Comfort Kennedy has been smitten with Bram DeLong most of her life - and everyone knows it. So when Bram announces his engagement to Comfort at his older brother Bodes birthday party, she should be happy, right? Then why does she feel uneasy?
Comfort knows Bram is not in love with her, in her heart-of-hearts, she knows he is too fickle to love another. She agrees to a temporary engagement; Bram wants it for 6 months, Comfort agrees to 8 weeks.
Comfort is an unusual creature in the society in which she lives she has an important job at her uncles bank. Wealthy, educated and with meaningful work, Comfort is a rarity in this time in American history. She also has an interesting back story.
Her "uncles" Newton Prescott and Tucker Jones found a small girl after renegade soldiers had murdered a small wagon train, leaving her to die in some rocks a few feet from the carnage. The only thing she had as a small tin for lozenges, Dr. Eli Kennedys Comfort Lozenges. From that, the men named the child Comfort Elizabeth Kennedy.
Compared to some of the names given to characters in books, this is rather straight forward. However, Id like to make a comment about the weird names given to most of the main characters in romance books. Is it just me or are they getting weirder and weirder? What happened to John and Suzanne? This isnt a criticism of Goodman or the other authors specifically; however it seems each name gets more outrageous and strange. Oh well, Ill set aside my soapbox now.
Bode DeLong doesnt know that his brothers engagement is a sham, but hes decided to do something about it. He also knows that Bram is not in love with Comfort.
Hes been growing the DeLong shipping company actually, hes been trying to save it from the effects of his deceased fathers irresponsible actions as company chief. The company is still in dangerous waters, but Bode decides to take some time to convince Comfort to marry him, and not his brother.
This is an interesting story; the characterizations are well-rounded and each one brings something to the story. I had a hard time putting this book down. The only negative thing I can say is this story line wasnt as absorbing as some of Jo Goodmans other books. 4 stars
Comfort knows Bram is not in love with her, in her heart-of-hearts, she knows he is too fickle to love another. She agrees to a temporary engagement; Bram wants it for 6 months, Comfort agrees to 8 weeks.
Comfort is an unusual creature in the society in which she lives she has an important job at her uncles bank. Wealthy, educated and with meaningful work, Comfort is a rarity in this time in American history. She also has an interesting back story.
Her "uncles" Newton Prescott and Tucker Jones found a small girl after renegade soldiers had murdered a small wagon train, leaving her to die in some rocks a few feet from the carnage. The only thing she had as a small tin for lozenges, Dr. Eli Kennedys Comfort Lozenges. From that, the men named the child Comfort Elizabeth Kennedy.
Compared to some of the names given to characters in books, this is rather straight forward. However, Id like to make a comment about the weird names given to most of the main characters in romance books. Is it just me or are they getting weirder and weirder? What happened to John and Suzanne? This isnt a criticism of Goodman or the other authors specifically; however it seems each name gets more outrageous and strange. Oh well, Ill set aside my soapbox now.
Bode DeLong doesnt know that his brothers engagement is a sham, but hes decided to do something about it. He also knows that Bram is not in love with Comfort.
Hes been growing the DeLong shipping company actually, hes been trying to save it from the effects of his deceased fathers irresponsible actions as company chief. The company is still in dangerous waters, but Bode decides to take some time to convince Comfort to marry him, and not his brother.
This is an interesting story; the characterizations are well-rounded and each one brings something to the story. I had a hard time putting this book down. The only negative thing I can say is this story line wasnt as absorbing as some of Jo Goodmans other books. 4 stars
