Reviewer: Tracy Scandalous Ever After by Theresa Romain
Series: Romance of the Turf #2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: July 4th 2017
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
Series Rating:
"Romain pens an unconventional, highly appealing love story, topped off with intrigue. This fast-paced read is sure to satisfy." ―RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars for A Gentleman's Game
Does love really heal all wounds?After being widowed by a steeplechase accident in Ireland, Lady Kate Whelan abandons the turf. But once her mourning is complete, her late husband's debts drive her to seek help in Newmarket amidst the whirl of a race meet. There she encounters antiquities expert Evan Rhys, her late husband's roguish friend―whom she hasn't seen since the day of his lordship's mysterious death.
Now that fate has reunited them, Evan seizes the chance to win over the woman he's always loved. But once back within the old stone walls of Whelan House, long-held secrets come to light that shake up everything Kate thought she knew about her marriage. Now she wonders who she can trust with her heart―and Evan must decide between love and a truth that will separate him from all his heart desires.
Romance of the Turf Series:A Gentleman's Game (Book 1)Scandalous Ever After (Book 2)
Two years ago Evan and his best friend, Conall, got into an argument and Even then left the country of Ireland, never to return. He found out later that his friend had fallen from a horse and died that very day. He’d blamed himself for his friends death. He also has massive guilt because from the day Conall had brought his English wife home, Evan had been in love with her.
Evan is lecturing in London when the object of his affections, Kate, strolls in. He immediately changes his travel plans and heads to her family seat in Newmarket with her – with plans to travel with her to Ireland afterward. He finally believes it’s time to make his move on Kate, but she’s not ready to accept that her life can change from what it’s been these past two years. She also has worries that going to bed with Evan will ruin their friendship.
When they eventually make it back to Ireland Kate is even more determined to keep Evan at bay but he doesn’t allow that. He needs to make her see that they can be good together. He also finds something that might prove that his friend, Kate’s husband didn’t die in an accident but was murdered.
This was a sweet fiends to lovers story. I really liked both Kate and Evan and their witty banter made me laugh throughout the book. No matter what was happening Evan was always there with his light-heartedness and I loved it.
The romance between the two kind of grew organically and at times I wished as a reader that I could have understood Kate a bit better when it came to Evan. It was like she was falling in love with him but we weren’t exactly told that. I don’t know how to explain it. Anyway, this is the reason for the 4 stars rather than higher.
Overall I found the book to be quite enjoyable and I truly appreciated Ms. Romain’s sense of humor.
Rating: 4 out of 5