Devoted to the Goddess of the Future, an elegant beauty is blessed–or cursed–with near-perfect foresight.
Han-Mystic Ophelia d’Marana lives a rich life as the strongest seer in the bustling tropical town of Trimble, but still she feels alone. She aches for a family with every beat of her heart. She would take comfort from a prophesy predicting the birth of her child, except the foreseen father … foreseen father is Han-Builder Ulric.
The rude, crude earthworker has no place in her pious life, and has never seen her as a woman worthy of a tumble, until a passionate night proves him susceptible to her beauty. Emboldened, Ophelia hopes to share her destiny with him. But Ulric can’t risk his heart, not again. Instead, they enter into a loveless arrangement to beget a child, each keeping painful secrets close.
When Ophelia’s most ominous prophesy comes to pass, the uneasy lovers overcome their differences to work together against a mysterious plague threatening the city. As their passion burns hot, Ophelia finds she has more in common with Ulric than she ever dreamed. She’s in danger of losing her heart to a man in love with a ghost . . .
If she doesn’t become a ghost herself first.
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Ophelia is a servant of the Goddess of the Future. She has control over water and uses water in her fortune-telling position in the temple of the Goddess Marana. Ulric is a servant of the God Taric, which means he can move Earth and shift the landscape with his hands. Ulric and Ophelia are year mates with others that they grew close to when they were doing through their trial for their specific talents and skills. Both have a secret that has ensured they are constantly at odds with each other. The path they take to overcome these obstacles is entertaining and touching.
This novel is book 3 in a series about a polytheistic society set in a different realm than Earth. I did not read the previous two novels, however, the characters in those stories appear in this story. To understand the connection between the characters and the story of Ophelia and Ulric, it is not necessary to have read the other two novels. However, I feel the first novel may have given more explanation of how this society is set up and how things are done so to speak. My main and only complaint about this story is it has more description and inner monologue writing than actual dialogue. The saving grace for me was the dialogue between Ophelia and Ulric and Ulric and anyone is funny, intriguing, and interesting. There are often a lot of double entendres due to Ulric’s past time in the “stews”. I enjoyed this story more than I expected and read it in one day. I am not sure I want to read the previous novels because I am not sure any of the other characters will be as entertaining as Ulric. This is a sweet love story that slowly builds but it is worth it as their ineffective communication with each other leads to so many misunderstandings and problems. However, what they think they are hiding from everyone else is obvious to everyone else, but Ophelia and Ulric. This novel was a great way to spend a weekend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved Secret Courtship. This refreshing, sexy, satisfying fantasy romance offers an absolutely lush setting the reader can’t help but get immersed in, engaging characters, and plenty of fun surprises.
Thanks to this talented author’s vivid descriptions, I was utterly transported into the world of the characters and invested in every one of them from the very beginning. Secret Courtship is unique, humorous in all the right ways, and totally addictive thanks to well-developed conflict and tight pacing. Top-notch escapism and and all-around feel-good story with tons of heart.
Thanks so much to the author and to Soul Mate Publishing for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This is the third book of the Hands of Destin Series, but it reads as a standalone, although, it’s better to read the two previous books to fully understand the world building that is quite unique and full of magic and fresh concepts.
This book has an intriguing mystery (I’m a sucker for mysteries of any kind), a complex love story, and two strong protagonists, and a fairy tale atmosphere.
Secret Courtship by Jaycee Jarvis is Book 3 in The Hands of Destin series. This is turning out to be a memorable series. Each book has plenty of danger and romance. Jarvis has created a colorful world with passion and heart. Each book has a different plot and different main characters, but the series is best read in order. I have noticed that opposites attract in each of her pairings.
In Book 3 we get to know Ophelia, the beautiful and poised water seer, and Ulric, the burly and crude earthworker, better. They are awkward around each other and there’s lots of miscommunication. Some of their dialogue at the beginning is humorous. Can Ophelia and Ulric get over their past hurts and learn to be open and honest with each other? There’s also a strange sickness affecting the waccats and some are even dying. Can they save the waccats in time? Whenever something bad is happening in Trimble, Violet is always nearby. What part does she play?
This story doesn’t have the same whimsy and relationship bonds like in Books 1 and 2. Some things don’t get explained either, like Violet’s role. There’s also more focus on sex than in the previous books. This story is more heart-wrenching than the others too. At least Jarvis likes writing HEA endings, so you don’t have to fret too much! I can’t wait to read Terin’s story. Although, I’m scratching my head at Jarvi’s choice for the love interest for him. I’ll just have to wait and see how they work out in Book 4!
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