I have been highly anticipating this novel and while there are other books of Ashe's that I have liked better (I love her Prince Catchers series and Twist series), this was still a satisfying ride, written in a luscious, complex voice that is uniquely Ashe.
The story begins with a Prologue that takes place when Constance and Saint are both young, trusting, and without scars. Their chemistry is immediate and as a reader you sense the inevitability of their relationship. No amount of time, regrets, or social restrictions is going to keep this couple apart regardless of the trials they face within the pages of the novel. Chapter 1 then opens several years later as circumstances bring Saint and Constance back together for the first time in six years. It has been a long six years for both of them and the insecurity, inner pain, and desperate longing are quickly brought to the fore. Now, be forewarned that this is not a character driven novel. Rather, Constance and Saint are drawn together by the threads of an intricate, suspenseful mystery that will weave throughout each of the books in this new series.
The mystery centers around missing young women, a secretive cult, and one enigmatic duke. Constance feels a personal responsibility to find the young women and Saint's protective instincts draw him into the thick of things as he tries to understand how she has changed and what she is involved in that has made her so afraid. What I love about Saint is how he empowers Constance. In Romanceland, so many reviewers complain about how heroes often toe the line of verbal, physical, and emotional abuse, tearing heroines down instead of building them up. This is not the case here. Saint is drawn into a situation he doesn't want to be in, often as a result of Constance herself, but instead of bitterness or anger, Saint always responds with kindness, patience, and fidelity. While Constance is a character who has made numerous appearances in several of Ashe's other books, it is her hero, Saint, who steals the show. I never warmed up to Constance, but I think Saint is Ashe's most delightful hero yet.
I will admit that I have been a fangirl of Ashe's for a while now so I have read nearly her entire back list and all books in which Constance and Saint have made prior appearances. With that said, the plot and the character cast here were still difficult for me to follow. If this is your first time reading Ashe or you have not read her other Falcon Club books, there may be parts of this one that will confuse you. I would recommend binging on her earlier books before you tackle this one.
Additionally, if you like for your stories to wrap up neatly, be forewarned that you will not get that here. This is the first book in Katharine's new series, where the mystery of the missing women and the mysterious duke threads throughout. Constance and Saint finish their own personal quest and have their HEA, but the big picture is far from complete for the reader. We will just have to await Book 2 (The Earl) for that!
Overall, I enjoyed this book, mostly because I loved Saint's character. At first, I couldn't get a read on him because he is a man of few words and we are not treated to his thoughts that often. However, now that I have had time to digest the story, I must say that Ashe fleshed him out just right. His nature is revealed to us by his actions, be it grueling fencing lessons where he pushes Constance to find her inner strength or his willingness to be drawn into dangerous situations simply because he recognizes that Constance needs closure to heal scars from the past. Saint is a man of action and that is how we grow to know him. It was special to read and to be honest I did not realize the gift until after I had finished the novel. There was some unevenness with the plot (I struggled with the character list and the ending was choppy), but I would read it over again just to watch the development of Saint's character. In Saint, Ashe created a perfect hero for the modern reader.
So, here is the bottom line:
-This was not my favorite of Ashe's novels because there was so much going on and I did not like Constance (she is complex and damaged, and I couldn't fully support the actions she took).
-If you are new to Ashe, try her other Falcon Club novels first, which will help you with the plot threads and characters in this one.
-There are explicit sex scenes (several of them) for those who aren't veterans of the Avon romance.
-Saint is a wonderful character. He made the book special and is one of my favorite heroes ever. If you have read Ashe's other novels and are on the fence about this one, read it simply for the pleasure of meeting Saint.
I will now be eagerly awaiting the arrival of The Earl :) Happy reading!
