Mountain after her divorce,
ready to move on with her life. She joined the Search and Rescue team to stay
busy and meet new people. The last person she expected to see was her high
school sweetheart, Ryker.
Ryker left Eagle Mountain after being accused of
murdering his young cousin. He was cleared, but many people still looked at him
as if he were guilty. After settling into a new town, the woman he was dating
got pregnant, and they married. Then she left him, abandoning their daughter.
Ryker returned to Eagle Mountain, where his parents could help him care for
four-year-old Charlotte while working his new job as a deputy. He was shocked
when he ran into Harper at an accident scene.
Harper and Ryker have a history together. They were teen
sweethearts despite Harper's mom's disapproval. When Harper became pregnant,
her parents sent her away and prevented her from contacting Ryker. At the same
time, Ryker was dealing with the murder of his cousin without her support.
Neither had a way to find each other. They were wary when they met again,
remembering the past pain. I liked that they were mature enough to talk and
clear the air about their past, setting the stage for renewing their
friendship. They didn't expect to discover their enduring attraction.
Before they can explore those feelings, Ryker's daughter
is kidnapped. I was glued to the pages as the sheriff's department, search and
rescue team, and volunteers kicked into high gear to find the little girl. I
loved how Ryker and Harper teamed up, first to figure out who took Charlotte
and then later to search. It was a roller coaster of successes and
disappointments with a nail-biting conclusion.
There are still some things Ryker and Harper must deal
with before they can look to a future together. I ached for Ryker, who believes
he's made too many mistakes with Harper for her to trust him. I loved their conversation
and openness with each other as they put the past to rest. The epilogue was
terrific.
One lawman will stop at nothing to bring her home
Friday, September 13, 2024
Castles - Julie Garwood (Pocket - July 1993)
Series: Crown's Spies (Book 4)
England, 1819. Orphaned and besieged Princess Alesandra
knew that only hasty marriage to an Englishman could protect her from the
turmoil in her own land. To the amusement of her makeshift guardian, Sir Colin
Hallbrook, younger brother of the Marquess of Caineswood, the bold raven-haired
beauty instantly captivated London society. But when Alesandra was nearly
abducted by her unscrupulous countrymen, the fighting instincts that won Colin
a knighthood for valor were rekindled.
Deceiving himself that he wanted only to protect her,
Colin swept her into a union meant to be a marriage in name alone... yet
Alesandra's tender first kiss and hesitant caress ignited a wildfire in his
soul. As the lovely princess dashed headlong into unforeseen dangers, Colin
would follow, knowing he must claim her as his own forever. Now he would risk
life itself before he would lose this sweet, tempestuous angel...
This is my first reread of this book in many years, and I
still love it. It had a few issues, such as using the word "sexy,"
which didn't come into use until the 1890s. All of that aside, it was a fun
book with likable characters and Garwood's trademark humor.
Alesandra was orphaned at the age of 12 and spent the
next several years being raised by the nuns at a convent. Her high spirits and
unique perspective made her life with the nuns very interesting. Alesandra's conversation
with the mother superior when told she would stay with her guardian was a good
preview of what would come. Matters become complicated when she arrives at the
Duke's house to find that his family and his oldest son's are ill. She is sent
to stay with the Duke's younger son, Colin.
Colin spends his days working to make his shipping
business a success. He has a five-year plan that doesn't include marriage. That
hasn't stopped his parents from pushing him to get married. When Alesandra
shows up at his house, Colin is sure it is another setup by his father. He's
unhappy that the need to protect her is real and that he is stuck with her. He's
not entirely out of the woods, though, because she needs to be married quickly,
and he is at the top of the list of recommended suitors.
The sparks between Colin and Alesandra are evident from
the start. Each tries to ignore the attraction. But when Colin becomes ill, Alesandra
nurses him back to health, and the attraction grows. When she is nearly
abducted, the need for marriage becomes urgent. The Duke calls a meeting at his
house, which includes the entire family, and they attempt to decide on an
appropriate husband for her. One of the book's best parts is this scene, as
Colin consistently finds something wrong with each suggestion while resisting
the suggestion for him to step up. Everyone around Colin can see the truth that
he refuses to admit - he cares for her. I laughed out loud at the outcome. I
loved watching Colin continue to fall under Alesandra's spell after they
married and got to know each other. They finally admitted their feelings for
each other in a sweet and humorous way.
The book is filled with how Alesandra gets around some of
Colin's stubbornness. She is frequently in cahoots with Colin's butler,
Flannaghan, who is starstruck around "their princess." From her financial
dealings through her "Uncle Albert" to colluding with Colin's doctor
about his leg injury to her deception about the shares in his company, Alesandra
finds a way to help without fighting him over it.
There is also a bit of intrigue as Alesandra worries
about a missing friend. Her refusal to accept the consensus keeps her pushing
for more information. I figured out the answer early in the book, but that
didn't diminish my enjoyment. The final confrontation was intense.
Monday, September 9, 2024
Welcome Home, Katie Gallagher - Seana Kelly (HS #2091 - July 2017)
Nobody said a fresh start would be easy
A clean slate is exactly what Katie Gallagher needs, and
Bar Harbor, Maine, is the best place to get it. Except the cottage her
grandmother left her is overrun with woodland creatures, and the police chief,
Aiden Cavanaugh, seems determined to arrest her! Katie had no idea she'd broken
his heart fifteen years ago…
Terrific story about trust, letting go of the past, and
new beginnings. I loved the characters, the emotional angst, and the humor that
balanced it out.
Katie spent her summers in Maine with her grandparents. She
was full of energy and had the reputation as a hellion, thanks to actions that "seemed like a
good idea at the time." When she grew up, the man she married turned out
to be a cheating, controlling nightmare. Nothing Katie did was ever right or
good enough. He even withheld the news of her grandmother's death, so she
didn't go to the funeral. Now, she is in the midst of divorcing him, and she
sets out for a fresh start in Maine in the house her grandmother left to her. She
runs afoul of the police chief, Aiden, on her way into town in a hilarious
encounter that has his head spinning.
Aiden grew up in their town but left for college and some
time with the Boston police department before returning home. Now, he is the
police chief. Aiden was dumped by his fiancée the day before their wedding and
is still bitter about it a year later. He is convinced women can't be trusted
and refuses to get involved with anyone. The last person he expects to see is
Katie, the girl he crushed on as a teenager.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Katie and
Aiden develop. Both have been hurt in the past, so neither wants to admit the
attraction. Their interactions are frequently hilarious. Aiden is determined to
keep his distance but can't ignore his need to watch over her. Katie's house is
a critter-infested mess, and watching her try to deal with it provides some of
the funniest moments in the book. Every time they encounter each other, the
sparks fly. Katie begins to accept her growing feelings for him, but whenever
Aiden gives in to his attraction, his insecurities send him running. His
hot-and-cold attitude stirred up Katie's insecurities. Sometimes, I wanted to
shake both of them and lock them in a room until they got past their hangups.
Matters come to a head when Katie finally has enough of Aiden's waffling and
calls him out. He deserved some suffering after realizing what an idiot he'd
been, so I was happy to see that Katie didn't give in too quickly. I loved the
epilogue.
Supporting characters: I loved Bear, the handyman. He
wanted sparks between him and Katie, and they just weren't there. But he turned
out to be a good friend. Aiden's grandfather, Conner, was sweet once they got
past their initial meeting. I loved his support of Katie. I also enjoyed the
relationship between him and Aiden. He won my heart when he helped make Katie's
dream come true. And I can't finish the review without mentioning Katie's dog,
a Newfoundland named Chaucer. He was a big ol' goofball, and I loved how he was
always there when Katie needed him.
Friday, September 6, 2024
Unsolved Bayou Murder - Carla Cassidy (HI #2188 - Jan 2024)
Series: Swamp Slayings (Book 1)
There's only one way to clear his name.
But he needs her help.
Freed from prison after fifteen years, Beau Boudreau
turns to Peyton LaCroix. Their love affair ended the night he was wrongly
accused of murder. Now Beau needs the Black Bayou defense attorney to help
clear his name. With the case -- and reawakened passion -- heating up, time is
running out to find someone who has killed before. And is getting ready to kill
again.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The
mystery/suspense kept me reading well into the night, but I wasn't really
feeling the romance. Fifteen years earlier, Beau and Peyton were a couple. She
was eighteen, and he was twenty-one, and they had big dreams for their future.
But Beau was accused and convicted of murdering a "working girl" and
sent to prison. He swore he was innocent, but Peyton was influenced by her
wealthy parents, who never approved of "swamp rat" Beau. She caved into
the pressure to believe he was guilty.
Fifteen years later, Peyton is a defense attorney who
returned to her hometown to start her own firm. The last thing she expected was
Beau to come to her after his release from prison. He wants her help in finding
out who really killed Lacey. This is where Peyton's actions first turned me
off. She still believes he's guilty and doesn't see why they should stir things
up again. It isn't until he reminds her of a critical piece of evidence that
she realizes he is innocent, and she finally agrees to help him. I was
irritated that she had had no faith in the man she supposedly loved. Now, she's
all in on uncovering the truth.
The sparks of attraction between them are still intense,
but Beau is wary of getting involved with Peyton again. He is still hurt and
angry over the way she abandoned him all those years ago. In addition, he's now
an ex-con with a bleak future, thanks to a betrayal by his best friend. He
feels there is no way he and the respected attorney can have a future together.
But as they work together to clear his name, there is no denying the feelings
that keep growing stronger. I liked that once she believed Peyton was all-in on
the investigation and refused to back down when threatened. Their road to a
future together still has a few bumps - prove Beau's innocence and convince him
they have a chance to be happy.
The suspense of the story is what kept me hooked. It is
evident from the start that Beau's arrest and conviction resulted from
prejudice and incompetence. I liked seeing Peyton dig into the details of the
case. A lot is working against them because the townspeople still believe he is
guilty. There is also someone determined to stop the investigation. Attacks on
Peyton and Beau increase in intensity the closer they get to identifying the
murderer. The final confrontation was intense, with a twist that surprised me.
I was happy to see Beau's reputation restored.
But he needs her help.
The Little Irish Farm - Michelle Vernal (Bookouture - Aug 2024)
Jess Báre moved to the Emerald Isle to chase fairy tales.
But when one takes her to an isolated farm in the clover-covered countryside,
will she find the happy ending she's been searching for? Or are some tales best
left untold?
Pursuing her dream life in Ireland, twenty-something
Dublin newspaper columnist Jess is now half a world away from her family and
feeling pretty lonely. At least she has her childhood collection of antique
fairy tales. But she longs to be out exploring all the old stories Ireland is
famed for.
So when she finds a heart-breaking dedication to a little
girl in a new addition to her collection, Jess knows that the story behind it
would be perfect for her next column. And, when her research takes her to a
tumbledown farmhouse in a tiny Irish village, she can barely contain her joy.
The endless rolling hills surrounding the small cottage are just like the
scenes in Jess's favourite novels.
She even warms to the dark and brooding farmer hosting
her, Owen. He may come off a little grumpy, but it doesn't take long for Jess
to be swept up by his dark eyes and quiet charms as they walk together across
the fresh green fields of the farm. And Jess's heart melts when she discovers
he is hiding a tragic secret…
One wrapped up in the history of the farm, and very same
little girl Jess is here to research. But, with the demands of her job calling
her back to the home she hates, she must decide: does their story end here at
the farm? Or could following her heart heal the wounds of a devastating past,
and set her and Owen on the path to happily ever after?
Good book with an interesting storyline. Jess is a New
Zealander who moved to Dublin to work as a journalist. She has a weekly column
in the newspaper and is always looking for interesting things to write about.
She also collects children's fairy tale books. Jess's latest find has a little
girl's name in it and she gets the idea to track down the previous owner and
see what she's doing now. She connects with the little girl's brother, Owen, a
gruff, moody pig farmer, and learns about Amy's tragic fate.
Jess has two good friends, Brianna and Nora. Brianna is
married with a small son, and Nora is single and constantly looking to set Jess
up with blind dates. I loved the fun they had together and how they had each
other's backs, whether they needed support or a kick in the pants. In this
book, Nora is dating a film star, and sets Jess up with his friend, Nick. Nick
is a handsome, wealthy property developer who wines and dines her. Jess wonders
if Nick might be The One. At the same time, she feels a connection with Owen as
she spends time with him, learning about Amy.
I enjoyed watching Jess with the two men in her life.
Nick is smooth and flashy and rather full of himself. She's pretty taken with him,
but I had reservations about him, mainly when he talked about his work. Being
around Owen was like being on a roller coaster. He could go from grumpy and
curt to charming and talkative at the drop of a hat. He has issues from his
past that make it difficult for him to trust, and Jess frequently bumps up
against those issues. Owen and Jess have some work to do before fully trusting
each other.
Another part of the story deals with the tension between
Jess and her mother, Marian. Marian can be quite pushy when
"encouraging" Jess to get out and find a man. I laughed at many things
she said, but I was also glad I wasn't the one on the receiving end. Jess
panics when Marian visits Ireland because she knows what her mom can be like.
Matters come to a head when Jess and Marian visit Owen. This time, Jess's
insecurities are creating problems. I loved the emotional scene in the car when
Jess and Marian finally clear the air between them. The ending was sweet, and I
loved the epilogue.
Jess's treatment of Amy's story was terrific. I loved the
mix of innocent young girls caught up in events beyond her control and its
effect on her family's lives. That touch of sadness was a good foil for the
amusing parts of the story and gave a good balance.
Monday, September 2, 2024
Let Me Call You Sweetheart - Nancy Gideon (SIM #851 - Apr 1998)
Series: Whose Child?
TROUBLE'S BACK IN TOWN
He'd always been the wrong-side-of-the-tracks bad boy of
Sweetheart, Iowa -- the kind a "nice" girl like Bess Carey wasn't
supposed to want. But that hadn't kept her from loving him -- not even when he
disappeared without a word....
Now Zach Crandall had returned to uncover the truth about
the tragedy that had driven him away. But this town was determined to keep its
secrets. And Bess lived in fear of what would happen if he knew her most
shattering secret -- the truth about the child he'd never known....
Good second chance story. Zach and his siblings grew up
in an abusive home, looked down on by most of the people in town. Zach reacted
by living down to their expectations. The only person who saw through his façade
to the vulnerable boy underneath was Bess. She was his tutor for several
classes and got to know him well, going from wary to in love with him. But Zach
disappeared the same night his father was murdered, leaving people believing he
was the murderer. His mother claimed to have done it and went to prison.
Bess grew up with a straight-laced and controlling
mother. She was raised to be a "good girl" and constantly warned
about protecting her reputation. That didn't stop her from loving Zach despite
her mother's objections. When Bess discovered she was pregnant after Zach's
disappearance, it was her mother who took control.
Seventeen years later, Bess's mother is dead, and Bess
inherits the family bookstore. She runs the store, dresses conservatively, is
on many committees, and does her best to evade the local matchmakers' attempts to find her a husband. The high points
in her life are when her niece, Faith, comes to visit. The last thing she
expected was for Zach to return to town.
Zach returned to town to be there when his mother
returned from serving her sentence. He also wants to find out the truth about
who killed his father. He's sure that his mother didn't do it. He also wants to
see Bess again.
I ached for Zach and Bess. Zach's return sets the entire
town on its ear. They still treat him as though he's guilty of murder. But Zach
has a surprise for them all when he shows up for the first day of his new job.
I laughed out loud at the shock and consternation of the residents and loved seeing
him trample over their expectations. Bess is shocked at his return and stunned
to discover she still has feelings for him. She also fears him discovering her
secret. But her mother's influence is still strong, and she is torn between
those feelings and her fear of others' opinions. It takes an eye-opening conversation
with her niece for Bess to break free of the chains that have held her back. I
loved her big moment at the end.
Zach stirs up a hornets' nest when he starts asking
questions about his father's murder. As he and Bess dig into his father's past,
they find themselves the target of someone who doesn't want them to succeed. Escalating
attacks kept them on edge, while the twists of their investigation kept me
guessing. The final confrontation was intense and not who I expected.
Sunday, September 1, 2024
The Lyon's Saving Grace - C.H. Admirand (Dragonblade - Aug 2024)
Series: Lyon's Den (Book 63)
A man with nothing to lose…
Lieutenant Lord Alec Quinton gambled and lost in the Lyon's
Den. But Mrs. Dove-Lyon grants him a second chance. Will he win the hand of an
heiress this time, or face his worst fear?
Forced to retire from the Navy when an injury leaves him
with one and a half legs, his pride takes a second hit when he returns home and
his fiancée cries off. His dream is to breed horses, but needs an influx of
ready coin. He seeks to marry an heiress who will agree to a marriage in name
only.
A hoyden on the verge of losing everything…
Lady Catherine Huntington's widowed mother is bedridden,
and her aunt has struck a bargain with the Black Widow of Whitehall, but time
is running out. She must marry by her twenty-first birthday, or lose her
inheritance and the ability to pay for her mother's care.
She'd rather spend her time in the country, racing her
gelding through an open meadow, than attending the tedious round of
entertainments in London. If only she could find a man agreeable to a marriage
in name only.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon has made the perfect match: two people who
love horses and want a marriage in name only. But will their stubborn pride
bend and listen, when their hearts cry out for more?
Terrific book. I was so happy to see Alec get another
chance at finding love after losing one of Mrs. Dove-Lyon's challenges. Unlike
many of the other defeated contestants in her contests, Alec is a good man and
deserves his chance. I ached for him and everything he has gone through. He was
forced to retire from the Navy after the Battle of Trafalgar when his injuries
resulted in the loss of part of his left leg. In another blow, his fiancée cried
off. Because of that, he seeks a marriage in name only. I especially loved his commitment to help other returning veterans.
Kit needs to marry before her twenty-first birthday or
lose her inheritance. She needs that money to take care of her bedridden
mother. She tried the usual route of Society balls, but she'd rather be in the
country with her horses. This unconventional attitude and tendency toward
direct speech limit her desirability in Society's eyes. All she wants is a
marriage in name only and the opportunity to be with her horses. Her aunt makes
a deal with Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find her a husband.
Alec and Kit first encounter each other during the Lyon's
Den masked ball. They are immediately drawn to each other. Alec does something
that gets him banned from the Lyon's Den before he can uncover the mysterious
lady's identity. Fortunately, with the aid of two friends, he convinces Mrs.
Dove-Lyon to give him a second chance. His biggest obstacle is to win the challenges
set up to win Kit's hand - challenges that involve his greatest fear. I loved
his determination and how he faced those fears. Kit fell quickly for the man who
saved her from a drunken patron but had no idea who he was. She was thrilled
when she discovered he would be one of those vying for her hand.
I loved their quick connection. They are open and honest
with each other, which goes a long way toward achieving their happy-ever-after.
Though both looked for a marriage in name only at the outset of their journey,
their growing feelings led to the decision to make it real. I ached for Alec,
whose injuries have made him wary of trusting someone with his heart. Kit won
my heart with her love and acceptance in an emotional scene on their wedding
night. Not everything is sunshine and roses. Alec and Kit must contend with a
sore loser in the marriage competition who is bent on revenge.
I loved the characters' appearances from the author's
other series and previous books in the Lyon's Den. The seamless inclusion of
those such as Captain Coventry and members of the Duke's Guard are always fun
to read.
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