Gareth Rushton wants to build a hunting box in Leicestershire. Selina Easterly-Cummings owns the perfect piece of land. But the vale is a reminder for Selina of the difficult time she’s had nursing her young cousin back to health. When Rushton intrudes on the cousins’ relationship, a merry romp ensues.
The hero, Mr. Rushton, has just been refused his offer of marriage. Resuscitating at his friend’s estate in the country and enjoying the Quorn Hunt, he strikes on the notion to buy a piece of land and build a hunting box.
The picturesque vale is owned by the local eccentric, Ms. Easterly-Cummings, who is somewhat of a recluse.
The H/h meet, and its more meet ugly than meet cute. He is a classic Reg Rom hero, a bit stiff rumped and of course super hot and wealthy. He also has plenty of wit and a sense of humor, and also a real kindness that comes out (eventually). She is the younger independent style Reg Rom heroine, who is well enough to grass that she feels confident in giving the hero the what-for.
What follows is a gentle courtship, a slow procession from strangers to friends, to being in love. It sneaks up on the reader (even expecting it) every much as it does the H/h, so in that regard I found it charming. The heroine, in particular, is pretty well developed so that by the second act you get a pretty good sense of her as a character. The hero only slightly less so. Both are definitely likeable, and its easy to see why they would like each other.
Not much of a romp as described, but it did have its smile-able moments, and there were enough sideline characters to keep it interesting.
I was a little sad at the Heyer-esque abrupt ending, and honestly would’ve loved their courtship to follow them to London, but it was nonetheless the sweet and rewarding HEA.
4 out of 6 A sweet developing romance with good character development.
| Content Rating/Heat Index | |
|---|---|
| Mature Content |   |
| Some suggestive content | |
| Intimacy | |
| A couple of kisses | |
| Violence | |
| Some boxing, tumbles without pants | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Light mature subtext with a couple of kisses, but otherwise a traditional Reg Rom. | |
