A Return of Devotion

Back Cover

Daphne Blakemoor was content living in her own secluded world for the last twelve years.  She had everything she needed - loved ones, a true home, and time to indulge her imagination.  But when ownership of the estate where she works as a housekeeper passes to a new marquis with an undeniable connection to her past, everything she's come to rely upon is threatened.

William, Marquis of Chemsford's main goal in life is to be the exact opposite of his father.  Starting a new life in the peace and quiet of the country sounds perfect...until his housekeeper turns his life upside down.

Both Daphne and William have spent their lives hiding from the past.  Can they find the courage to face their deepest wounds and, perhaps, forge a new path for the future together?

Review

Book two in the Haven Manor series, A Return of Devotion, picks up quickly after the first novel ended.  The happy couple from A Defense of Honor are on their honeymoon, leaving Daphne and Jess to set Haven Manor back to rights as if it never had been an orphanage in the first place.  For a woman like Daphne, where order and structure are as essential to her as breathing, the stress and uncertainty of what is to come leaves her uneasy.  And when the new owner of the estate arrives, bearing a remarkable resemblance to someone from her past, her world is further rocked off its axis and panic sets in.  For over ten years she has sought to keep her past life hidden away, but William, Marquis of Chemsford, threatens her secrets.

Having been introduced to Daphne in A Defense of Honor, I enjoyed diving into her character more deeply in A Return of Devotion.  Daphne has an often whimsical outlook and thought coupled with a very nurturing heart.  Gifted with a vivid imagination, Daphne is often given to flights of fancy as escapes from reality.  William's steady nature is a perfect complement to Daphne's lighthearted ways and made for a delightful romance.  

The author's talent for writing engaging historical novels has made me love her every book.  I enjoyed the return to Haven Manor and cannot wait to read Jess' story, which I can only imagine will be the most intriguing yet!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.