Nita Good Book

Here's what I like about the heroine, Kate: she's ambitious, she's kind, and she's smart. I really loved Kate's family - very supportive and happy. She sees a way of reconciling her father with his family and bringing respect to her younger sisters and herself outside her family by marrying as high as possible. She becomes almost single minded in this goal. She's extremely beautiful and uses her beauty to further her cause. If Grant had given us just a beautiful social climber, I probably wouldn't have liked her. But Grant shows us a much deeper person. She's always kind to and perceptive of her sisters and to those she meets. She's smart, always able to involve herself in family debates. She thinks things through. I loved following her line of thought as she came to realize her true feelings for Nick.

Nick I liked too. He's a beta hero. He's known Kate's family for three years. Kate shot him down (he's a barrister and holds no title) when he showed interest in her in the beginning. And though his attraction for her never went away, he doesn't push her or become bitter towards her. Nick stays a good family friend. He does let his position and society push him away from his brother, and though I could never imagine letting either get in the way of my relationship with my family, I can see why he did. But I also liked the fact that it's something he does come to regret and hate. I liked how this storyline was resolved.

Both had to look beyond their ideals and set ambitions to find their happiness in themselves and together.

The writing is just as superb, lovely, and smart as the previous two books. My favorite quote:

She would not tear them. A lady didn't destroy library property. But if she were ever to write a novel, it would be the opposite of a love story. Her hero and heroine would choose duty over their hearts' desire, that their children need never be taxed for a romantic indulgence that was none of their own.

Oh, Kate, I'm glad you're not living out your own idea of a novel.

ARC provided through Edelweiss.