RomBkLove

When I read historical romance novels I tend to look for
books with witty writing, where the action sometimes borders on farce, the best
of which deliver emotional wallops in between the laughs. I blame Jane Austen.
I do tend to shy away from angsty books, books that sell themselves on
heartbreak.

Cecilia Grant writes books that make me feel and care,
neither angst-fest or farces.  Her latest
novel A Woman Entangled is the story of Nick Blackshear, brother to Will
of  A Gentleman Undone and Martha of A
Lady Awakened.  Nick, a skilled Barrister
toiling away at the Inns of the Court is trying to live down his brother's
scandalous marriage to a former courtesan. 
He enjoys a delicate friendship with the beautiful Miss Kate Westbrook,
daughter of his former mentor, who he once tried to romance.  Miss Westbrook feels strongly the effects of
her own parents scandalous marriage, and despite her loving home, she longs for
a reconciliations with her tonish Westbrook relations and hopes that her beauty
may secure her an advantageous marriage that might lift the fortunes of her
siblings.  After years of careful
cultivation they both are rewarded with possibly life changing opportunities
that draw them together outside their normal sphere.  Nick is offered the opportunity to tutor a
new Baron, an opportunity that might finally allow him to embark in the
political life he had sought, and the same time Kate is finally able to secure
invitations to the ton balls and soirées that might allow her to attract a
peer's attention. Their encounters in these different social test their
friendship and make them question not only their desires but with their own
identity and ambitions.  There is no
insta-love, or magical healing vaginas in this story instead closeness and
intimacy.  This is not a fluffy
confection, but rather delicate exploration the complicated ties of friendship
& family that define us.

Keeper!

I received a copy of A Woman Entangled from the
publisher via NetGalley for review purposes