Review: Another book with depth from Elsborg
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 11, 2012
SPOILERSAlly is your typical Elsborg heroine--smart, but didn't go to college, attractive, good personality, glass half-full type of girl who allows people to walk over her to a certain extent.  Unfortunately, someone doesn't like her and wants her dead.  Lucky for Ally, she seems to have either extremely good luck or some mystical guardians watching over her so she keeps surviving her "accidents."Caspar is the tortured hero.  Son of an earl, gorgeous, smart, on the rise in his career with the Foreign Services (and secretly a spy) when tragedy and betrayal conspire to put him in an Albanian prison for 4 years.  Upon his return to Derbyshire, England, he is the village pariah.When Ally and Caspar meet, Caspar truly is in an unbearable situation: guilt over the death of his siser, the horrors of prison, career ruined, no friends, and no hope of pulling himself back on his feet.  That is, until Ally steps in and takes him for who he is instead of what people want to believe he is and starts her campaign to make the village (and Caspar) see his true value.With this premise, the book obviously had a good emotional foundation.  The secrets are all secrets that are slowly revealed.  For instance, when the reader and Ally first meet Caspar, we have no idea why he is such a pariah.  We only learn when Ally first  learns.  And all the other details are revealed slowly.In typical Elsborg fashion, we have the two characters instantly attracted to each other and moving faster with each other than they normally would.  And there is the bit of suspense as we try to figure out who is trying to kill Ally, and why they want her dead.  I woudl actualy give this book 4.5 stars because some of the things in ths book were a little contrived and the ending felt a bit rushed and too quickly and easily resolved.  For example, Ally and Caspar have their misunderstandings, all of which are just too easily resolved.  In a love affair that burns as quickly as Ally's and Caspar's, there's just no way that the two could so easily and quickly calm down and think things through rationally.  Also, Ally exhibits a bit more "doormat" behavior to really suit me.  I understand where she comes from and the completely selflessness of her character, but, in all honesty, no one is that understanding.  However, overall a very satisfying read about a fallen male hero who is just trying to live again.