Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsLoved the promise of a strong, mature heroine, but...
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 31, 2017
I felt a bit cheated by the end of story. 3 1/2 stars.
The author did spin an unusual tale that held my attention, provided rich background and interesting secondary characters. Jordan's writing style is enchanting and her love scenes have titillating sensuality.
I just wish the heroine had carried out the promise of strength and maturity throughout the book.
Ela was not a typical heroine. Author introduces Ela as a strong dowager who held together her daughter and stepchildren after the death of her much older husband.
Furthermore she preserved a good, albeit false, image of the late Duke for their children.
Although most of this information about the heroine is told, there were instances where her generosity and caring were shown. And her trip to a risqué club showed daring. Well, maybe daring...?
In the latter half of the story, Ela all too often demonstrates a propensity for running. She runs from confrontations, from emotions and just plain packs up to run.
All this time, Colin stays fixed upon winning Ela. Given the way she treats him, he is quite the steadfast hero. I really never felt the author gave me an understanding of why he loved Ela.
Bottom line- This would have been an unquestionable five-star read but for two factors. One, the emotional connection between the hero and heroine was underdeveloped. Most important, the heroine never carried through with the strength and durability that she was described with in the book's beginning.
