Delicious. This book made more for the first book than the first did for itself.
ONE TRYST WAS ALL SHE WANTED ...From their very first meeting, Julia knew that Aidan Carr, the oh-so-proper Duke of Trathen, had a bit of the devil in him, a devil who secretly yearned for what he could not have, a devil who harbored a desire for her. So when she needed to be caught in a compromising situation, Aidan was the answer to her prayers.ONE TRYST JUST WASN'T ENOUGH ...Aidan is supposed to be looking for a bride, yet his scandalous liaison with Julia is all he can think about. Hot, erotic memories of kissing her skin, falling into her bed, pulling her naked body on top of his own continue to torment and tempt him. What is it about this brazen seductress that he finds so hard to resist? And how can he stop himself from falling into her bed a second time?
Abandoned at the Altar. Book 2
By my short impression of this book when I reached around 60% this is genuinely how I felt. It has a bit of perspective (actually quite a few moments) when Julia mentions Beatrix and her family situation. I have no idea why it impacted me much more than when I was reading the first book myself.
Back then I thought to myself - what a good conflict for a book. Both people love each other deeply, but they face a certain choice that is based on their current convictions and Beatrix had it harder, because her life was stiffled by the upbringing and hardcore control of her father and despite his despotism she loved him, so it was very conflicting, but I suppose the execution wasn't enough for me. Funnily, I feel quite complete after having few instances from Julia's perspective. After all the 3rd person opinion does have an effect.
Now back to this book and its' inhabitants.
The basic situation was - after he broken off his engagement and after Julia was at her wit's end about her husband always on her heels, she returned to a path she thought would definitely secure her a divorce - an affair. It might be a true affair but she needed her husband in bed with another man and the only person she could allow near herself was only Aidan.
Their fate might be described as tragic. Because you can feel they're those fated lovers who were destined to miss each other each time.
The first time they met was 12 or 13 years ago (according to Aidan's reminiscence), she saw her on a footbridge, she had her eyes closed, lying down, her hair tumbling down and her feet in the stream. She felt like a dream, before she opened her eyes and started talking. And all the dreams shattered.
But Aidan still knew that it was the first and only woman who awakened all his passions.
Yet she was betrothed to another for her behavior (she escaped with a young man she loved).
They both felt that fatal attraction for each other, but it fealt like - not meant to be, for now.
The second time they met ten years later, she was very unhappy in her marriage, all her finances were strangled by her husband in attempts to control her, she basically was escaping him everywhere, but it wasn't as critical. And she met Aidan again and he evoked a plan - he is the only man she'd allow to touch herself to construct the scene so believable, so her husband will finally let her be free.
But unfortunately the same ball Aidan met Beatrix and they became engaged soon after (contents of the first book). Aidan found Beatrix agreeable, but not evoking something deeper.
Later their engagement fell through and here Julia's chance arrived as she was close to desperation.
And she hated herself for what she's done, but she'd do it again if it promised her the freedom.
I think the portrayal in this one is better. Although it does sound like it starts from passion, but you can't skip on the fact that they felt something for each other, of course painfully oblivious (not my fave thing :) but). It also has several flashbacks, which hints on different stages of their character-building.
Aidan is very proper and disciplined and has all the right views, but he feels a bit stiff to outside world, especially Julia. But she feels he has a bit of a more adventurous streak about himself.
Julia should be complete opposite, very social and fun.
But all of their traits have roots in the past. In modern times it is called - family trauma?
The two are like bright stars that never meant to allign when the two meet again.
A year after her divorce, a public trial and being out of sight. Julie tries to restore some of her reputation and Aidan can't help but think about the duty. He's very responsible, okay. At least he doesn't want people depending on him enter the darkest age if his everything will be inherited by the closest irresponsible male relation.
And the phrase - Julia needs money - would evoke intrigue. But Aidan simply hires her for social engagements (filtering anyone and everything, so he won't waste his time with people he might not need to meet in the first place, but who could also pose a trouble, everyone wants a Duke in their family).
Of course their previous incident is the elephant in the room sooner or later they're going to make their own judgements about or make moves.
I'll be honest I like how it was resolved, there was a brooding emotional conflict that leads to the finale and is repeated time and time again that Julia doesn't see her marrying again, but I see it a great ending that she basically confessed to many things, to see the support from him, reasonably freak out of course and make her mind. After all, petal is so honorable, she couldn't see him unhappy :)
RATE: 5/5.