I should have been writing book reviews, but decided to log onto Facebook and see what was happening there instead. There were a few posts in response to The Historical Romance Network's latest event, Fall Back in Time, held on November 1st. Authors and readers were invited to post selfies while reading a historical romance novel.
So I headed over to their Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/historicalromancenetwork and scrolled through more posts noting what people were reading. One post in particular caught my eye: a reader holding a battered copy of a book by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss entitled THE RELUCTANT SUITOR. I had read some of Woodiwiss’ other works, but had no idea this Regency romance existed and decided I needed to know more.
An internet search provided the following synopsis:
For as long as she can remember, Lady Adriana Sutton has adored
Colton Wyndham, to whom she has been promised by an agreement of
courtship and betrothal since childhood. As a young girl, she was
wounded by Colton's stubborn refusal to comply with his father's wishes
and by his angry departure. He was too proud and too stubborn to accept a
future not of his own choosing. Rather than submit, he fled from his
ancestral home for a life of adventure and danger as an officer in the
British army.
The years have been immensely kind to Lady Adriana.
No longer the plain, thin tomboy Colton had spurned, she has blossomed
into an uncommon beauty desired by nearly every eligible bachelor in the
land. Yet the only man she desires is the decorated hero who has
finally come home to claim his rightful title. Arrogant, unmoved, and
seductive as ever, he remains averse to the idea of their betrothal in
spite of his growing desire for her.
To demonstrate his belief
that love cannot be forced, Colton agrees to court Lady Adriana for
ninety days, after which time he will be allowed to keep his precious
freedom if he so wishes. But much has changed since he balked at his
father's plans. Forced into a courtship with this stunning, spirited
woman, who is as different today from the young chit he left behind as
spring is to winter, the heroic heart that was once closed to Adriana is
moved by her charm, her grace, and her sensuality ... and begins to
yield. But a secret from Colton's past may doom their burgeoning love
... even as the treacherous schemes of a sinister rival threaten to
steal the remarkable lady from his arms forever.
The reviews for this novel were mixed:
well, most were uncomplimentary. Never one to be put off by bad reviews, I await my copy. Look out for my review.
