I just discovered Mary Jo Putney and have been racing through some of her backlist. Her books for me are usually 4 stars . . .but not this one so far. Frankly, I've found it depressing and some aspects (the initials) disturbing. The tension in the book isn't between the H/h. It's about whether they can heal emotionally from their battle wounds, I am very sympathetic to these characters but the story is not quite what I'm looking for in a romance. Loved the couple in this book from their introduction as supporting characters in the first book. This time around Julia and Randall are front and center. Randall suddenly is the noble in waiting when his cousins die forcing his uncle who hates him to deal with him.Randall has been drawn to Julia from their first meeting and this time around ends up rescuing her from would be kidnappers. She is grateful but not grateful enough to marry him because her first marriage was to an abuser. Turns out the abuser is one of Randall's late cousins giving a bit of revenge to him.Their relationship sizzles and things are interesting from page one to the end. Makes me hope the rest of the series is this good.
plenty of danger, intrigue. marriage of convenience that turns into more.
—Wendy
AMAZING, HEARTFELT AND INTOXICATING
—dragana
Really slightly boring....
—amylou101
Not Putney at her best.
—helen
A silly romp, but fun!
—irit222