The romance between Rose Finley and John Milburn is an unconventional one. The two of them are drawn together not through immediate mutual attraction (although that does come up a little) but through another romance: that of John’s niece Sophie and a known rake. John and Rose both feel an interest in protecting the young woman, and this romance gives them excuses to spend time together and allows their own romance time to bloom.
I was excited for a sweet story with a second chance at love for a widow. As I read, though, it felt like the love only bloomed on one side. John was clearly attracted to Rose, but Rose’s own affection for him was so often buried beneath doubt and uncertainty, and it never rose above those to the point where I felt it was truly romantic. Most of the time, it felt like a novel about friendship, at least from Rose’s point of view.
There are many good Christian romances in the market. This one can safely be skipped.
