| From RomanceJunkies.com Historical
Celia Reece has an idealistic view of marriage. Meet the man of your dreams, fall happily in love, and live forever after. Then she meets Bertram, a man who appears to be completely devoted to Celia. Their disastrous marriage lasts four years before he dies of pneumonia leaving her with his grieving and lonely father. Celia cannot stay in a house filled with such sadness and bad memories and comes home to her mother in London to lick her wounds and try to salvage a part of her life which had been smothered under Bertram’s careless regard. Her mother announces a house party at Ainsley House, determined this is the key to her daughter’s recovery.
Over the next few days, Celia slowly tries to enter back into society. Her youthful view of gossip and fashion has been clouded by maturity and disillusionment of an unhappy marriage. The only one who has the ability to break through her walls is Anthony Hamilton, the man who was her brother’s friend, the man who saw her grow up into a beautiful young woman, the man who society scorns as a disreputable scoundrel. Anthony is invited to the house party as well by Celia’s brother, David, for the sole purpose of cheering his sister up. Anthony sets out to do just that with the intention of it being only a favor to a friend. His feelings for Celia, however, prove to be just a little more than he can handle. And everyone seems to be set on seeing him fail.
Caroline Linden brings out the emotions of a loveless marriage, sudden widowhood, and deep unselfish love in this story of Celia Reece. Her portrayal of Celia’s character is so moving as she deals with her fairy tale romance crumbling at her feet and being rescued by her childhood friend. This book is a must read for anyone looking for something just a little bit deeper.
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