Review: Clean, sweeping historical romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 12, 2012
Boston siblings Adam and Devon O'Leary find themselves fighting to restore their family's antebellum plantation or risk losing their inheritance to Tristan Montgomery, who lives on the neighboring plantation.  Tristan is forced to be their guardian until the terms of the will have been met or forfeit gaining the land he's coveted so long.  The situation attempts to make them enemies, but Tristan can't help but like the young O'Learys.  Adam is smart, humble, and kind, and he is fiercely protective of his sister. Devon is lovely and delicate, sweet-natured and gentle.  Although he's determined to win the property, Tristan can't deny his growing attraction to Devon. But can she ever trust him enough to fall in love with him?I loved Tristan from his first appearance in the book, and he only improved as the story developed. He's very protective of Devon, and a little jealous, but not to the point of being possessive.  He's very honorable to her, behaving like a doting husband from the beginning of their courtship.  I wasn't as thrilled with Devon as a character, because she was so shy and quiet.  However, the way Tristan and Devon interact with each other is sweet and heartwarming. Toward the end, another romance begins to blossom for Adam.  A villain arrives near the end, increasing the pace of the book as it reaches a satisfying resolution.**SPOILER ALERT: I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 for two reasons.  First, the "villain" appears suddenly and serves no real purpose other than to provide a damsel in distress and allow a character to become a hero.  Secondly, Tristan's former lover is a major character in the book, as they are still friends and she becomes friends with Devon.  I find it hard to imagine being such close friends with someone who knew my husband so intimately, and I can't imagine it would be any easier for Devon.