★★★★★ @JulieGarwood #Favouritebook #MustRead #Ransom #ThrowbackReview
One of my all time favourite books, I have read this book at least 50 times or more. I am not quite sure why I didn't have a review written. I love the main female character in this book, Gillian. I love her so much and how she treats children that when I read this book and thought one day I would have at least one child, I wanted to use the same endearment Gillian uses. Alas, whilst I was unable to have a child, reading this book always brings me back to a happier time where I thought a child would be in my future. A past where there is so much potential and love that ended up being curtailed.
It is said in some circles that a book can whisk a reader away into a fantasy. For me, this book whisks me to a fantasy of having a child. For me, this book will always hold the best of feelings and meanings. I digress. This story is all about Gillian and her desire to protect the only family member she remembers and has left, her beloved older uncle. She lost her sister and father in a cruel betrayal and that evil villain is back to make her suffer and destroy her uncle.
This setup has me immediately vested. Whilst Gillian is trying to find a way to save her beloved uncle, she finds another captive with her . . . an adorable little boy named Alec. Determined to save both her uncle and Alec, Gillian hatches a plan only the most desperate of women would make. This leads us on a journey of difficult obstacles within a short amount of time. What I love about this book is the inherent goodness of Gillian and her spunk. She's a female I admire and aspired to be. She's gracious, caring, and selfless. Plus she has a great sense of humour. There are so many parts of this story that make me laugh like a loon. I keep this book right next to my bedside because when I need a pick me up, this story always makes me feel better. Just writing this review makes me want to go back and re-read the book again.
Let us not forget Brodick. If you like possessive anti-heros, this is the man for you. I love Brodick. He's straightforward and a man's man. He is also generous to his clan. His loyalty and protectiveness are what young females look for in a romantic hero. I adore him. He doesn't exist in real life, but it is a lovely wish. Maybe if more adolescent males were exposed to heroes with these quality traits and aspired to be like them, we would have fewer problems in the world.
The interactions between Brodick and Gillian are wonderful. I love how they connect and at times are completely talking about different subjects without Gillian knowing. Their dynamic is special and hard to exactly explain why it works so well for me. Suffice to say, I love this couple together. This historical romance is highly recommended to romance readers who like a determined female and the males that fall in line with her mission.
