Series: Pennyroyal Green, #9
Traits & Tropes: opposites attract; former soldier; diamond of the first water; reformed rake; American heroine
Publication Date: 03.25.14
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; Sussex, England
Heat Level: 2.5
Rating: 4/5
Narration Rating: 5/5
Though she was born in England, American raised heiress Titania “Tansy” Danforth now very much feels her displaced orphan status. She arrives in Sussex hoping to find many suitors, enough to secure marriage to a title. Unfortunately for those plans, the only man she finds remotely interesting has no title, only a notorious reputation and apparently zero interest in her.
Ian Eversea returned from war a bit changed in ways no one seems to appreciate. Sure, he’s capable of charming multitudes of women, but he lets none near his heart and makes no promises that could potentially tie him down.
Given Tansy’s status as his brother-in-law’s ward, Ian inevitably spends a good deal of time with her and is surprised to find that the real Tansy is someone he’d like to know. She’s also incredibly tempting to him and may just be the one to cause him to lay down his guard for once.
I’m not entirely sure what happened here. I started this book thoroughly disliking the heroine, who came off as shallow and vapid. Ian was okay, sympathetic since even his family didn’t seem to think much of him, but he also seemed a bit shallow at the start. Then JAL manipulated my feelings in the way that she does so well, and I couldn’t help but root for these two to be together. I felt like I was getting to know Tansy and Ian at the same time as they were getting to know each other, seeing beneath the facades that each presented to the other. Tansy seemed vain and shallow and had me rolling my eyes so much at her antics, but really, she just sought stability and a strong connection to someone else, someone to whom she could belong, and I think that is definitely something that resonates with everyone. While this isn’t exactly a new favorite of the series for me, I very much enjoyed this couple and their journey to HEA, and I especially liked the reconciliation between Ian and the duke. Somehow, Ian and Tansy wound up being very sweet together and each wound up being basically the first person to see the other for who they truly were beneath the surface; Ian recognized Tansy’s grief and she recognized the painful memories he’d brought home from war. The other men around Tansy were certainly exasperating, but I did appreciate that it was always pretty clear to the reader that she was basically well-intentioned and had no true designs on any of them. Overall, I think this was a great addition to the series and I was happy to see Ian, as the oft-overlooked Eversea, get his HEA with someone who appreciated him for who he was beyond just his handsome face and effusive charm.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2929524231
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4328535473
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