The Temptation of Gracie

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Then there was the emotional side of the story which broke my heart and made it leap in equal measures. As a Mum, I felt so sad for Gracie and her quiet longing for the family she missed so much. As a woman, I applauded her defiant courage in doing something that would bring her happiness and not concerning herself with other people’s opinions on the matter. It soon became clear that Gracie had a secret and I must admit that I did have a vague idea what it could be. It turned out I was partially correct with my prediction!

What ensues is a delightful read that jumps between Gracie spending 10 years of her life in Italy in the 1960s and the cookery course in 2010. The Temptation of Grace is my first book by Kristin Vayden and the third book in a series called Gentlemen of Temptation. I read this story as a stand-alone, so perhaps something was lost in not reading the first two in the series. I felt like I was able to follow along easily, but I still didn't ever fully get into the story. I very much enjoyed where the story was going here but for me it just didn't completely come together. The details weren't all there or it just wasn't given enough time to grow-I'm not sure which. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Shuster UK for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.The Temptation of Gracie is romantic – in the broadest sense of the word – although there is definitely romance in it as well. Mostly, it is about love – between men and women; between uncles, nieces, and nephews; between fathers and children; between mothers, daughters, and grand-daughters. I really wanted to love The Temptation of Grace, but it took me forever to get through, and with so much excellent historical romance out there, it didn't stand out. I took longer to warm to Carina, whose initial obsession with work, worldly trappings and not her mother, and to some degree her daughter irked me. Gracie was treated more like a maiden aunt, you keep meaning to visit, rather than a mother. Similarly, Gracie had no real relationship with Anastacia, as they never had the opportunity to bond. This trip, could either make or break the fragile threads, but you'll need to discover that for yourself. I started off feeling positive about this book - the heroine, hero, and their friends are likable, and the Regency setting is always fun. Some characters were obviously featured in the two previous books; reading those first would probably have added to my enjoyment a smidge, but is not at all necessary to understanding this story.

WINNER OF THE GOLDSBORO BOOKS HISTORICAL ROMANTIC NOVEL AWARD 2019, FROM THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR There were a few twists in the story that I did not anticipate, although anticipating outcomes and being right about them is fun, it is a real delight to me when they are unexpected.

The author's comments and the Prologue pulled at my emotions from the beginning and I knew that Ramsey and Grace deserved to find a happiness that knew no bounds. This is a wonderful story of two special souls who needed each other, although it may have taken awhile to slowly come together.