She was banished from England…and she banished him from her heart.Upon her return to England following her father’s death, Miss Ava Knight becomes the owner of one of the largest racehorse estates in the country. There’s only one problem: the future of the estate requires a strong breeding program with the services of a stallion named, Titan. A shame that the horse is owned by a man she swore to … she swore to never see again.
The Duke of Whitstone, Tate Wells, was heartbroken when Ava abandoned him on the night of their elopement, and he vowed to never lay eyes on Ava again. Despite Tate’s unwillingness to forgive Ava, she comes to his aid during a deliberately lit fire at his estate. Someone is determined to destroy them. Now, the two are forced to work together to ensure the safety of their horses and their homes.
Will their previous feelings for each other rekindle their love, or will their feelings stall out at the starting gates?
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Miss Ava Knight and Tate Wells had known each other for years. Ava thought Tate loved her as she did him, that they would marry, but it did not come to be. In 1816, Ava was sent to school in France, and Tate to America. Upon her return from France, Ava took over the horse breeding business, Knight Stables, from her late father and ran it just as successfully. But she never forgot Tate, so how is she to deal with him when, five years later, he comes back home, now the Duke of Whitstone?
FROM FRANCE, WITH LOVE is very much a character study of two people whose hearts were broken, how they heal their wounds, and rekindled the love they once had for each other. Ava and Tate are both determined and independent, but not so stubborn that they can’t see reason. They’re both good people. There was a huge misunderstanding, and I love that it was handled intelligently, it did not go on for too long, and it did not lead to unpleasantness. They still cared very much for each other, their reconciliation was believable; it progressed organically. I loved that the differences in social statuses were looked at realistically, it was a considerable hurdle to overcome. I also very much appreciated seeing Ava’s force of character, and that she did not revert to foolish shenanigans to prove that she didn’t need a man. Ava and Tate came across as real people, and so did Tate’s mother, who is truly unforgettable. We are also introduced to some of Ava’s and Tate’s friends, whom I surmise, will feature in upcoming installments of this series.
FROM FRANCE, WITH LOVE is not a fast-paced read, however the rhythm is sustained throughout, and while there are some steamy scenes, they never overshadow the romance. With my recent experiences, it was comforting not to see the story fall apart in the second half.
Tamara Gill has woven a story that will capture your heart from the first page! Young love that would culminate in an elopement. Tate Wells, the future Duke of Whitstone and Miss Ava Knight, daughter of the owner of Knight stables were to secretly meet and start their new life. But her father met her instead and told her Tate had backed out and he just could not go through with it. She was then bundled off to Boarding School in France. Leaving behind her beloved horses and home.
Five years later, she is back home and running the stables, looking to breed her horse with the one promised from a fellow stable owner. But as luck, or the devil would have it, he has been sold to none other than Tate Wells, the now Duke of Whitstone. She had to have that stallion!
The start of a new series that will be outstanding if this book is any indication. The writing is outstanding as usual and the emotions come off the page as Tate and Ava battle outside forces and their feelings that never truly died.
As a side note I have to mention how I loved the horses as a large part of this tale. They are truly magnificent animals that have a spirit unlike any other that can calm the soul. Well Done!
I thought that this was a delightful second chance romance. The well written storyline is engaging and offers a entertaining blend of drama, emotion, suspense and romance. Ava and Tate were both very likable and it was easy to feel for both of them. A very fun read.