Gobbled this up! This series is kind of revered within the genre of historical romance and it is weird coming to it so late! and esp. after reading Balogh's other lengthy family series the Westcotts. (Was Bewcastle a prototype for my fave Netherby?) I'm not a huge fan of children in my romances but Balogh does write them v sweetly. Eve I found super likeable and relatable (her relief at someone else carrying her burdens for a while; valuing kindness more as you get older) and of course I loved how the Bedwyns rallied around her!

esp. Bewcastle turning up unexpectedly but crucially at the "trial". Also I found it interesting how Aidan turned away from his career to be at Ridgewood with Eve and his family when he'd always put "duty" first, but it was all explained v well in terms of his personal history and how he'd come to be a military man in the first place. He defied Bewcastle to support Eve and I mean that's pretty sexy tbh.

Had to buy a copy off eBay since it's not available on Kindle in Australia(?!) and I hate the new covers.