Review: A fun read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 5, 2011
I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first & third books in this series, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. The 4-star rating is based on a comparison with the other books, not romance books in general.Cassandra James is the adored, spoiled daughter of a loving, middle-class father...or so she thought. When she learns differently, her entire world is thrown into an uproar. Forced to go live with her paternal grandfather, Cassandra is expected to marry according to his whims and abandon the life & family she's always known.Simon Fitzgerald, Marquess of Sutherfield, has a bit of the rogue in him, though he detests anyone who might suggest it. His penchant for red hair initially draws him to the beautiful Cassandra, while fate conspires to throw her into his path...& apparently his heart.Herein lies great characterization, with a strong, stubborn heroine being relentlessly pursued by a dashing & enticing hero. The shift from infatuation to love progresses smoothly, and this story lacks the overwhelming odds many characters often face (though there are still obstacles thrown in the way, don't worry). Instead what is offered is a story about fear & trust & learning to move toward the possibility of happiness. The passion between the hero & heroine is exciting & moving, too. (Look for the scene in the rose garden...loved it!)A secondary story involves the healing of relationships and learning to forgive wounds from the past. We get to see Cassandra struggle to maintain the only family she's ever known while reconciling it with a new family tied to her by blood. Wicklund did a good job portraying these relationships without allowing them to bog down the main story.I had to re-read this book in order to write this review b/c I could not, for the life of me, remember any of it. (Another reason for the 4-star rating...it just wasn't as memorable for me as the other two books in this series.) Once I started reading it again, though, the plot & details flooded back.This is a great book in its own right compared to other historical romances, but it just didn't resonate with me as strongly as the other two in this series. Still this is a worthy effort, and I don't think an HR-lover will be disappointed.This is book 2 in a series of four:1 -In the Garden of Temptation (The Garden Series Book 1)(Often free, so watch for it!)2 -In the Garden of Seduction (The Garden Series Book 2)3 -In the Garden of Disgrace (The Garden Series Book 3)4 -In the Garden of Deceit (The Garden Series Book 4)