Review: A Very Reluctant Lady
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 27, 2013
Annabelle has lived a difficult life, but made her own way in spite of that.  She is successful and content in her business until Richard  (who is a Duke and former Army) happens along.  He comes on a little strong, wanting her immediately,  and that puts her off as the men in her life have not been particularly nice.  She knows that as a lady of business, her reputation must be spotless.  She and Richard dance around one another, he going forward and she backing away until his mother takes a hand.  Richard and Annabelle are now in Lavinnia's plans, and their three way dance continues.  Because of her personal situation, Annabelle cannot feel that a future with Richard is possible and until she thinks she might lose him, she tells herself it just isn't not possible.  Her step-brother doesn't help as he just is not a nice person and certainly not well-liked, nor does he do nice things.  When they finally reach the point where things just might work, of course, the situation changes again.  La! Are we surprised?  Twists in the plot put Annabelle and Lavinnia in peril, but true to the Hero role, Richard arrives in the nick of time.  All is well that ends well and everything does end well.  Sigh.I was impressed with the ins and outs of the plot that kept me interested from beginning to end. I loved the characters I was supposed to love and did not love the ones I was not supposed to love.  Certainly time well spent, in my humble opinion.