Only a Kiss by Mary Balogh (Survivors' Club #6)

Synopsis 

Since witnessing the death of her husband during the wars, Imogen, Lady Barclay, has secluded herself in the confines of Hardford Hall, their home in Cornwall. The new owner has failed to take up his inheritance, and Imogen desperately hopes he will never come to disturb her fragile peace.

Percival Hayes, Earl of Hardford, has no interest in the wilds of Cornwall, but when he impulsively decides to pay a visit to his estate there, he is shocked to discover that it is not the ruined heap he had expected. He is equally shocked to find the beautiful widow of his predecessor’s son living there.

Soon Imogen awakens in Percy a passion he has never thought himself capable of feeling. But can he save her from her misery and reawaken her soul? And what will it mean for him if he succeeds?

Review 

For five books, we’ve seen the reserved Imogen Hayes, part of the Survivors’ Club but holding herself apart, a woman who was captured with her husband by the French, heard him tortured and was with him at the end when he died. Imogen was unharmed but broken just the same. We’ve known that it was bad and that out of all of them, perhaps she was the one still most trapped in the wounds from the war. This book gives us her story, a story of a woman whose self-discipline keeps her from falling into a bottomless pit of depression and whose survivor’s guilt keeps her from feeling anything deeply at all. After 8 years, she’s finally shaken awake by a man who is charm itself, except when they interact.

Edenbrooke: A Proper Romance by Julianne Donaldson (2012)

I read 'Heir to Edenbrooke' before the book, so it took a little bit of the question as far as what was going on in Philip's head, but even without it, this would have been a great read. There are more than a few fan/swoon-worthy moments in this clean read - who says you can't have pages that sizzle with chemistry without things being explicitly described? Donaldson proves that you can have passion and heat and keep it clean. Bravo!

As far as the story: unlike one of my other recent reads, this character's insecurity is something I understand and can relate to: her 'more beautiful' twin has always been the better English Rose. Sister Cecily excels at the things that society ascribes to a lady, while our heroine, Marianne, would rather ride horses, climb trees and twirl with her eyes closed. Cecily loves life in London with the Beau Monde. Marianne longs for the country and hates doing embroidery. Since their mother's tragic death, Marianne has lived with their grandmother in Bath; their father, in his grief, abandoned them to relatives and fled to France. The girls receive an invitation from an old friend of their mother's to come stay at Edenbrooke. Before Marianne leaves, her grandmother decides to disown her scoundrel of a nephew and leave her 40,000 pounds to Marianne instead, provided she learns to be more genteel.

On her way to Edenbrooke, their coach is attacked by a highwayman. He's driven off by her maid's quick thinking and when they arrive at the inn, the tall gentleman Marianne asks for help is snide in his refusal. She delivers a terrific set down to the man and he's appropriately chagrined. The evening that follows has him being contrite, engaging and very attractive. Only problem: he won't tell her who he is beyond his first name (Philip).

When she arrives at Edenbrooke, their paths cross again, she falls into a river, and he's gallant even as he teases her. Then she finds out that he's the son of the woman who invited her to visit! Philip proceeds to pour in the charm, she thinks he's a terrible flirt, and a comfortable friendship develops, even as he constantly is doing things that say his interest is more than just being a hospitable host. Things are going along swimmingly until he's called Sir Philip and she realizes that he's the man her twin has been mooning over during her Season. And what Cecily wants, Cecily gets.

Donaldson gives us a heroine who is all heart, a hero who is a true gentleman and plenty of obstacles to the happy ending. None of it is forced or cringe-worthy. All of it is the stuff you read historical romance for. I only wished it was longer. 

5/5 stars

Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (2020)

This book was fricking amazing. One of the best of the year and it's only March.

Wait, you say. What made it so fantastic?

1) Its maturity in how it handled complicated emotional issues. 

Just like me, the OTP -- April and Marcus -- have rocky relationships with their parents. They recognize their parents' shortcomings but still get hurt in spite of that awareness. Just like me, they know that random people's opinions don't determine your self-worth, but old wounds unexpectedly crop up when least expected. Reactions and hurts are analyzed afterwards, instead of simply taking them as the truth of that moment. The pair are mature enough to admit they were wrong, to consider someone else’s emotions, and to use that consideration to temper their own. I could relate to both in their doubts and insecurities. In making your friends your family. In not wanting to hide anymore and being brave enough to go through with taking off the protective mask.