Series:
Merriwell Sisters (Book 3)
Miss Venus Merriwell has been waiting for her prince to
come since the tender age of fourteen. She wants a man who is a selfless
academic like her, and free from all the wretched vices her gambler father
enjoyed far too much before he left the Merriwell sisters practically
destitute. Unfortunately, after a slew of romantic disappointments, there is
still no sign of that prince at twenty-three and the only one true love of her
life is the bursting-at-the-seams orphanage in Covent Garden that she works tirelessly
for. An orphanage that desperately needs to expand into the empty building next
door.
For Galahad Sinclair, gambling isn't just his life, it's
in his blood. He grew up and learned the trade at his grandfather's knee in a
tavern on the faraway banks of the Hudson in New York. But when fate took all
that away and dragged him across the sea to London, it made sense to set up
shop here. He's spent five years making a success out of his gaming hall in the
sleazy docks of the East End. Enough that he can finally afford to buy the
pleasure palace of his dreams -- and where better than in the capital's sinful
heart, Covent Garden? The only fly in his ointment is the perfect building he's
just bought to put it in also happens to be right next door to the orphanage
run by his cousin's wife's youngest sister. A pious, disapproving and
unsettling siren he has avoided like the plague since she flattened him five
years ago.
While Venus and Galahad lock horns over practically
everything, and while her malevolent orphans do their darndest to sabotage his
lifelong dream, can either of them take the ultimate gamble -- and learn to
love thy neighbor?
Fun book. Although I haven't (yet) read the first two
books in the series, therefore missing some of the history of Venus and
Galahad, there was enough information provided that I could understand their
pasts.
Vee is a romantic at heart, but after years of
relationship disappointments, she has given up on looking for love. She no
longer trusts her heart or her judgment and has set her sights on a nobleman who
is as much of an academic as she is. Unfortunately, he is also boring,
judgmental, and oblivious to her interest, and no one in her family believes
they belong together. Vee's happiest times are spent working at the Covent
Garden orphanage she helps run. It is also very overcrowded and needs more
space - such as the empty building next door - if only she had the funds to
purchase it.
Galahad is the American-born cousin of Vee's
brother-in-law, Giles. He owns a gambling den near the London docks and is
looking to add a second location. When he hears of the perfect building in
Covent Garden, he rushes to secure ownership of it. He then discovers that it
is next door to Vee's orphanage and realizes that for the sake of family
harmony, he needs to mend fences with her.
The story opens with a prologue that describes the first
meeting between Vee and Gal and sets the tone for their relationship over the
past five years - chilly at best and antagonistic at worst. As the daughter of
a gambler who deserted his family, Vee has definite opinions about gamblers and
doesn't hesitate to share them. They do their best to avoid each other when
possible and keep their distance when it is not.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Vee and Gal
develop. Their antagonism is overt, but underneath are sparks of attraction
that neither will admit. They are, however, blazingly apparent to others. When Gal
acquires the rest of the orphanage building, he decides to "make
nice" with Vee and try to get on her good side before she finds out about
his purchase. It's understandable but also slightly underhanded and has the
likelihood of coming back to bite him in the future.
Vee isn't sure what to think when Gal stops being such a
pain and turns on the charm. She doesn't trust him, but it doesn't take long
before he begins to win her over.
There are some hilarious scenes between the two as they
spend time together. One is the first card game they play against each other.
Vee is undefeated in the family, Gal is a professional gambler, and the tension
between them is palpable. Their second game, after she finds out about his
purchase, is a lesson in distracting the other player, and Vee is masterful. There
are other times when the banter between the two had me laughing out loud and
wondering when they would see the light about their feelings for each other.
However, both have serious insecurities that they keep
locked behind sturdy walls. Both lost their mothers at a young age, and both
have fathers who are morally bankrupt. Vee's issues make her very judgmental
toward Gal and make it difficult for her to trust him. After the loss of his
mother and grandfather, Gal keeps his heart locked up and doesn't allow himself
to get close to anyone. The more time they spend together, the more Gal and Vee
begin to see past those walls and realize that their initial impressions of
each other were inaccurate. But it still takes a near tragedy for the last bits
of wall to crumble and for them to admit their feelings for each other. I loved
the ending.
Some of the best scenes in the book involve Vee, Gal, and
Vee's orphans. I loved Vee's devotion to them and desire to give them the best
possible future. I enjoyed her surprise at how Gal connected with her three
most troublesome boys. Gal won my heart by understanding what drove their
actions and his practical methods of helping her with them. At the same time,
the boys were very protective of Vee, and their desire to help her with the
building issue created some memorable moments. I especially enjoyed the scene
with the pigeons and its aftermath. There was also a heartwarming scene
involving the three boys and their proposed apprenticeship at Gal's business.
The epilogue was terrific, and I enjoyed seeing the three
couples a few years into the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment