Series: Farthingale #2
Published by Meara Platt on January 30th 2015
Genres: Historical
Pages: 282
Goodreads
Beautiful with a Balance Between Drama and Lightness
“When Dillie Farthingale crossed to her bedroom window to draw the draperies before retiring to bed, she never expected to wind up in front of the Farthingale townhouse, elephant gun in hand, worried that she’d just shot the Duke of Edgeware.”
FINAL DECISION: This is one of those books that I finished, sighed and then immediately wanted to return to my favorite passages. I loved both the hero and the heroine who are likeable in a story with humor, mystery, romance and sexy scenes. A keeper!
THE STORY: Daffodil “Dillie” Farthingale rescues Ian Markham, the Duke of Edgeware, outside her family’s townhouse from villains attempting to murder him. Ian ends up spending a week in Dillie’s bed recovering from his injuries. If that informations gets out, Dillie will be ruined regardless of how innocent Ian’s time in her bed was. Ian is a notorious rake and has sworn never to fall in love or marry. Despite this, he has been obsessed with Dillie for two years. He always seems to be there when he is needed. This time, Ian might need Dillie as it appears that someone is determined to kill Ian.
OPINION: I absolutely loved this book. I am a fan of the dark damaged heroes and Ian fits that bill exactly. At the same time, he is kind to Dillie and somewhat reluctantly fascinated by her. He has a dark and sad past and while he intends never to fall in love or marry, he keeps turning up around Dillie. Ian is a man who has become notorious as a way of dealing with his pain. What he really wants, however, is love and caring and companionship and family. The sweetness of how much Ian wants what he tells himself he cannot have made me love him as a hero.
Dillie is the perfect match for Ian because of her deep well of caring. Platt has done a remarkable job of differentiating the various Farthingale sisters — especially the twins Dillie and Lily. The personalities of the two sisters are different but not stereotypical opposites. Dillie is caring and funny and clever and determined and patient. I liked that she loves her family, finds them annoying at times, and also misses them as she is the only unmarried sister. These traits give Dillie individuality and complexity.
For me, the highlight of this book is the relationship between Dillie and Ian. From the beginning, it is clear that Ian needs Dillie and her capacity for love and caring. Dillie’s attraction to Ian and Ian’s reluctant attraction to Dillie just made me happy. Sometimes couples just click in books — Ian and Dillie did. They are clearly so perfect for one another and only Ian’s haunted past keeps them apart.
This book contains a mystery regarding who is trying to kill Ian. The story serves as the vehicle to examine Ian’s past. It also provides the impetus to bring Ian and Dillie together. The story is sad at the same time it is a good mystery. It drives the story well while allowing the relationship between Dillie and Ian to shine.
I can’t wait to read the stories of the three older Farthingale sisters.
WORTH MENTIONING: The Farthingale series has an interesting structure. As the series began, three of the five sisters were already married. At the end of this book, all the sisters are married. I love that the next book in the series goes back to tell the story of one of the married sisters.
CONNECTED BOOKS: THE DUKE I’M GOING TO MARRY is the second book in the Farthingale series. This book can be read as a standalone. While it takes place after the events in the first book, the two books can be read in any order.
STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.