The Perfect Stranger by Anne Gracie 2006
Description from back of book:
"With her signature spirit, Faith Merridew has left everything she's ever known for the man she thought was the love of her life. Instead he leaves her name - and dreams - in the dust. That is, until she crosses paths with Nicholas Blacklock, a Waterloo veteran, who offers to save her reputation with a marriage of convenience. A hardened soldier, Nick hides a deadly secret - and tries to keep Faith at arm's length. But even though Nick can command legions of men with a word, his orders go sweetly ignored by his convenient bride. And as they come to know one another more deeply, she brings out in him things he thought dead: gentleness, laughter...and love..."
This book actually had me crying. I love the whole tortured-hero thing and Nick is certainly one of those. Faith is also a rather torutred character, used, betrayed and discarded by the man she thought she loved. The relationship that builds between Nick and Faith feels real, and the secret that stands between them builds the tension and emotional anguish throughout the book. The whole journey of the book - back to the battlefields where their friends were lost - add a poignant sadness to the landscape of this book. The one thing I didn't like about this book, and which cost it a full star and a half - was the deus ex machina type ending involving the gypsy grandmother. I wish that she could have resolved it in a more realistic manner. But other than that, this is a very good book, and well worth reading.
RATING:
1/2FAMILY-FRIENDLY RATING:
No comments:
Post a Comment