Kate Rorick

There's a lot to say about friends who go on to become lovers. Isn't that what a lot of people claim they want? But there's also something to the fact that sometimes its nice to have mystery about the person you're falling in love with and I think that was kind of what was missing for these two at times.

Their correspondence starts out professional, but as the year progresses their letters contain just as much personal updates as they do professional updates. Little polite conversational questions become larger conversational questions that lead to an intimacy. Especially if you don't think you'll ever meet the person on the other end of the letter.

When they finally meet...when they finally acknowledge their feelings...I honestly wonder if circumstances hadn't pushed the issue if they would have danced around the topic for years yet. Margaret is no polished lady - she's awkward, more at home in her greenhouse then a ball room, happiest when she can coo over her beloved roses. She's no startling beauty either - too tall for fashion with a striking face and form, but lack of ability to showcase it properly. She's at her best when discussing her new hybridization of roses.

I enjoyed the strong bond between the two. They obviously were well matched as friends; drawing strength from the other's belief in their abilities, being a source of peacefulness when everyone around them seemed to be anything but.

Their romance though...the two were both a bit too skittish. A bit too unbelieving that the other person they admired, admired them back so fervently. No matter what anyone said. In Margaret's case I think she was too green and unused to the attention. Rhys...I don't know, maybe he thought she was too high for him to aspire towards?

As for the historical nature...I've always enjoyed Noble's romances because they are refreshing and light with interesting heroines. This book however felt less "time period" than usual and I can't tell if its because I was so busy wanting to smack sense into Rhys or Margaret, so I took better note of the fact it felt "modern" or what. It felt a bit like AUSTENLAND - the players were saying the right things, going about the right sort of jobs, but only in a shallow sense. Its hard to define.

In all its a good diverting read. While its not the best I've read of Noble's (REVEALED remains that tops for me), it should please any romance reader.… (more)