"The rest of the world is filled to bursting with ill-tempered people. It's my solemn duty not to be one of them." - Ella Myerston
Description:
Lady Ella Myerston can always find a reason to smile--even if it's just in hope that tomorrow will be better than today. All her life everyone has tried to protect her from the realities of the world, but Ella knows very well how the dangerous Fire Eyes diamonds have haunted her brother and their friends, and she won't wait for peril to strike again. She intends to take action . . . and if that happens to involve an adventurous trip to the Cotswolds, then so much the better.
Lord James Cayton has already broken two hearts, including that of his first wife, who died before he could convince himself to love her. Now he's determined to live a better life . . . but that proves complicated when old acquaintances pull Cayton into their desperate attempt to seize the jewels. He does his best to remove the intriguing Lady Ella from danger, but the stubborn girl won't budge. How else can he redeem himself, though, but by saving her--and his daughter--from those intent on destroying them all?
About the Author:
Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of nine novels, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. Roseanna lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at www.roseannamwhite.com.My Review: 4.5 stars
I always have mixed emotions regarding the final book in a series: I want to rush through the story to find how everything ends, but I also want to savor it, because I know with the turn of the last page that I’ll be wishing my fictional friends “farewell.” I rarely actually manage the “savor it” part and this book is no exception - I flew right through it and loved every moment! I’ve been anxiously awaiting this story since learning it was to be Ella’s book, especially after getting to know her better in The Reluctant Duchess. The addition of Cayton was just an added benefit, though I did love seeing his character growing and changing from the first book.
Ms. White has quickly become one of my favorite historical authors and I have to say that one of my very favorite things about her books is how she brings each page to life. Her words engage every sense until I can almost feel the chill in the air, or see the gardens about to bloom, or inhale the musty library scent. Her characters are also as colorful and vivid, until I almost felt as though I could sit and have tea with Ella and Brook, or join Cayton in the nursery to see little Addie. I also loved getting to spend time with the characters from the past books, while getting to know the main characters even better. I do have to brag on Ms. White’s mystery writing skills, as well! There are few things I enjoy more than a historical romance with a side of mystery and suspense and this book is definitely on the list to be read again! I appreciated how she tied everything into the previous books, while also adding new elements that kept me guessing what might be happening next. There was one particular character that I found a little creepy, though I’m pretty sure that was the point. The only time I could’ve done with a little less description was in regards to this villain, though happily the book never came from their perspective.
I’m caught in a debate as to which heroine in this series has been my favorite, and while I really don’t think I can choose, since I’ve loved them all, Lady Ella Myerston is definitely outstanding! The sister to Brice in the previous book, she’s often thought to be naïve or foolish because of her perpetually happy outlook on life and I simply fell in love with her! She is so joyful and one of those characters that just makes me smile! I loved getting to know her and immensely enjoyed her spunky personality and quick wit, as well as getting to see behind her glowing exterior to learn that she does have bad days and fears, but she chooses to smile rather than spend the day crabby. One of my favorite lines in this book from Ella, “The rest of the world is filled to bursting with ill-tempered people. It’s my solemn duty not to be one of them.” I found that quote summed her up rather well.
I also quite liked Lord Cayton, despite his past mistakes. He’s been something of a prodigal for the previous books (probably part of the reason I like him) and I so enjoyed seeing his transformation. He tries so hard to not been that person any longer, that he sometimes misses the obvious - that he isn’t. I loved seeing him grow and finally learn that he is redeemed. And Ella is the perfect foil for his occasionally gloomy demeanor. I completely enjoyed their banter and how Ella pulls him out of his comfort zone and makes him laugh. I loved the little things that became special for them - the quirky comments that made me laugh along with them, the random things that would pop back up and become a running joke. For all of the heaviness of the tale, I loved the light moments sprinkled within that would bring a quick grin to my face.
Honestly, I have only one negative comment to share and that’s the fact that I wanted the ending to be drawn out a little longer. This is partially my desire for the book not to end, but also partially that I found the final chapters just a tad rushed. Everything played out so quickly that I found myself scrambling a bit to keep up with where everyone was and what was happening. But, I did really appreciate how all of the loose threads found their way back and were neatly tied up, with a final page that left me sighing and wishing it wasn’t over, yet.
Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my review (I know, it's lengthy)! I hope you enjoyed it and I have to say that I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance mixed with suspense and mystery (which is personally one of my favorite combinations)!
If you'd like to learn more about the book, links are below, as always!
Have a delightful day!
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P.S. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for a giveaway of Roseanna's new Christmas novel!
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