Series: The Lost Lords, #4
Tropes & Traits: widow, damaged heroine, suspense
Publication Date: 07.17.18
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; England
Rating: 5 stars!
Narration Rating: 5/5 stars
| When a ship crashes on the rocks near his new home in the village near Castle Black, Dr. Nicholas Warner winds up risking his own life to fish a half-drowned woman from the stormy sea. When he brings her to shore, the villagers are stunned to recognize her as Viola Grantham, Lady Ramsleigh, wife of the recently departed Lord Percival Ramsleigh, the wife they buried two years earlier. Nicholas can’t help but feel drawn to his new patient and his care of her only fuels the strong connection that springs up between them almost immediately. Viola has experienced nothing but cruelty and heavy-handedness from the men in her life and doesn’t trust easily. But the handsome doctor stirs none of the fear she’s used to feeling in the presence of men. Instead she is irresistibly drawn to him and confides her painful story to him, including her reasons for fleeing her husband two years ago and the purpose of her return now: to protect her unborn child who is now the true Lord Ramsleigh and to secure his birthright and future. Nicholas takes much more interest in Viola than is due a mere patient and as they spend more time together, their feelings only grow stronger. Viola is tempted to reach for happiness, but everything is threatened by her late husband’s nephew, Randall, who is not willing to give up his claim on the title and will stop at nothing to see his aunt dealt with, including making her death real rather than pretend. Even if Viola can overcome her painful past and embrace a future with Nicholas, there is every chance that Randall’s nefarious schemes will snuff out any chance of happiness for good. I absolutely adored Nicholas as a hero. He was kind and compassionate, but cutthroat and decisive when needed. This book had emotion, danger, romance, lovely secondary characters, and a fast pace that kept me engrossed. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and getting to see Graham and Beatrice again was great as well. Nicholas and Viola's story was short and simple, but oh so sweet and he was a dashingly charming and earnest hero. I also loved that Viola was willing to give him a chance and not just immediately shut him down as is so often the case in novels in which the heroine is abused. She openly acknowledged that Nicholas was a good man and he in turn took his time and was very patient and open with her. I listened to the audio version on this reread and enjoyed the narration. I was just as pulled in this time as I was when I read it the first time. I’m looking forward to finally getting Mary Mason’s story next as it wasn’t yet published when I first read this book. This was a delightful read and I highly recommend it.  |
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