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Blogger Site: WhiskeyintheJar Romance
Guest Reviewer at: Reading Between the Wines book club
Ok, so I am seven chapters in and haven't come up with anything to really discuss about this book. It is not grabbing me at all yet. The storyline of Rafe trying to stop drinking and why he is doing it is probably the aspect of the book I like the most so far. I guess I can be happy about the fact that this seems to be all Imogen's story as her other sisters aren't honing in on her time so far. The author does seem to be bringing back the character Gillian ( Draven Maitland's fiancée before Imogen stole him away) but so far Gillian hasn't intruding enough to be annoying.
Gabe's (Rafe's illegitimate brother) attitude of not being good enough for Gillian was heartbreaking at times, as was his devotion to his daughter.
The story got slightly more interesting for me during the scene when Imogen dumps out all of Rafe's alcohol and they go for a night time horse ride. Their thoughts and feelings portrayed during these scenes were wonderful and breathed a passion into their story which was missing for me between these two characters.
Ms. James takes on to many characters, they are wonderfully written characters, but darn it they steal time from the who are suppose to be the leading couple which in turn leaves me unsatisfied. I really feel like every book so far in this series could be keepers if there was more focus on the leads. I finish each book wishing there was just a little more to what I read. On the other hand this series is turning out to be one the strongest I have read in a long time.
Towards end of the book, Imogen and Rafe had some feisty conversations which were enjoyable to read and helped push the book slightly above average.
This book had a wonderful cast of characters but it started off so slowly for me that I felt like it was a rest stop in the journey through this series. It was good but nothing which inspired me. This could be due to an overdose of Imogen from the earlier books or a lack of the Earl of Mayne ( who I am positively becoming obsessed with).
Was anyone else sort of confused by the epilogue in this book? It is set quite a ways in the future and talks about how everyone is married. It was weird and seemed to be an epilogue which would be better placed in the last book of the series; it just seemed unnecessary.