I liked it, mostly, at first. Then it got rather boring. DNF at 90%. Too tender for my tastes. I like a moving plot.

Taft is a manic pixie dream guy. He is a perfect fantasy husband, created to teach Alexandrina that she can live her life again. Alexandrina was widowed by an abusive husband (severe emotional abuse) and remained with her severely toxic mother-in-law for a while

Spoiler

for the sake of her son. Then she was then outcast from the home forced to abandon her son

. Taft offers her a marriage of convenience. She struggles to accept his kindness and affection, but he eventually wins her respect with his own respect and grace

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, particularly as he is such a great stepdad to her son

.

This book is really geared towards moms who are looking for a sweet, lovely, and gentle escape. More prose than dialog. More personal growth than adventure. I’m surprised at just how chaste this is With that said, I loved the line, “One could be both sincere in emotion and dignified in bearing.” It came from the boldest scene in the book, which may tell you what you’re getting.