Holly Bush

Historical Romance novels are not something I would particularly pick out from a range of genres usually but something in the synopsis grabbed my attention.
Cross the Ocean beginnings with getting to know the pompous Duke of Wexford, Blake Sanders, his wife had just left him but to be fair he was having an affair for some years before hand. This was not the done thing for a wife to leave their husband and family and he knew there would be talk.
His best friend Anthony Burroughs and his wife Elizabeth had a houseguest for a while, Gertrude Finch a single lady from America. The moment Blake laid eyes on here there was something about her. He did not know, or refused to acknowledge what that something was. He laid a kiss on her lips and received a bloody nose for the pleasure.
With his head in a tiz and Gertrude not accepting his attention he is invited to sleep in another women’s bed but being a little drunk on whiskey ends up in Gert’s bed and making love to her. She then states she is leaving. Blake does propose but she refuses and goes back to America with a little stowaway who is Blake’s son William.
The story goes on and we find Blake traveling to America and having an adventure while on his quest to find Gert and William. Blake seems to ease with his pompous ways and turns into a likeable man. He loves Gert but saying those little words is difficult for him.
There is more to this story but I will let you read it to find out but I will say I really enjoyed this. It was well written and the story flowed well.… (més)

It might be a little unfair to rate this so low, because I think the main problem was that it was too short. There is a fair bit going on in this story that all needed more time to develop. I am not really a fan of insta-love, and while I see why you'd need to employ that trope when your story is only 67 pages, it just didn't feel real to me. The angst, too, felt a bit abrupt and unexpected, and I wish there was time dedicated to teasing it out and unwinding and resolving it, rather than a quick paragraph or two at the end. (2.5 stars)… (més)

I've received a ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A cute historical romance novel. The characters were likeable, and the content was realistic for that time period but I did find it strange how quickly Emmaline got over the death of her child after an horrible miscarriage and how quickly she wanted children later on. In regards to her miscarriage, there was definitely a lack of emotion lingering there but I guess everyone grieves differently I suppose. Overall, an enjoyable novel I would recommend.… (més)