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Wow. You don't read this often---an older woman with a younger man. Woo-hoo!

This is also a story about a woman who transforms her life, something I always enjoy. Olivia goes from a very bland life to involving herself in politics, & of course her affair with a very sexy gardener/artist. I loved watching her discover herself & her own self-worth.

And our hero---young, and with the sensitivity of the artist combined with the masculinity of the gardener, well, what more could we ask? Either way you look at him, he's good with his hands.

So much happened in just over 300 pages, I'm not really sure where to start. So I'm just going to go by the characters, & hope I don't miss anything.

Clara & Todd: I loved this secondary romance. They were both such interesting characters. Clara, the spinster with a ruined reputation who's found meaning in politics, and Todd, the lawyer who see's his aunt's potential before she sees it herself. I like him for that alone.

Prissy was just so pitiful. I'd like to know how her son turns out.

Neville.... You don't know how much I wanted him to be the villain. But oh, what a comeuppance! It's so satisfying when the punishment fits the crime---what he wished on his cousin Andrew he caused to happen to himself instead. IMO, turning out to be a bastard was probably the worst thing that could have happened to him. And maybe the best thing---maybe now he'll stop worrying about his ambitions & try to be a bit more human.

Antonio. He was my second choice for villain, & he didn't do it either. I didn't do very well at guessing whodunit this time. Nasty guy, though.

Andrew as an interesting character. I liked him being a rival for Clara's affections. I'm really hoping to see a book for him in the future. Okay, so I'm a sucker for series. What can I say?

Sir Perry. He took me by surprise. I did not have him pegged as the Duke's lover. He was a good friend to Livie, & it was really touching how both of them had thought the other killed the Duke, & neither of them said anything about it, & how they were both prepared to hang for the other. Now that's friendship. As was his making opportunities available for Will.

Tom Barnes surprised me as well. The poor young man.

The ending was just right. I'm glad they went to America to Andrew's ranch there. I think they'll be happier there.

Labels: books, flashback, HistoricalRomance

// posted by Darla @ 6/13/2008 01:51:00 AM