Though this author has quite the back catalog, she's only a recent find for me—and I am so very glad I have found her! Her stories are not only well researched—which makes this Regency nerd quite happy!—but her novels have incredible depth of both character and plot. While I have enjoyed every single book I've read of hers so far, this is, if not my favorite, then in the top two. Its complex plot kept me turning the pages to see what would happen, both for the couple’s blossoming relationship at its core as well as for the external plot. The heroine is so sympathetic, relatable, and believable. She desperately loves her sister, and now that sister has gone missing, she is determined to find her, no matter what. She's very well intentioned but perhaps doesn't give everything as much thought as she should. Luckily, she finds in the hero a man who will protect her on her quest and help her as much as he can. This is certainly an unlikely thing for the Regency era, when unmarried young women did not run off with a single gentleman, but that just shows the depth of her concern for her sister and her willingness to do anything to locate her. The book tugs at the heartstrings so many times and in so many ways. The end of her quest is certainly not what she (or the reader) hoped it would be—which brought more than a tear to my eye—but ultimately ends up beautifully in creating a whole new family.
The hero has his struggles as well. He's an illegitimate son of a peer who struggled until his father acknowledged him as a young boy. He sees himself as a bit more of a blackguard than he truly is. He's actually kind, protective, loyal, compassionate—truly the best sort of man, no matter which side of the blanket he was born on. Sometimes, he has to protect the heroine from herself, and he goes to great lengths to do the best he can for her. He's the perfect cinnamon roll hero, a little crusty on the outside but was a gooey middle, especially when it comes to his lady. He, some while before the book started, asked her father for her hand in marriage, but the old man refused him because of his somewhat tarnished pedigree. One of the running gags, so to speak, of the story is that he asks her every night of their journey to marry him, and it is interesting to see the way her thoughts on this change over time as she gets to know him. What will she do when he stops asking?
Like all the other books in this series—and a few others by this author—a hint of magic pervades this book. A somewhat devious fairy godmother grants women of her line a wish. The heroine had dreamed of what she would choose for her wish, but circumstances force her to ask for another. I love how she uses it both in that first critical instance and then later on in the book. I love how this author has created a believable romantic Regency story but has included this otherworldly element that fits so well. If you don't mind having a bit of paranormal in your Regency romance, pick up this book, and be prepared to be blown away by an amazing story about two wonderful people who deserve each other and the life they (eventually) plan to create together. Highly recommended.
I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
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Top reviews from other countries
Susan Smith
Terrific writer - terrific characters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2019
Belle
A sexy regency romance with a dash of magic.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2018