Review: Ingenious romance of decadence, heartbreak, true love and adventure
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 15, 2013
Ms. Holt delivers an ingenious romance of decadence, heartbreak, true love and adventure in the first book of The Borderland Legacy series, BORDERLAND BRIDE.Published by Jupiter Gardens Romance (an imprint of Jupiter Gardens Press which has as its hallmark "romance novels where the relationship is primary"), this book captures the relationship between Lady Isabel and Lord Jacob, between brothers and the complex relationships of social expectations and arranged marriages.We are introduced to the characters of BORDERLAND BRIDE when Jacob discovers Isabel beaten nearly to death and takes her to his brother's keep, to help her recover. She clings to life with her fingertips but gathers strength from this tender giant of a man, and as she realizes she has lost her hearing and power of speech, she is yet resolved to recover (even if her faculties never return).True to the spirit of Jupiter Gardens Romance, we follow the tentative and sweet courtship between Isabel and Jacob as they come to know each other through reading each other's lips (and I ask you, is there anything sexier?) and soon they come to read each other in ways neither could have expected. But their romance is hindered by mutual uncertainty that what they feel is mirrored in the other.When a surprising turn in Isabel's recovery opens the door to declarations, we cheer at the hope of their romance--but then Isabel's secrets come out and clash with Jacob's painful past, leaving two lives shattered against the rocks of outside circumstance and inner doubts.Lord Dominic, Jacob's brother, has had a fancy for Isabel and it seems he must step in to pick up the pieces, but at what cost?The story is further complicated by men who don't understand the meaning of the word "No" and a child borne out of desperate circumstances, but perhaps love will win out in the end.At 50,000 words, BORDERLAND BRIDE gave me the most wonderful four hours of escape, leading me to grin, cry out warnings, clutch my Kindle and cross my fingers hoping for the best. It was everything I could want in a romance. Ms. Holt has made me a lifetime fan of her work, and I'm thrilled to discover what happens next in the series (BORDERLAND BEAUTY, which is also out, hooray).Reviewed by JCCelestefor TheRomanceReviews.com