Hurrying home to Tegen Castle from the Continent to assume guardianship of a child not his, but one who holds his countenance, Levison Davids, Earl of Remmington, is shot on the road and left to die. The incident has Remmington chasing after a man who remains one step ahead and who claims a distinct similarity¿a man who wishes to replace Remmington as the rightful earl. Rem must solve the … mystery of how Frederick Troutman¿s life parallels his while protecting his title, the child, and the woman he loves.Comfort Neville has escorted Deirdre Kavanaugh from Ireland to England, in hopes that the Earl of Remmington will prove a better guardian for the girl than did the child¿s father. When she discovers the earl¿s body upon road backing the castle, it is she who nurses him to health. As the daughter of a minor son of an Irish baron, Comfort is impossibly removed from the earl¿s sphere, but the man claims her affections. She will do anything for him, including confronting his enemies. When she is kidnapped as part of a plot for revenge against the earl, she must protect Rem¿s life, while guarding her heart.
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“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Book two in the Twins Trilogy follows book one: Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep: 5-stars
I love this story-line. The first book ‘Angel’ set the groundwork and established names, relationships and the tone of this series. At first, I bogged a bit with reading of the higher circle of society because of the many titles and names of the characters. A person could actually have two to three names associated with their place in society and being the heir, heir presumptive or heir apparent. Those familiar with reading Regency and Historical Romance will love the interactions of society and the rules and etiquette necessary to navigate the haute ton. Working within the upper circles are the intrigues and secret agencies loyal to the Crown, which is always thrilling. Guess that’s why Jeffers’ Realm Series was so popular.
“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” Jane Austen
Book two continues with a character that we met and fell in love with in book one. Levison Davids, 17th Earl of Remmington. I loved this guy from his first appearance. Unfortunately, he fell in love with Angel as did his good friend Huntington McLaughlin, Marquess of Malvern, or Hunt as his friends and family call him. [See what I mean by those names] Anyway, he didn’t get the girl and Hunt did. Jeffers ended book one with the friendship between Malvern and Rem strained due to their misunderstanding over the girl.
“There is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.” Winston Churchill
After receiving an express, urgently calling him home, Remmington is within half-a mile of Tegen Castle, when he is shot. Left alone and in the rain, Rem considers his life as he figures he will die. It is here that we are introduced to Comfort Neville, an Irish daughter of a minor son, who had traveled to Tegen Castle as chaperone and escort to Miss Deirdre, a girl of about five years of age, whose parentage was in question. Comfort and the girl were gathering medicinal herbs and flowers, when they discovered the injured Remmington. Their dire situation quickly changed with the arrival of Malvern [his lady wanted their differences settled and had sent him to Tegen Castle]. He was able to help Comfort and the child get Rem to safety. Rem realized that he may be upset with Malvern, but one thing he did know, he could trust Malvern with his life.
Several more attempts were made on Rem’s life and he and we are completely in the dark as to what the heck was going on. I loved watching him and Malvern work their way through the people under suspicion. The intrigue was maddening and I didn’t want to put the book down.
***Watch the clues*** I am amazed at how easily Jeffers set up the story and scattered clues and foreshadowing through the text. Even though I was being observant, I still missed many clues and fell for her misdirection. After having read book one, I was more aware of her nefarious strategies to keep me in the dark. OK, I didn’t figure it out completely, but I do have a working knowledge of one premise she employed. Something very similar happened in my family… so I know it can happen. I hope a reader will not ‘dis’ the idea completely as being implausible.
Many readers will rejoice at the revisit with characters from the Realm Series. Lord John Swenton and Isolde Neville were featured in ‘A touch of Honor,’ book 7 of that series. Lady Swenton née Neville is cousin to Comfort Neville. I absolutely loved them. Lord Swenton was freaking amazing and I may have to look at book 7 just to see him in action. He was… Oh, I already said that, sorry.
This book two can be read as a stand-a-lone. Although we originally met Remmington in book one, Jeffers gave us a smooth transition into book two with his continued story. You can read book two without having read book one; however, I would not neglect reading book one. Lord Remmington’s actions and reactions are due to events that happened in book one. That will better explain the relationship between the male leads Remmington and Malvern.
Rating: PG-17: not explicit, but steamy sexual innuendo, intentions, reactions, and desires expressed, violence and discussions of seductions, not graphic.
We were given the upcoming title of Book three in the Twins Trilogy, ‘Lady Chandler’s Sister.’
I requested, and was given, a copy of book two from the publisher with no expectations of a review. That was my choice. I know, it was shameless.