A quite good, older (1970's) HP which has held up pretty well - better than most of these books. The hero is a famous author; a Welshman from the wrong side of the tracks who has "made good" - the heroine is the aristocratic niece of his publisher. They meet, they marry and they fall out - in somewhat typical Harlequin fashion but the characters and their story are somewhat better than typical, and there's some depth here, particularly with respect to the heroine finding her way and becoming more mature.
I wish Sara Craven still wrote her books like this one, which she did in 1978, when this book was published. This is an example of a great little Harlequin Presents. The plot is very simple: a young woman marries a famous writer, a somewhat older man, rather quickly and has second thoughts (thanks in part to her mother's disapproval and some off-putting comments about the hero's sexual appetite). Although Gethyn and Davina love each other, their marriage fails in a matter of weeks thanks to mutual misunderstanding of each other. When the heroine wants a divorce, two years after their separation, the hero decides he won't play nicely. He makes Davina pursue him to rural Wales, where they bicker, taunt, and continue to misunderstand one another... at least until they admit they're still attracted to each other.
It all sounds corny written out like that, and I suppose it is, but there is the sense that these two are both hurting, (instead of it all being one-sided), that brings this story up a notch. Also, Gethyn is given a pretty strong reason (which we find out later in the story) for his very bitter behavior toward Davina after she first meets him again in Wales. The chemistry between Davina & Gethyn is palpable, which gives this story a nice sizzle. All in all: a very good, above-average "keeper" of a Harlequin Presents.
It all sounds corny written out like that, and I suppose it is, but there is the sense that these two are both hurting, (instead of it all being one-sided), that brings this story up a notch. Also, Gethyn is given a pretty strong reason (which we find out later in the story) for his very bitter behavior toward Davina after she first meets him again in Wales. The chemistry between Davina & Gethyn is palpable, which gives this story a nice sizzle. All in all: a very good, above-average "keeper" of a Harlequin Presents.
