Fair Weather Enemies

Great banter, true character development, and excellent plotting. I really had no idea how the author would pull off the HEA, but he did in a totally believable way! Can’t wait to read more from him.

A family feud between the Hancocks and Ashfords has lasted more than 70 years and brings Adam Ashford and Jane Hancock to the brink of ruin. Their only way out of an egregious contract with a vile solicitor is to find a long sought after gold bounty. They must follow clues in two separate letters to understand the full impact of the clues. Thus begins the adventure that will change their lives forever.

Sawyer North is a new author for me and I must say had me intrigued with his story from the opening pages. It was delightful watching Adam and Jane go from enemies to more than friends in 30 days while on the hunt for the gold. Jane’s aunt Hester and Mr. Barlow accompany them and keep them moving toward the end of the clues. I absolutely loved the witty banter between Jane and Adam, first with insults and then with the retelling of all the pranks they have played on each other throughout their lives to their final declarations. I couldn’t wait to see how they would get out of an ironclad contract that had one winner and one loser. Adam would lose her ancestral home and Jane would go to debtors prison on the toss of a coin. Needless to say I couldn’t put the book down until I had read the final page. The writing is well done and the plot moved along at a good pace. I just sorry there aren’t any more novels from Mr. North. I definitely look forward to his next one.

London 1816
As Jane and her aunt Hester were walking to the office of Mr Rutledge, when she saw Him. “Jane stared daggers at the familiar man emerging from a carriage not ten steps ahead. Adam Ashford. The mortal enemy. The fountain of all ills.”
But the money lender was calling in a debt he held for both of them and their estates. He would take Ashford’s estate and Jane would go to debtor prison. What? Fortunately as they talked they both remembered some lost gold and letters that all came together.. So they compromised with Mr Rutledge to give them time to find the treasure.
I have to say the witty dialogue pulled me in right from the beginning and made me laugh out loud. As their journey began to find the gold, it really was an adventure and kept my interest until the end.
A great first book for this author in this genre’!

3.5 Stars
The Hancocks and Ashfords have had a long-standing feud long before Miss Jane Hancock couldn’t stand the sight of gentleman farmer Adam Ashford. But the summerless year of 1816 sees both families fall on hard times and an unscrupulous creditor forces Jane and Adam to sign a devil’s bargain, they’ll finally understand the true meaning of keeping your enemies close at hand.
The terms of this bargain? Locate a lost treasure shrouded in deception and mystery.
The catch? Only one can claim it to win…the loser is left to ruin.
As Jane and Adam embark on a trek throughout England to try & find the gold that was the cause of the rift they plan to hate their adversary, no matter how attractive, generous, and kind they are.
This is a new author to me & there was much to like in the book, the descriptions of northern England were particularly well done. I found it to be a well written book of enemies to lovers with a secondary romance of offer too. I really liked the premise of the book, basically a treasure hunt. The characters were well portrayed & had depth. However I just couldn’t warm to Adam or Jane, I found that the chemistry was missing from their relationship & I found it very hard to believe they’d fallen in love. I’d definitely read more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read