Series: The Survivors, #12
Traits & Tropes: compromised into marriage; scarred hero; soldier
Publication Date: 03.08.22
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; Hungerford, England
Heat Level: 5
Rating: 5 stars
Avid horseman Nicholas St. Claire, third son of the Marquess of Averstow, was a brilliant cavalry officer until his horse fell on him during a battle and shattered his legs. He was forced to return to England a different man and has become rather a hermit, hiding out on one of his brother’s country estates. But his mother is adamant that he should marry, and Nicholas is equally sure that he doesn’t want to condemn a wife to a future with him and his brokenness, which he is sure she can only hate him for. He is utterly convinced no one will be able to see past his glaringly obvious weakness.
Amelia Blackstock has spent the last ten years caring for her ailing grandmother and then her father. She was devastated by her father’s death six months ago but has been enjoying a little taste of freedom since. Unfortunately, she took that freedom a bit too far and now faces ruination if discovered. When Lord Nicholas finds her in his stables in the throes of a crying jag, he tries to make her feel better. That kindness blows up in his face when the two are found alone together and Nicholas offers to marry Amelia to stave off further scandal, as long as she’ll agree to a platonic relationship and separate beds.
Amelia has little choice but to agree to Nicholas’ terms, but as her feelings for him deepen into something more, she wants more from him. Nicholas is also developing feelings for Amelia, but he’s afraid to reveal the full extent of his scars lest she reject him. With all of his friends from his army troop descending for a house party and the need to hide one of them from charges of treason, there is plenty to pull Nicholas and Amelia apart and Nicholas has to decide how much he’s willing to risk if it means securing his own happiness.
I’m so sad to see one of my favorite series come to an end, but I do think this story sends it out on a happy note. I was delighted to see all the characters from the previous books come together on the page in this book and that they also had a role in driving the plot, rather than just being included for gratuity’s sake. Nicholas and Amelia were both charming and vulnerable in their own ways and I especially loved the fact that Amelia was so unapologetic about her feelings and willing to face her fears by sharing them. She challenged Nicholas to see himself differently, to question his own desires and see the damage his fear was causing. She knew what she wanted and refused to settle for less, and thankfully he was eventually able to meet her on her level. I loved that open communication that was established between these two and how they supported each other even before they truly understood or fully trusted each other. The development shown by Amelia and Nicholas as individuals and as a couple was excellent and I loved that we got plenty of steam here and that it was an integral part of what drove the plot and relationship growth between them. This was an excellent book with a grumpy, scarred hero and a sweet heroine with plenty of backbone and it definitely worked for me. I’m sad to see the series come to a close but happy that it ended so well and excited for Shana’s next work.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4418908667
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