melissasbookshelf's review
3.0
3 1/2 stars. I really like Karla Darcy's writing. This is an angsty regency romance that begins with a 14 year old girl who disguises herself as a boy to prevent being sent away.
When Leslie arrives from India, she finds that her guardian is a young man in his 20's not his father. The old Duke who was friends with her father has passed away. Knowing the impropriety of staying with Pax the new Duke as a woman, she disguises herself as a young boy. Pax is sent to war and rarely sees Leslie except when home on leave. They become very close, though Pax looks on Leslie as a younger brother. Five years later when the war is over, Pax comes home and begins dating Cecily, a stuck up young woman who seems to be more interested in Pax's money than in him. Leslie for the first time wants to be the woman that she is. When circumstances arise where her identity is revealed, she is forced to marry Pax, but although she loves him, she resents the forced marriage. The rest of the novel focuses on the two trying to reconcile the past and future and deciding whether they can trust each other.
While I liked this book, it wasn't my favorite of Ms. Darcy's. I felt like the character of Pax was overly aggressive. I didn't like his forcefulness especially where physical affection was concerned. This book is considered sweet, but it did begin to wander into more sensual territory.
When Leslie arrives from India, she finds that her guardian is a young man in his 20's not his father. The old Duke who was friends with her father has passed away. Knowing the impropriety of staying with Pax the new Duke as a woman, she disguises herself as a young boy. Pax is sent to war and rarely sees Leslie except when home on leave. They become very close, though Pax looks on Leslie as a younger brother. Five years later when the war is over, Pax comes home and begins dating Cecily, a stuck up young woman who seems to be more interested in Pax's money than in him. Leslie for the first time wants to be the woman that she is. When circumstances arise where her identity is revealed, she is forced to marry Pax, but although she loves him, she resents the forced marriage. The rest of the novel focuses on the two trying to reconcile the past and future and deciding whether they can trust each other.
While I liked this book, it wasn't my favorite of Ms. Darcy's. I felt like the character of Pax was overly aggressive. I didn't like his forcefulness especially where physical affection was concerned. This book is considered sweet, but it did begin to wander into more sensual territory.
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