Review: Compelling and beautiful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 23, 2014
Originally published at Rookie Romance.I was really surprised when I realised that this is the first book I've read by Bronwen Evans. I have several of her books, but somehow I've yet to read them, but that will definitely be remedied soon.Let's start by talking about Sarah, our heroine. She has survived some horrific things in her life, but she's come through her trials unbroken and with a gentle, kind heart. The treatment she suffered at the hands of her husband was heart breaking, the scars on her body are nothing compared to the ones he left on her soul. It's a testament to the strength of her character that she hasn't become an embittered and cynical woman, and she's one of my favourite heroines I've read about in a while.It sounds slightly sadistic to say that I love a tortured hero, and poor Christian certainly fits the bill. After surviving a cruel attack on the battlefields of France that left him scarred and self-pitying, he has a rather cold reception in England and is accused of a heinous crime, before being forcibly sent to Canada. Underneath Christian's scars and gruff demeanor, he's the same man but he doesn't see this. He's terrified of becoming an abusive monster, like his father. Despite this, he's very sweet and compassionate. I loved how he interacted with Lily, his ward, it really shows the kind of man he is.Sarah and Christian have a sweet, intense and healing relationship. They both bear their scars, but together they find a hope and love worth fighting for. I just adored them together, they were ideally suited and the chemistry between them was scorching. At the beginning of their physical relationship, the trust they both give to the other person was just beautiful and a little overwhelming.From the beginning you can't help but be completely absorbed into this story. The first chapter grabs your attention and you have to know what will happen next. There is plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep your attention riveted, and the story moves at a quick pace. The mystery elements don't detract from the romance between Christian and Sarah, which is the beating heart of this story.The puzzle over who is determined to bring about Christian's downfall is very intriguing and guarantees that I'll be reading the whole series to unravel all of the twisted threads.Overall, I definitely recommend this to all lovers of historical romance. It's emotionally compelling and beautiful, with a gripping plot that never fails to keep you eagerly turning the pages. It's safe to say that I loved this!*I received a review copy from the publisher, for my honest review. Thank you!