Series: The Survivors, #5
Tropes & Traits: second chance; age gap (older hero); former soldier
Publication Date: 04.16.19
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England
Rating: 5 stars
For those of us who follow this series (as I do), Draven has always been a confirmed bachelor until his long lost wife popped up in a scene in the previous book. Since then I've been dying to know more about the Colonel so I was very much looking forward to this book and thrilled to receive an ARC.
Colonel Benedict Draven has finally retired from the army and now works as a consultant for the Foreign Office and spends his free time at his club with the surviving members of the suicide squad he commanded during the Napoleonic Wars. Even after five years worth of war he still can't rid his mind of the fiery Portuguese woman he married (in name only) to save her from the abusive man her father had promised her to.
Catarina Neves has used her skills at making lace and the independence afforded her by her married status to become a successful businesswoman. But eventually she finds herself in danger again and seeking out Benedict in London. She hasn't seen him since their hasty wedding in war-torn Portugal and he's never sought her out so she is shocked when he refuses to grant her the annulment she asks for. When he tells her that he did in fact try to find her after the war, she begins to wonder if she can truly come to know and trust him, maybe even enough to ask him for the help she really needs.
I've always been so curious about Draven and I thought it was great to have a hero who is much older than the heroine but isn't content to act the part of the doddering old fool. He's still in good shape and he's very easygoing, but also strong, stubborn, and very protective of his own, which includes Cataraina. It was very refreshing. He's not even afraid to admit when he's wrong, a trait that endeared him to me early on. He's always been this stoic character moving in the background and quietly helping the other survivors with their happy endings so it's great to see him getting one himself. I loved that he was brutally honest and not willing to waste time on games or power plays. His blatant honesty was surprising given the mystery that has always surrounded his personal life in the previous books. It was just adorable to see Benedict actively courting Catarina and trying to get to know her.
I loved the little pop-in moments featuring some of my favorite characters from previous books.
We also meet a couple new characters whose stories I'm always salivating for.
This was a very highly anticipated book for me and it did not disappoint. Each book is just so unique and each character so well-written. This is definitely one of my favorite series, I can't wait for more, and I'm already dreading its end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Colonel Benedict Draven has finally retired from the army and now works as a consultant for the Foreign Office and spends his free time at his club with the surviving members of the suicide squad he commanded during the Napoleonic Wars. Even after five years worth of war he still can't rid his mind of the fiery Portuguese woman he married (in name only) to save her from the abusive man her father had promised her to.
Catarina Neves has used her skills at making lace and the independence afforded her by her married status to become a successful businesswoman. But eventually she finds herself in danger again and seeking out Benedict in London. She hasn't seen him since their hasty wedding in war-torn Portugal and he's never sought her out so she is shocked when he refuses to grant her the annulment she asks for. When he tells her that he did in fact try to find her after the war, she begins to wonder if she can truly come to know and trust him, maybe even enough to ask him for the help she really needs.
I've always been so curious about Draven and I thought it was great to have a hero who is much older than the heroine but isn't content to act the part of the doddering old fool. He's still in good shape and he's very easygoing, but also strong, stubborn, and very protective of his own, which includes Cataraina. It was very refreshing. He's not even afraid to admit when he's wrong, a trait that endeared him to me early on. He's always been this stoic character moving in the background and quietly helping the other survivors with their happy endings so it's great to see him getting one himself. I loved that he was brutally honest and not willing to waste time on games or power plays. His blatant honesty was surprising given the mystery that has always surrounded his personal life in the previous books. It was just adorable to see Benedict actively courting Catarina and trying to get to know her.
I loved the little pop-in moments featuring some of my favorite characters from previous books.
We also meet a couple new characters whose stories I'm always salivating for.
This was a very highly anticipated book for me and it did not disappoint. Each book is just so unique and each character so well-written. This is definitely one of my favorite series, I can't wait for more, and I'm already dreading its end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2687576273?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
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