Duty and Desire

by Elise De Sallier

[Lindsey Gray]

The Hearts of Honour series continues with a seductive tale of enemies turned into lovers.

Grace, the Hartley herbalist and midwife, and Jonathan, the Blackthorn estate manager, got off to a more than rough start in the first book of the series, Passion & Propriety. Their best friends, Hannah and William, fell in love in the face of adversity. At first, their love hit a nerve with both Grace and Jonathan, but they did find a way to accept it. In Grace's case, she even envied her best friend.

In Duty & Desire, Jonathan is at his wits end, watching his son, Peter, deteriorate day by day. When the last "specialist" drains his accounts, he allows Grace to examine the boy. Over the course of Peter's treatment, Jonathan comes to respect and admire Grace in a way he never thought possible. Grace also sees Jonathan in a new light, as a man who deeply loves his son and is unwaveringly loyal to those he cares for most.

DeSallier gives us an unforgettable romance in impossible circumstances. The intricacy of the plot had me devouring the novel in only a day. I loved how I was pulled into the story and the town of Hartley like I was one of the members of their community. The pacing gave a realistic feel to the story, making me smile and cry right along with the characters.

Always the queen of twists and turns, DeSallier shocked and amazed me with a climax I never saw coming, but completely fell in love with. I cannot wait to devour another of Elise DeSaller's novels as soon as she releases it.

Thanks so much to Elise DeSallier and The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House for providing me with a copy of Duty & Desire in exchange for an honest review.