Book Review #tamingtherake #ericaridley #netgalley #ARCreader
I adored this new release from Erica Ridley, it is the second book in the Lords in Love series that Ridley is writing with Darcy Burke, and I found it to be a lovely addition to this series that revolves around a small country town's matchmaking festival. Ridley is a master storyteller, I find her writing to be compulsively readable and her characters to be relatable. This novel has two interesting characters at its center, with a plot the drives quickly forward. This novel is balance between character development and discovery with a revenge plot that puts our heroine on her mission. This is a novella, so it is a quick read, easy to devour in one sitting, and while it might not be for everyone, it definitely worked for me.
Our heroine is a wallflower, who many see as plain, so during a ball during the matchmaking festival she and her family are attending, her wildest fantasy for romance are awaked with one kiss. But in the end this scandalous glimpse into desire, leaves her disowned by her family and she must learn to survive in whatever way she can. Now five years later, she has archived a level of security for herself, she is back to seek revenge on the man who forced her life on the path she had to take. I found our heroine to be strong and a survivor. Watching her come into her own is gratifying on its own, and then watching how she breaks down the walls of the hero becomes the catalyst for the plot of this novel. Watching these two who both have baggage and misunderstanding, tempt and flirt and open themselves up to each other is interesting and ultimately romantic. These two through their actions learn a lot about themselves and each other. They must both learn to except the past and move forward by themselves and together.
I really enjoyed this novel, and if you love Erica Ridley, I think you will find something to love. I am so excited to continue reading on in this series, I think that Ridley and Burke's styles both compliment each other really nicely!
Thank you to WebMotion and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.