Review: Caldwell writes a GREAT flawed hero.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 13, 2014
There is so much to like about this book it is hard to narrow it down for a short review. Hero and Heroine are both likable and believable as fully fleshed out people. Their tenuous relationship, which began in childhood, is slowly teased out through the book really drawing the reader in until you find yourself wanting their true love to be revealed. There are only three little things that kept this story from getting a five-star review, the first is the DOG. What was supposed to have been cute comes off a bit twee and contrived for my taste. Too many scenes were set up using the dog as a plot device to put heroine in unlikely situations.  Lucky for me the pooch who is all over the first 1/3 of the book completely disappears for the middle bit. As for the middle bit, there is a slight drag in pace there, nothing too dire -- more of one too many he-hashing of things the reader has already figured out. Lastly, while the hero's flaw isn't curable, I wished to see it addressed in the end as something the H and h would work through together. Instead, once it was completely revealed to Heroine the matter is suddenly a non-issue and is never mentioned again. I recommend this book, along with "Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride" in the Scandalous Seasons series for those who like quick-witted heroines and lovable but flawed heroes.