This is a story of mystery, lost love, heartache and resolution. While this story deals with topics like murder and abuse, it is approached in a way that is not offensive. It also is not overly “religious”. While I don’t call this a strictly Christian novel, it is definitely clean.
The dialog between the characters is great, easy to follow and very engaging. The story switches back and forth from England to America. The story line moves along and keeps your interest.
The story revolves around Simon, the second son of a wealthy Englishman and Georgina, the beautiful young English girl he is expected to marry.
Simon’s father expects Simon, as the second son, to enter the church clergy and to marry Georgina. Simon isn’t interested in the ministry and would rather pursue his art and painting, he leaves and ends up in America where he marries and has children. His wife, Ruth, is brutally murdered by someone from England. Simon makes it his mission to discover who is behind it.
Georgina has always loved Simon and was saddened when he left. When Simon returns to England to track down his wife’s killers, he discovers his father has died and his mother has become blind. His father’s will stipulates that he must marry Georgina in order to inherit and his mother threatens to sell the estate if he doesn’t.
Georgina is being stalked by someone who is leaving her dead roses in places that no one should have access to.
Will Simon marry Georgina? Who is the mystery person leaving dead roses for Georgina? Who can they trust? Will Simon discover who murdered his wife?
This is from the publishers website:
“All He
Wanted was Justice. All She Wanted was His Heart.
Georgina Whitmore, not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms, is
plagued with the disappearance and rejection of Simon Fancourt. Twelve years
later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad
hunger for justice.
Racing against time, Simon works to uncover the men responsible for his wife’s
horrific murder, protect his children, and fulfill his father’s unexpected will
by marrying Georgina—the last thing in the world he wants to do.
Though her heart throbs to accept, she would rather lose him again than have
his name without his love. She denies his proposal of matrimony, knowing it
will cost them both. But as tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their
sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life—and her reputation—to protect him and
the children. Will the danger scorch them alive? Or will it, for the first
time, open his heart to her?”
I give this a 5 star rating, not something I give out very often!
(* Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing.)