Published: Sep. 29, 2012
Words: 19,296 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781301636815

Short description

Selina knows a lot about books but not so much about people. When she writes off the gentleman escorting her to the Gathering of Great Minds as a brainless fighter, it might just lead to her most important lesson yet.

Extended description

The only child of the local village squire, Selina has always thrown herself into her studies, perhaps a little too much. She knows a lot about books but not so much about people. When she receives an invitation to the Gathering of Great Minds in Trevarde, she is desperate to attend. It’s harvest time and no one can be spared from the village to escort her on her travels. Selina sees no reason why she shouldn’t make the journey on her own.

Bill is a patient and good-natured gentleman, passing through Selina’s village on his way to Trevarde. The local innkeeper suggests him to the squire as a suitable protector to get Selina safely through the dangerous border lands. On hearing from her father that she is threatening to make the journey alone, Bill volunteers to escort her.

Willful, smart, but too sheltered to comprehend the dangers she would face traveling alone—Selina wants to shake off the man she believes her father has hired unnecessarily. Her thoughts are on the gather.. (Read more) The only child of the local village squire, Selina has always thrown herself into her studies, perhaps a little too much. She knows a lot about books but not so much about people. When she receives an invitation to the Gathering of Great Minds in Trevarde, she is desperate to attend. It’s harvest time and no one can be spared from the village to escort her on her travels. Selina sees no reason why she shouldn’t make the journey on her own.

Bill is a patient and good-natured gentleman, passing through Selina’s village on his way to Trevarde. The local innkeeper suggests him to the squire as a suitable protector to get Selina safely through the dangerous border lands. On hearing from her father that she is threatening to make the journey alone, Bill volunteers to escort her.

Willful, smart, but too sheltered to comprehend the dangers she would face traveling alone—Selina wants to shake off the man she believes her father has hired unnecessarily. Her thoughts are on the gathering and the speaker she hopes to impress. She wants to concentrate on her studies, but when she writes Bill off as a brainless fighter, it might just lead to her most important lesson yet.
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Tags

romance, fantasy, fantasy romance, fairy tale, happy ever after, novella, fairytale, historical fantasy, happy ending, sweet romance, scholar, alpha male, fairytale romance, clever heroine, wilful heroine

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Reviews

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Review by: Veronica Rundell on May 17, 2013 :
Summary (unspoiled): In this novella a young educated woman, Selina, aspires to attend a convention of scholars in a far city. Unfortunately, the way is treacherous and her father can spare no men from the harvest to accompany her. He laments this fact and is guided to the acquaintance of a solitary traveller, Bill, who is also making the same journey.

Bill, a tall, handsome gentleman vows to assure Selina's safe transport to and from the conference as a matter of honor. Selina is disagreeable and downright insulting for the bulk of this trip, at least outwardly. Inside, she begins to feel an attraction, yet she refuses to acknowledge it as she believes Bill to be a fighter, not an intellectual.

What I liked about this story:
A good mix of internal reflection and action, which carried the plot forward at an acceptable pace.
A likable heroine who recognizes her folly and experiences anguish accordingly.
A believable climax that was appropriately foreshadowed and realized.

What I felt could have been done better:
The setting seems Old World Victorian, yet the language is occasionally anachronistic to that. A cultured young woman, however sheltered, would not tell a man to "shut up".
I think the time-frame of 100 years of border battle is lengthy. It was a little jarring to read.

Overall:
For romance, this is very innocent. The main characters do not share an embrace until the final page. The title was more suggestive (to me) than the story. It was a rapid casual read, and entertaining, but predictable in all other regard. I don't say this as a detractor. I am accustomed to genre romance, and the predictability of those stories is one reason I read them. However, I felt a little let-down by the virtuous passion here.

In all, you can let your tween daughters read this with no worries.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

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