6/5 stars! This was absolute and utter perfection. Merritt and Keir have a soul mate level epic romance. The way Keir loved Merritt was honestly one of the most beautiful portrayals of romance I have ever read about. This book transported me back into the Ravenel world and it felt like coming home to old friends.
But seriously…the way Keir adored, cherished, and worshipped Merritt was unforgettable. I want to read it all over again to experience it one more time!
This book also speaks to that understated quality Kleypas has of showing such strong female characters who are not in your face, obvious bluestocking agenda. She writes these heroines who are both soft and strong and perfect companions for the men in their lives.
Seeing so many beloved members of the Wallflower and Ravenel series, the families and friendships, was also so wonderful.
I loved every single page. This is a masterwork of historical romance.
Haven Travis is an heiress, determined to marry a man her father does not approve of. Hardy Cates is a rough around the edges, ruggedly handsome, self made millionaire, and also mortal enemy of the Travis family.
When Hardy and Haven have a meet up in a dark wine cellar, she mistakenly thinks he is her fiance and they have a passionate closet meet up. Imagine her surprise when the man she felt more sparks with than any other was not only NOT her fiance, but also a man her father detests even more than her fiance.
Vowing to forget their night of passion Haven carries on with her plans to marry Nick, and her life suddenly takes a dark and dangerous path when Nick begins abusing her. First it’s the small things, comments meant to degrade and tear down. Anger bursts out of nowhere. Everything always her fault. When one night it culminates in physical abuse and Haven barely leaves with her life. She divorces Nick and starts to try and piece her life back together.
Two years later she ends up meeting Hardy again. And the sparks are still there, maybe even stronger than before. She finds herself wanting to trust and risk with him, but is also filled with fear and uncertainty. Sparks lead to passion, which leads to a deep trust and love, Hardy is fighting his own demons but he makes certain Nick will never hurt Haven again.
This was a deeply emotional and moving book. I was literally hooked from the first page! I am a huge fan of Lisa’s historical romances but this was my first contemporary by her and it was more than I had hoped it would be. It has all of the things we love about Kleypas historicals, riveting back story, complex family dynamics, loveable characters, and swoony go to their knees heroes. But it also had a lot of emotional complexity and was very heavy at times.
I was so absorbed in the story I never wanted to put this book down and the ending left me completely satisfied. Another absolute winner from Kleypas. I can’t wait to read the rest of the Travis family books!
Crystal's Bookish Life 