Helpful Score: 1
Slow moving at first, but ultimately rewarding. If you are in the mood for lots of excitement and action, this may not be the book for you. However, if you appreciate beautifully crafted prose, and excellent character building in a story that revolves around the hero and heroine slowly getting to know each other in a quiet country setting, and becoming better people in the process, you will appreciate this story. I must admit, it took me a while to get into it. However Cecilia Grant writes so well it's hard to believe this is her first published novel. She is so original and subtly humorous, that I was eventually drawn in. Even the bedroom scenes are quite funny at times, with the heroine starting off as somewhat of a prude, but eventually loosening up. I grew to love Martha and Theo, the two main characters. Plus, she set up a plot that made an HEA seem almost impossible, yet the problem was solved in a realistic way. I'll be reading her next books for sure.
Extremely well written regency historical; no wonder Mary Balogh liked it (she has a quote on the front cover), it's the sort of theme she does so well: a couple originally hook up for the wrong reason (whatever it might be, in this case the heroine's need for an heir) and somehow make a real relationship out of what was supposed to be a temporary association.
I liked the author's carefully crafted prose and look forward to her next book.
I liked the author's carefully crafted prose and look forward to her next book.
Theo and Martha were an odd couple at first, he a man of the world and she as sexually repressed as a disillusioned woman can get. Frankly, I found her repression rather tedious, but Martha grew on me as she warmed (ever so slowly) to Theo. Their interludes were awkward transactions initially, but budding trust transformed them into lessons in passion. As much as I loved the bed play, I'd say the last third of the book was best where motivations, plans, confrontations, and yes, declarations of love came to point. 3.5 stars.
This was a okay book
