Nothing is perfect...but honestly, this story is about as close as historical romance gets to it.
Seriously, Elizabeth Hoyt writes these beautifully flawed characters that start out so far from where they need to be in almost every sense of the word. And then she starts dusting them off, ironing out their creases and breathing new life into them. Slowly, but surely they blossom. It's a joy to read.
This is the publisher's summary:
"SHE'S TAKING CHARGE
Prim, proper, and thrifty, Eve Dinwoody is all business when it comes to protecting her brother's investment. But when she agrees to control the purse strings of London's premier pleasure garden, Harte's Folly, she finds herself butting heads with an infuriating scoundrel who can't be controlled.
HE'S RUNNING THE SHOW
Bawdy and bold, Asa Makepeace doesn't have time for a penny-pinching prude like Eve. As the garden's larger-than-life owner, he's already dealing with self-centered sopranos and temperamental tenors. He's not about to let an aristocratic woman boss him around . . . no matter how enticing she is.
BUT LOVE CONQUERS ALL
In spite of her lack of theatrical experience-and her fiery clashes with Asa-Eve is determined to turn Harte's Folly into a smashing success. But the harder she tries to manage the stubborn rake, the harder it is to ignore his seductive charm and raw magnetism. There's no denying the smoldering fire between them-and trying to put it out would be the greatest folly of all..."
Eve and Asa are like oil and water. They do not mix. Not at all. Or so it seems.
Eve is the younger sister of the Duke of Montgomery. He is a character in a previous book in this series and while we don't actually see him in this story he is a major part of it. He is the person who Eve loves most in this world. She would do anything for him and feels a sense of obligation to him because he allows her to live her life in a way that is safe and comfortable. In return for his generosity, Eve manages his financial investments. She is particularly focused on his investment in Harte's Folly, a pleasure garden that is in the middle of a very expensive renovation after a fire destroyed it last year. She is determined to assert her control over it's profligate owner...but she has no idea what is in store for her when she shows up, unannounced at his front door.
Asa Makepeace is the disowned son of a commoner. He has dedicated his entire adult life to Harte's Folly and has no patience for Eve's meddling. He has a vision for his pleasure garden and he's not about to let some plain, snippy, lady stop him from achieving it. He knows her kind and he decides that he will show her who is REALLY in charge when it comes to making decisions about Harte's Folly. Except, it turns out, that she really does hold the purse strings. There isn't anything Asa wouldn't do for his gardens so he is prepared to swallow his pride in return for Eve's promise to keep the line of credit open. What he isn't prepared for is the way this woman will make him question everything he thinks he knows about life and himself.
These two are both wounded souls. They haven't had an easy time of things. And they both realize, very quickly, how misleading first impressions can be. And as they start to see the real people under the armor that they both wear, they are helpless to fight against attraction that DEMANDS that they step into uncomfortable spaces. They will be required to be brave enough to take what life is offering them. Can they do it? Do they even want to?
They have both created lives that, while lacking the kind of passion they find in each other's arms, are safe and predictable.
I adored their love story. They made such huge strides individually and it really allowed them to bring out the best in each other. The sexual chemistry was ridiculous. I mean, burn up the sheet ridiculous. When this kind of heat can be achieved without the characters even touching each other, you know that you are reading the words of a truely excellent writer. Ms. Hoyt elevates the historical romance from the typical ballrooms and perfectly dressed ladies and impossibly handsome lords. She draws characters that are even more wonderful than the ones in the fairy tales we read as children because these characters FIGHT for what they want. They have nothing but their sheer grit and they earn their happily ever afters.
The secondary characters are colorful. There is even a dog that I saw as a metaphor for both Eve and Asa's emotional journey.
If you've read any of Ms. Hoyt's stories, then you will be familiar with her giving her readers something extra in the form of a story within the story that is told in pieces at the beginning of each chapter. This one is called the Lion and the Dove and it is an allegorical mirroring of Eve and Asa's story.
Another winner from this author who really can do no wrong for me!
