It All Hinges on a Sheep...
|
If I've already confused you with the title of my review, then you know how I felt after reading this book...a little amused, yet not sure how or why. Then I remembered, oh, wait, it was all because of a sheep. Actually, I'm still stumped as to why it all hinged on a sheep, why the author chose that particular plot device...if it can really be called that. Who'd have thought an always hungry sheep could be the justification for a couple's first meeting? Will wonders never cease?
The earl of Rochester, on his deathbed, gives to his butler, Reeves, the daunting task of finding his illegitimate son, Tristan, so that he can pass on his title. Never mind the fact that the negligent earl never truly cared for any of his children, was never there for them or could be bothered with his by blows - having one foot in the grave has remarkable powers of the soul-seeking persuasion. Knowing he's wronged his children, he's giving Reeves the task of setting his wrongs to right, and making sure Tristan is up to scratch. Reeves finds Tristan in a coastal community, where the former sea captain helps his fellow sailers by taking them into his home. Nearby is a lovely young widow, Prudence Thistlewaite, who is in fact the bain of his existence...or is she? Infuriating as her ridiculous claims about his sheep being in her garden may be, he realizes there's more to the woman than at first he thought. With an interfering new butler that just won't quit till he's quality "ton", a bevy of sailors all needing his help and an attractive neighbor to teach him all about the rules of polite society, Tristan has got his hands full. Add to that the possibility of finding his long lost brother and it makes for a full ship in this captain's log.
Three stars goes for one of the more lighthearted and fun historical reads I've had in a while (for that I'm grateful). Tristan and Prudence were a delightful couple and I actually liked all the sailor lingo that's characteristic of much of Tristan's and his fellow sailors speech. In fact, the butler in training, Stevens, who is one of Tristan's former sailors, is probably one of the best and funniest characters of the book. I just couldn't give it a full five though for a few reasons (by the way, a three star rating means it's "okay", it's not a bad rating). One: I felt that, given his demanding task, Reeves was often a more prominent character than the main ones. Strong secondary characters are important, but I think his position as butler to the late earl was a little overdone and he somewhat overshadows Tristan and Prudence's relationship. Two: Tristan and Prudence's reason for meeting was weak. This is where it all hinges on a sheep.I just couldn't believe a "mystery" surrounding a sheep was the reason for Tristan and Pru's grand get together. Sure, Tristan needs her help to get his inheritance, but it's really the sheep he has to thank for his meeting Pru. Three: There was a good conflict between the two main characters at first. Towards the end though, Tristan completely does a one-eighty and all of Pru's efforts to help bring him into society seemed wasted. Four: Tristan and Pru's relationship felt almost forced. One minute he can't stand her, the next she's a fiery woman who flames his desires instantly. The intense focus on Reeves's role and his search for Christian was actually more interesting, unfortunately. Despite that it was lighthearted and amusing at times, it ended up seeming like more of a set-up for Christian's story...so here's to hoping his is a good one.
|
|
|
A Nice Premise!
|
The Earl of Rochester has set about to find his illegitimate son in order to carry on the vaulted Rochester name. He sends his loyal butler Reeves in search of Tristan Llevanth. Once Reeves finds him he has been charged with turning Tristan a former pirate and sailor into a proper gentleman. Reeve's has his work cut out for him. Tristan is a hard man wounded in both mind and body. When he introduces Prudence Thistlewaite to the mix it's anyone's guess on whether love will find a way here.
Tristan's life has been hard. His mother was imprisoned, his father ignored him and his twin brother Christian, and now the father that couldn't be bothered with him when Tristan needed him the most...now wants the world. That would be easy enough to deal with if he wasn't being bedeviled by Mrs. Prudence Thistlewaite. This lass rubs him wrong. He wants nothing but peace and quiet to heal and that is the last thing he gets with Prudence pestering him about sheep.
Prudence wants nothing to do with the ill-tempered captain turned neighbor. She has her dream and will do what she must to see it through. But, when Reeves makes her an offer she can't resist Prudence has to wonder if perhaps just maybe she could smooth out Tristan's rough edges. After all she's not afraid of a little challenge. Imagine her surprise when things change between her and the sea captain. Has she found a happy ending where she least expected it?
This read had a sweet premise but Reeves was such a strong character that he at times over shadowed Pru and Tristan's romance. Add to that the romance between Tristan and Pru seemed rushed or even forced. They start out disliking each other and then BAM! Tristan can't get enough of Pru. This is what you want in a romance I know...but it would be nice if this switch wasn't so jarring. Ms. Hawkins has began a fine new series with this title and I look forward to reading Christian's story next.
|
|
Great Start to Hawkins Newest Series
|
|
Dying without an heir, the very wealthy Earl of Rochester gave his faithful and indispensable butler Reeves his final instructions – find his two missing illegitimate offspring and make them worthy of their noble blood. Monumental tasks to not only locate them after 20 year absences, but to teach them the fine rudiments of gentlemanly behavior. Setting out on his mission, Reeves locates the elder twin sibling aka an ex-pirate, turned privateer, turned war hero at the battle of Trafalger with Admiral Nelson – Captain Tristan Llevanth. Tristan was found living in a cottage on a cliff overlooking the sea he could no longer captain a ship upon. Before he’d had too much time to slip into a melancholic life, sailors once under his command sought him out, and he was now master and commander of a household of wounded warriors. Life was peaceful until his neighbor, the widow Prudence Thistlewaite, started storming through his doors demanding he keep his sheep out of her garden. Reeves, the consummate butler and purveyor of solutions to all sorts of mundane problems, showed up at about the same time. After finally convincing Tristan to reconsider accepting his inheritance, Reeves now had the immense task of turning him into a gentleman. Recognizing a windfall of expertise, Reeves enlisted the aid of Prudence Thistlewaite, in dire need of funds to establish a school for girls, to teach Tristan the finer points of behaving in a gentlemanly manner and smoothing out his very rough edges. As these two banes of each others existence came to butt heads, it seemed only natural that the sparks would fly in passion as well as stubbornness. *** Hawkins writes a fun-filled escapade as Prudence has her work cut out for her in bringing the irascible captain to heel. The secondary character of Reeves, along with members of the captain’s land-locked crew and Prudence’s mother filled out the cast to make this a merry adventure and an enjoyable fast-paced read. The sensuality is steamy and the carriage ride scene extremely memorable and not to be missed. All in all, I found this to be a very fine beginning to Hawkins newest series.
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada