Book Summary (Goodreads): Sophie Dupont, daughter of a portrait painter, assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. She often walks the cliffside path along the north Devon coast, popular with artists and poets. It's where she met the handsome Wesley Overtree, the first man to tell her she's beautiful.
Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother's neglected duties. Home on leave, he's sent to find Wesley. Knowing his brother rented a cottage from a fellow painter, he travels to Devonshire and meets Miss Dupont, the painter's daughter. He's startled to recognize her from a miniature portrait he carries with him--one of Wesley's discarded works. But his happiness plummets when he realizes Wesley has left her with child and sailed away to Italy in search of a new muse.
Wanting to do something worthwhile with his life, Stephen proposes to Sophie. He does not offer love, or even a future together, but he can save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he believes he will, she'll be a respectable widow with the protection of his family.
Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie agrees to marry a stranger and travel to his family's estate. But at Overtree Hall, her problems are just beginning. Will she regret marrying Captain Overtree when a repentant Wesley returns? Or will she find herself torn between the father of her child and her growing affection for the husband she barely knows?
My thoughts....I went into this book a little skeptical. Was it your typical story or would it have that "spark"? Let me tell you....
I loved it!
The romantic tension in this novel was fantastic! Wesley Overtree is the guy you think you're going to hate. Prideful, self-absorbed....but there is a point in the novel when you see some redeeming qualities that help you understand why Sophie was drawn to him. Sophie herself was a heroine that you really wanted the best for. Even though she made mistakes, her vulnerability made her not only believable, but a character that I hoped could know what true love really was . And last, but not least, Stephen Overtree. He's so driven by duty and honor, and at times can be a little frustrating, but he has a soft side as well. Quite the love triangle!
This is my new favorite Julie Klassen book! There was a little bit of everything...romance for sure, mystery, tension, intense drama...and it goes on. A story very well woven together with characters I liked, even with their flaws. It was a story that showed that even when we make mistakes, there can be redemption. Here's a book trailer that you might enjoy as well:
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review, which I gave.**
No comments:
Post a Comment