Book Review
Apr. 17th, 2023 08:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariA Lady by Midnight
by Tessa Dare
This novel concerns the romance between Kate Taylor, resident musician and piano teacher of Spindle Cove, and Samuel Thorne, tough, buttoned up military man and leader of the town militia. They both have rough and painful pasts as orphans. Kate has become warm and encouraging, but Thorne, additionally traumatized by having to survive on his own as a young boy and then by combat, has buried his feelings and retreated behind a hardened exterior. Nonetheless, he harbors strong feelings for Kate, even as he does his best to avoid her and hold her at arm's length when he can't. After he rescues her from being stranded in a nearby town, Kate develops feelings for him, too. Alas, their romance faces several obstacles, especially the discovery that Kate may have a family after all and Thorne's conviction that he is completely unsuitable for and unworthy of Kate (even though she feels very differently).
I really liked Kate. I always love a musician heroine, and Kate is also strong-willed yet empathetic. I liked how tenacious she was in her love for Thorne and how determined she was to break through his armor of reserve. Thorne's devotion and sense of honor were admirable, yet there were a few times I wish Dare had backed off a little in her portrayal of him as rough and emotionally repressed. Still, the resolution of the romance was rather sweet - I liked how both Kate and Thorne were willing to make changes and sacrifices for each other. Their devotion to each other was beautiful.
by Tessa Dare
This novel concerns the romance between Kate Taylor, resident musician and piano teacher of Spindle Cove, and Samuel Thorne, tough, buttoned up military man and leader of the town militia. They both have rough and painful pasts as orphans. Kate has become warm and encouraging, but Thorne, additionally traumatized by having to survive on his own as a young boy and then by combat, has buried his feelings and retreated behind a hardened exterior. Nonetheless, he harbors strong feelings for Kate, even as he does his best to avoid her and hold her at arm's length when he can't. After he rescues her from being stranded in a nearby town, Kate develops feelings for him, too. Alas, their romance faces several obstacles, especially the discovery that Kate may have a family after all and Thorne's conviction that he is completely unsuitable for and unworthy of Kate (even though she feels very differently).
I really liked Kate. I always love a musician heroine, and Kate is also strong-willed yet empathetic. I liked how tenacious she was in her love for Thorne and how determined she was to break through his armor of reserve. Thorne's devotion and sense of honor were admirable, yet there were a few times I wish Dare had backed off a little in her portrayal of him as rough and emotionally repressed. Still, the resolution of the romance was rather sweet - I liked how both Kate and Thorne were willing to make changes and sacrifices for each other. Their devotion to each other was beautiful.
