The Journey Continues - Book 2
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It’s time for the hero with a limp to step forward. Yes, our hero has a limp, and he is hiding from the world. He grunts when he talks. He is surly. One day churlish-Jamie is riding through the Warriner’s apple orchard. He sees something. There appears to be some plump feminine legs dangling from a branch. Upon closer inspection, there seems to be pink garters decorating those lovely legs. He thinks that maybe he should investigate. He hears an agitated feminine voice coming from above him. Then he makes his first mistake, he asks if he can help. Jamie is about to have his hands full as he tries to rescue Cassandra aka Cassie Reeves from the tree. He tries to climb the tree. It does not work. They both fall, with Cassie sprawled all over Jamie’s manly chest. It is a case of lust at first sight.
The mirror trick. Cassie is one of those heroines who is pretty, but does not know it. She is an I-don’t-have-a-mirror-and-if-I-did-I-would-never-look heroine. Cassie is a vivacious, charming, bubbly woman, and Jamie just cannot resist her. I loved Cassie, even if she did not know how stunning she was.
When Jamie returns home after the “rescue,” he cannot forget the vibrant Cassie. Then Cassie shows up for a visit at the Warriners, but she is not alone. Her father, Reverend Reeves, has come to save the Warriners from their transgressions. Can I hear a hisssss? The Reverend Reeves is a hateful, bible-thumping, zealot preacher who has crushed Cassie’s bright light for years. He is the villain in this piece, and he is just loathsome. He spews all kinds of poison about the Warriners to his parish. He’s just awful. I was pleased with how the Warriners formed a strong unit to combat him. But, I was disappointed with the village peoples willingness to go along with him. Spoiler, he does not get his just desserts in this book.
When the Reeves’ show up, Jamie is shocked at the change he sees in Cassie. Gone is the vibrant woman who fell from the tree. Gone is the brilliance. She is now a shadow behind her overbearing father. Jamie cannot forget the woman he first encountered, he is intrigued, and he wants to help. But how? He is after all, a surly guy with a limp. What would he have to offer anyone?
Now it is time for my favorite part of the book, and the reason I am giving this one a high recommendation. Cassie has a plan to escape her father. She has secretly been writing fanciful books with a horse, Orange Blossom, who is the narrator. The stories that Orange Blossom tells are about her human’s misadventures. Of course, Cassie bases these misadventures on her own blunders. But they are more whimsical when told by a horse. Then Letty steps in. Remember Letty? She was the heroine from A Warriner to Protect Her. Well it seems that Letty is a bit of a matchmaker. Letty is amused by Cassie’s story called, Orange Blossom and the Great Apple Debacle. She thinks it would make a wonderful story for children. She suggests to Cassie that the book would be even better if it was illustrated. Guess who happens to be a wonderful artist? Go ahead; guess. Yep, Jamie. Jamie is an artist. However, Jamie’s father ridiculed his son’s talent. While Cassie is excited about the prospect of having her story illustrated, Jamie is hesitant. Eventually, they start working together. Cassie reads her stories to him, and he draws his impressions. They start meeting in secret, talking, laughing, writing, drawing and becoming friends. I found the Orange Blossom stories within the story to be wonderful. I really wanted there to be books with the funny stories and the vivid illustrations. Everything about these little books was magical. Oh, how I wish they were real. And, kudos Ms. Heath for some really magical writing. Loved Orange Blossom.
Overall, the relationship between Cassie and Jamie was terrific. We were allowed to see their relationship develop. As a couple, they worked well together. I loved James and Cassie as a couple and I loved the stories they created together. The brothers still had the great chemistry from the previous book. And, the Orange Blossom stories were a delight. This book gets a high recommendation from me.
Time/Place: Regency England
Sensuality: Warm/Hot
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