The Legend of Lyon Redmond (Pennyroyal Green, #11)

by Julie Anne Long

[Amanda]

Once I started the Pennyroyal Green series, it didn't take me long to become curious about the Lyon-Olivia romance, and I'm sure I wasn't alone in that curiosity. It's a thread that runs throughout nearly every book in the series, especially given the divide between the Redmond and the Eversea families, and how Olivia and Lyon breached the divide.

In some ways, Olivia and Lyon's story closes that divide, which seems a fitting end to the series, even though the epilogue confused me. (Was it supposed to be a way to sum up what happened with everyone? Was it designed to be a story within itself? Was it the beginning of a NEW story?)

Like most Julie Anne Long books, I wasn't sure I was going to like this one. But only because it starts off with dual timelines and it's super difficult to make those work. But bonus, the dual timeline only goes through part of the book. And, of course, trust the Julie Anne Long, because in some ways, the sweetness of the beginning of Lyon and Olivia's relationship was desperately needed for the present-day timeline.

There was so much hurt and anger and misunderstanding in that present-day timeline. It was painful and raw. Lyon makes some upper-handed moves that probably should have annoyed the crap out of me, but somehow didn't. Maybe because I understood the pain (even though that's not a valid excuse). Or maybe it was because, other than kidnapping, he never did anything to Olivia that she didn't want. Or somehow initiate. And in a weird way, he gave her something she wasn't able to give herself.

Julie Anne Long has a unique ability to twist me up inside. And I like it. Thus far, I've only read her Pennyroyal Green series, but I might need more. Her books are like crack. She knows about the bring the emotion and tension with her characters, and that's the best.

Parts of the ending almost annoyed me, but I also understood why they had to happen. Characters in relationships in romance novels should have a give and take. It's not all one character saving the other or one character making all the dramatic gestures. Or it shouldn't be. Which explains the ending. It was how it needed to be.

I was glad to finally get Olivia and Lyon's story, even the beginnings of it. It shaped who both of them were as people, although there wasn't as much revealed about Lyon's past as I thought there would be. But neither was much of it relevant to his and Olivia's story.

Now that I've read all the Pennyroyal Green books, I kinda want to reread them all.