Well-written, great characters, good plot. Just didn't punch my buttons. Ex-soldier, still suffering from battle trauma, takes over neglected estate, finds illegitimate daughter of previous owner and the mysterious cousin who looks after her. Male lead: Devlin St. Just, oldest but illegitimate son of the Duke, honorable, traumatized, and searching for answers.Female lead: Emmaline Farnum, between worlds, independent woman, baker extraordinaire, neither gentry nor servant.Complications: Winnie Farnum, illegitimate daughter, around age 6, ill-behaved and rude, Vicar Bothwell, who has a romantic interest in Emmaline, assorted members of Devlin's familyQuirkiness: Illegitimate children are the theme of this romance, how they live and how they marry. Emmaline runs a bakery to support herself. I will never be able to say enough good things about this book. I have read it at least 5 times and all 5 times I have felt my heart being ripped out and shredded even though I know how it ends, this story is that powerful. I love the Windhams I and I love how they interact with one another. When the brothers threaten to "tattle" to their mother/Her Grace I seriously laugh loud enough for my husband to think I really have lost it. Devlin is a hurt young boy stuck in a hardened soldiers body, he never knows if he is truly loved by their graces or just tolerated. The very first few paragraphs of this book are enough to sell you and Wee Winnie is a total treasure.
Do You like book The Soldier (Windham, #2) (2011)?
