Review: Love that grows! Wow!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 15, 2013
Finally! I found an engaging and truly enjoyable book where the main characters don't fall in love instantly! Stacks' love for Freddie clearly grows as the book moves along, and he is obviously torn by the ward/child/woman issue. This could definitely have been explored more, but the author definitely makes Stacks' confusion and internal conflicts clear.Freddie is infatuated from the start, and the question "is this because he is the first person to treat her decently?" came to my mind several times throughout the novel. She has a case of hero worship - evidenced by her immediate defense of him whenever his character is questioned - that continues through the end. However, I think that there is, indeed, an honest love that grows as she gets to know him. She clearly doesn't see some issues their relationship will face - the 19 year age difference being the most obvious. That is a hazard of her age and naveté.This being said, they are interesting people with intelligence and their own interests - I do prefer when a woman's interests in life are congruent with her background.This would have been a 5 star review had the author explored Stacks' internal conflicts more deeply and made a clear development from Freddie's initial infatuation to her love that goes beyond gratitude and love-need.I truly enjoyed this book. If you enjoy regency romance, this is the same time period, but far from the high society of London. Well done.