An Appointment in Bath

 About the Book:

Shy and stammering Meg Burton-Smythe has spent the whole of her life living on the fringes of local society. She’s more comfortable with her daydreams than she is with people. But when a dashing, golden-haired hero rides to her rescue one morning, she dares to hope that her dreams might finally come true. There’s only one problem: her handsome rescuer is the son of her father’s sworn enemy.

Ivo Beresford doesn’t believe in clinging to the past. Freshly returned from a lengthy grand tour, he’s looking to the future, eager to spearhead the building of a new railway extension in Somersetshire. But an unexpected encounter with Meg Burton-Smythe, the isolated only daughter of his parents’ oldest foe, sets the past and the future colliding.

Resolved to put ancient grudges to rest—at least where innocent young ladies are concerned—Ivo encourages lonely Meg to embark on a secret friendship. After all, what harm can a friendship do? It isn’t as though there’s any danger of the two of them falling in love…

My Review: 

The story of the Beresford family continues with Ivo and his relationship with the sweet and bashful Meg Burton-Smythe. You can’t help but be drawn into the heart warming story of this couple. Meg has had very little interaction with other young people due to her unloving, controlling father. Ivo has a soft spot for those who are in need of help. He does a fantastic job of getting Meg to see the kind and amazing woman she is.

I loved the bridge scenes because at first Meg is terrified to cross over the old stone structure. One, because it feels unsafe, and two, because of the creepy legend that surrounds it. When Meg begins to cross it daily, she finds the courage she thought she didn’t have. She realizes that she must confront her father and stand up to him. As she finds her voice and questions him about the past, it was interesting to see him begin to change towards her. I am always drawn to stories of reconciliation, and I am hopeful this will happen for Meg and her father.

I recommend reading this book for its intriguing characters, its powerful message, and its wonderful love story. While it can be read as a standalone, I’d read the others in the series to understand the background of why there is such animosity between the Beresfords and the Burton-Smythes.

I received a copy of this book. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.