Review: A twist on a fairy tale
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 2, 2013
Henry St. Giles,the Earl of Cravenswood wants to marry,he really does, but he has yet to meet the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, until that is he literally stumbles into her in his garden late one night!One night,Henry finds himself in a drunken stupor in his garden. Amy Shipton,his neighbour and the young woman who has secretly loved him for years is also there. She, like Henry, has often sought out the shelter of the garden, and unbeknownst to Henry has often kept him company while he sat talking to his late brother Richard,seeking solace and wisdom in his life and as the new Earl.During the night in question,after Henry stumbles and falls, Amy rushes to help and is groped and kissed and mistakenly thought to be Henry's ex-mistress Millicent!When Amy flees the scene,she leaves behind a very expensive, emerald earring. It's a clue to the mystery woman's identity,the only clue Henry has. Amy's family's past, the name Henry utters while she is in his arms and some well-meaning interference from his friends make his search a bit more difficult than he expected, but it isn't long until he discovers his mystery woman. Now all he needs to do is convince her of his intentions.This is the third book in the series, and I have read all three in the series. Although there was passion between Henry and Amy,I didn't feel enamored of the characters. I also didn't feel the ending to be a plausible one.When Millicent leaves Henry, she falls into the arms of a not-very-nice man. Although Millicent does not play a role in the book, other than the reader being aware of her existence, we learn in the end that she wishes to leave the life she has lived as a mistress and Henry decides he wants to help her retire if that's okay with Amy. Well it seems it's so okay with Amy, that Amy signs over a small property to her and a substantial part of her dowry. I found it hard to believe that any woman could be that generous of spirit, under any circumstances!